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Background/purpose: Taiwan’s eight dental schools are all located in the western region. This study attempted to analyze the relationship between the geographical distribution of dentists in Taiwan and their graduation school background and to develop several statistical indicators to analyze the geographical distribution of dentists. Materials and methods: The method of the secondary data analysis was adopted to collect the open information related to the number of the practicing dentists based on their graduation schools and practice locations by cities and counties in Taiwan in January 2023. The data were used to develop several statistical indicators to analyze the geographical distribution of dentists. Results: There were 16,533 practicing dentists in Taiwan in January 2023. Of the 16,533 dentists, 15,687 (94.88 %) graduated from domestic dental schools and 846 (5.12 %) graduated from foreign dental schools. For the school location, the coefficient of variation, Gini coefficient, population proportion index, and population density index were the largest (168.57 %, 0.47, 10.76 %, and 3927.01 people/square kilometer) in the dentists graduating from the northern dental schools. In overall, the dentists were concentrated in municipalities, cities, and the northern region of Taiwan, especially those graduating from the northern dental schools. Conclusion: In Taiwan, the geographical distribution of dentists is highly related to their graduation school background. Promoting a balanced distribution of dental enrollment quotas and dental student sources from different geographical locations and inducing the movement of dentists to the dentist-shortage areas may be the more feasible ways to solve the uneven geographical distribution of dentists in Taiwan.

Dendrobium fimbriatum is a perennial herb, and its stems are high-grade tea and nourishing medicinal materials. Various solvent extracts of D. fimbriatum were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory, anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE), antioxidant, and anti-α-glucosidase properties. Acetone and EtOAc extracts showed significant antioxidant effects. Acetone, n-hexane, and EtOAc extracts revealed potent inhibition against α-glucosidase. EtOAc, n-hexane, and dichloromethane extracts displayed significant anti-AChE activity. Among the isolated constituents, gigantol, moscatin, and dendrophenol showed potent antioxidant activities in FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS radical scavenging tests. Moscatin (IC50 = 161.86 ± 16.45 μM) and dendrophenol (IC50 = 165.19 ± 13.25 μM) displayed more potent anti-AChE activity than chlorogenic acid (IC50 = 236.24 ± 15.85 μM, positive control). Dendrophenol (IC50 = 14.31 ± 3.17 μM) revealed more efficient anti-NO activity than quercetin (positive control, IC50 = 23.09 ± 1.43 μM). Analysis of AChE and iNOS inhibitory components was performed using molecular docking and/or the bioaffinity ultrafiltration method. In bioaffinity ultrafiltration, the binding affinity of compounds to the enzyme (acetylcholinesterase and inducible nitric oxide synthase) was determined using the enrichment factor (EF). Among the main components of the EtOAc extract from D. fimbriatum stem, moscatin, dendrophenol, gigantol, and batatasin III with acetylcholinesterase exhibited the highest binding affinities, with affinity values of 66.31%, 59.48%, 54.60%, and 31.87%, respectively. Moreover, the affinity capacity of the identified compounds with inducible nitric oxide synthase can be ranked as moscatin (88.99%) > dendrophenol (65.11%) > gigantol (44.84%) > batatasin III (27.18%). This research suggests that the bioactive extracts and components of D. fimbriatum stem could be studied further as hopeful candidates for the prevention or treatment of hyperglycemia, oxidative stress-related diseases, and nervous disorders.

Previous studies showed that NaIO3 can induce oxidative stress-mediated retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) damage to simulate age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Lemon peel is rich in antioxidants and components that can penetrate the blood–retinal barrier, but their role in retinal oxidative damage remains unexplored. Here, we explore the protection of lemon peel ultrasonic-assisted water extract (LUWE), containing large amounts of flavonoids and polyphenols, against NaIO3-induced retinal degeneration. We initially demonstrated that LUWE, orally administered, prevented retinal distortion and thinning on the inner and outer nuclei layers, downregulating cleaved caspase-3 protein expression in RPE cells in NaIO3-induced mice. The effect of LUWE was achieved through the suppression of apoptosis and the associated proteins, such as cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase-3, as suggested by NaIO3-induced ARPE-19 cell models. This is because LUWE reduced reactive oxygen species-mediated mitochondrial fission via regulating p-Drp-1 and Fis1 expression. We further confirmed that LUWE suppresses the expression of p-MEK-1/2 and p-ERK-1/2 in NaIO3-induced ARPE-19 cells, thereby providing the protection described above, which was confirmed using PD98059 and U0126. These results indicated that LUWE prevents mitochondrial oxidative stress-mediated RPE damage via the MEK/ERK pathway. Elucidation of the molecular mechanism may provide a new protective strategy against retinal degeneration.

Background/purpose: The development of dental radiology in Taiwan has been over a century. This study explored mainly the profile of dental radiation workers and their occupational radiation exposure in Taiwan from 2013 to 2020. Materials and methods: This study used the secondary data analysis to survey mainly the changes of manpower of the dental radiation workers and their occupational radiation exposure in Taiwan from 2013 to 2020. Results: The number of monitored dental radiation workers increased from 678 in 2013 to 770 in 2020. However, the proportion of monitored dental radiation workers to the total monitored medical radiation workers decreased from 4.29% in 2013 to 3.67% in 2020. Although the number of monitored dental radiation workers increased, the number of the measurably exposed dental radiation workers decreased from 2013 to 2020. The annual collective exposure dose fluctuated from 5.21 man-Sv to 15.47 man-Sv, but it showed a decreasing trend. Furthermore, the mean annual effective exposure dose of total monitored dental radiation workers (0.01–0.02 mSv) and that of the measurably exposed dental radiation workers (0.15–1.11 mSv) were relatively low among various medical radiation workers. In overall, the proportion of medical radiation technologists to dentists varied from 0.41 to 0.45. Conclusion: Although the number of monitored dental radiation workers increase, the number of the measurably exposed dental radiation workers, the proportion of the measurably exposed dental radiation workers to the total monitored dental radiation workers, and the annual collective exposure dose for monitored dental radiation workers decrease from 2013 to 2020.

Background/purpose: : Taiwanese get use to drinking hand-shaken beverages. However, excessive sugar intake is strongly associated with the occurrence of dental caries. This study evaluated the correlation between the beverage serving activities and the dental use of National Health Insurance (NHI) for common oral diseases in 2016. Materials and methods: Data on the population, the beverage serving activities, and the dental records of NHI were obtained from the related websites of government. These data were divided by cities and counties to investigate the beverage serving activities and the dental use of NHI for common oral diseases in 2016. Results: In Taiwan, the value of beverage consumption per person had a moderate to high positive correlation with the dental use rate, the number of out-patient visits per 1,000 people, and the medical expenses per person for common oral diseases. For dental caries, diseases of pulp & periapical tissues, and gingivitis & periodontal diseases, their Pearson’s r values were 0.52–0.61, 0.18–0.40, and 0.58–0.65, respectively. These results indicate that the higher the beverage consumption per capita, the higher the dental use per capita. Conclusion: There is a long-term benefit for oral health and systemic health through reducing or avoiding unnecessary excessive sugar intake. Therefore, from a cost-effectiveness viewpoint, Taiwan government should develop a better oral health care policy including a health education strategy of appropriate sugar intake to prevent dental caries and other non-communicable diseases in Taiwanese people.

Background/purpose: In Taiwan, dental schools have gradually become a popular choice for high school graduates to enter in the universities. This study mainly analyzed the various admission ways to enroll students into the School of Dentistry of National Taiwan University (SODNTU) from 2000 to 2021. Materials and methods: The data on the numbers of enrollees and those enrollees who had completed registration in the SODNTU from 2000 to 2021 were available online to the public and included in this study. Results: The total number of enrollees in the SODNTU over the past 22 years was 764 with an annual mean of 34.73. The registration rate ranged from 90.91% to 100% with a mean registration rate of 96.86% from 2000 to 2021. The examination admission, individual application admission, and numerous stars initiatives admission were the three main admission ways to enroll students into the SODNTU from 2000 to 2021 with a total of 662 enrollees (86.65% of a total of 764 enrollees). The number (proportion) of enrollees through examination admission showed a decreasing trend year by year from 26 (78.79%) in 2000 to 15 (45.45%) in 2021. On the contrary, those enrollees through individual application admission and numerous stars initiatives admission showed an increasing trend year by year from 4 (12.12%) in 2000 to 14 (42.42%) in 2021. Conclusion: Although the examination admission is still the predominant admission way, the individual application admission and numerous stars initiatives admission gradually play pivotal roles to enroll students into the SODNTU recently.

Background/purpose: The development of dental assistants in Taiwan has been over a century. This study explored mainly the profile of dental assistants and the occupation survey about them in Taiwan from 2009 to 2021. Materials and methods: This study used the documentary analysis and secondary data analysis to survey mainly the changes of manpower of dental assistants in Taiwan from 2009 to 2021, and the association of their wages with economic indicators. Results: According to occupation survey from government, the number of dental assistants increased from 4315 in 2009–7909 in 2021. When estimated based on the data of the United States showing 1.86 dental assistants per dentist, the estimated number of dental assistants increased from 21,113 in 2009 to 28,698 in 2020. Although the mean monthly wage of dental assistants increased from 22,127 NT dollars in 2009 to 26,795 NT dollars in 2021, the proportion of the mean annual wage of dental assistants to the gross domestic product per capita decreased from 47.43% in 2009 to 34.78% in 2021. Moreover, the proportion of the mean monthly wage of dental assistants to the basic monthly wage of labor decreased from 128.05% in 2009 to 111.65% in 2021. Conclusion: In Taiwan, although the manpower and work content of dental assistants are important for dentists, they usually work with a low wage from 2009 to 2021. It is imperative to continue to promote the certification system for dental assistants to improve the professionalism and the wage structure of this occupation.

Bat feces have been reported in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) books to have the effect of reducing fever and improving eyesight, but the mechanism of vision improvement still needs further research. To this end, we used 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) to analyze the antioxidant capacity of and the types of vitamins in bat feces. We hoped to screen the pharmacological components of bat feces and to explain the role that these components may play in treating visual deterioration. Our results found that bat feces had a good antioxidant capacity and mainly contained vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (nicotinamide), B3 (nicotinic acid), and B5 (pantothenic acid). Although these vitamins may help to maintain the health of the optic nerve and cornea, the vitamin content of bat feces is low, but the heavy metal content is high, as shown using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis. Therefore, we suggest that the use of bat feces as TCM to improve vision should be strictly restricted.

Retinopathy caused by ultraviolet radiation and cancer chemotherapy has increased dramatically in humans due to rapid environmental and social changes. Therefore, it is very important to develop therapeutic strategies to effectively alleviate retinopathy. In China, people often choose dendrobium to improve their eyesight. In this study, we explored how Dendrobium fimbriatum extract (DFE) protects ARPE-19 cells and mouse retinal tissue from damage of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and chemotherapy. We evaluated the antioxidant capacity of DFE using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-trinitophenylhydrazine (DPPH) assay. The protective effects of DEF from UV- and oxaliplatin (OXA)-induced damage were examined in ARPE-19 cells using 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and immunofluorescence (IF) stains, and in mouse retinal tissue using immunohistochemistry (IHC) stains. Our results show that DFE has excellent antioxidant capacity. The ARPE-19 cell viability was decreased and the F-actin cytoskeleton structure was damaged by UV radiation and OXA chemotherapy, but both were alleviated after the DFE treatment. Furthermore, DFE treatment can alleviate OXA chemotherapy-induced reduced expressions of rhodopsin and SOD2 and increased expressions of TNF-α and caspase 3 in mouse retinal tissue. Thus, we suggest that DFE can act as suitable treatment for retinopathy through reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

With the prevalence of obesity and other components of metabolic syndrome, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become increasingly common. In recent years, much attention has been paid to various plant sources, hoping to find a treatment for NAFLD in plants. The Livsooth authentic herbal formula (LAH, 樂悠本草), a botanical drug formula combined with Puerariae lobatae radix, Lonicerae japonicae flos, Hoveniae semen, and Siraitiae fructus. This study used a network pharmacology approach to predict the potential mechanisms of LAH against NAFLD. Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses have identified potential biochemical and signaling pathways. Subsequently, the potential mechanism of action of LAH on NAFLD predicted by network pharmacology analysis was validated in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD model in C57BL/6 mice. Our results demonstrated that LAH ameliorated hepatocyte steatosis in liver tissue by activating the AMPK pathway and decreasing serum triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, glucose, and cholesterol. Besides, LAH increased the hepatic antioxidant enzymes activities, suggested that LAH improved oxidative stress markers in HFD induced NAFLD mice. In vitro experiments confirmed that the active component of LAH, puerarin, regulates lipid accumulation through the AMPK pathway. In conclusion, our study shows that network pharmacology predictions are consistent with experimental validation. LAH can be a candidate supplement for the prevention of NAFLD.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and chemotherapy is an effective treatment. However, chemotherapy often causes adverse side effects such as cardiotoxicity, myelosuppression, immunodeficiency, and osteoporosis. Our study focused on the alleviating effects of Anoectochilus roxburghii extracts (AREs) on the adverse side effects of chemotherapy in mice with breast cancer. We individually evaluated the antioxidant capacity and cytotoxicity of the AREs using DPPH and MTT assays. We also examined the effects of the AREs on intracellular F-actin, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of 4T1 cancer cells before and after doxorubicin (DOX) treatment. Our results showed that ARE treatment enhanced the effects of DOX chemotherapy by promoting cell morphology damage, oxidative stress, and ROS generation, as well as by reducing MMP in the 4T1 breast cancer cells. By using BALB/c mice with breast cancer with DOX treatment, our results showed that the DOX treatment reduced body weight, blood pressure, and heart rate and induced myelosuppression, immunodeficiency, cardiotoxicity, and osteoporosis. After oral ARE treatment of BALB/c mice with breast cancer, the chemotherapeutic effects of DOX were enhanced, and the adverse side effects of DOX chemotherapy were alleviated. Based on the above results, we suggest that AREs can be used as an adjuvant reliever to DOX chemotherapy in BALB/c mice with breast cancer.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. The most convincing biomarkers in the blood for AD are currently β-amyloid (Aβ) and Tau protein because amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are pathological hallmarks in the brains of patients with AD. The development of assay technologies in diagnosing early-stage AD is very important. The study of human AD subjects is hindered by ethical and technical limitations. Thus, many studies have therefore turned to AD animal models, such as Drosophila melanogaster, to explore AD pathology. However, AD biomarkers such as Aβ and p-Tau protein in Drosophilamelanogaster occur at extremely low levels and are difficult to detect precisely. In this study, we applied the immunomagnetic reduction (IMR) technology of nanoparticles for the detection of p-Tau expressions in hTauR406W flies, an AD Drosophila model. Furthermore, we used IMR technology as a biosensor in the therapeutic evaluation of Chinese herbal medicines in hTauR406W flies with Tau-induced toxicity. To uncover the pathogenic pathway and identify therapeutic interventions of Chinese herbal medicines in Tau-induced toxicity, we modeled tauopathy in the notum of hTauR406W flies. Our IMR data showed that the selected Chinese herbal medicines can significantly reduce p-Tau expressions in hTauR406W flies. Using evidence of notal bristle quantification and Western blotting analysis, we confirmed the validity of the IMR data. Thus, we suggest that IMR can serve as a new tool for measuring tauopathy and therapeutic evaluation of Chinese herbal medicine in an AD Drosophila model.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a prevalent issue and a consequence of metabolic syndrome impact on human health. Both of anti-atherosclerosis and anti-hepatic fibrosis capabilities of herbal medicine Ger-Gen-Chyn-Lian-Tang (GGCLT) has attracted attention, but their molecular regulatory mechanisms in a NAFLD model have not been elucidated. The aim of the present study was to explore the bioactivity of db/db mice following treatment with GGCLT. Methods: NAFLD phenotype of db/db mice were treated with GGCLT and lipogenesis, mitochondria dysfunction, mitophagy, macrophage polarization and adipose tissue browning were then evaluated using qRT-PCR and/or Western blot analysis, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry assays, respectively. Results: GGCLT not only decreased serum levels of TG and free fatty acids, but glucose and insulin tolerance test in db/db mice. In parallel, GGCLT reduced lipogenesis and hypoxia-inflammation cascades in NAFLD progression. GGCLT reduced lipid accumulation and was accompanied by the enhanced mitochondria biogenesis, M2 macrophage, and decreased M1 macrophage. The latter two events contributing to the anti-inflammation are resulting from mitochondria dynamics, and the lipotoxicity lowering effect of GGCLT of NAFLD mice is mediated by promoting mitophagy in Parkin-dependent and -independent pathways, by mitochondrial fusion over fission manner. GGCLT also inactivated lipogenesis and decreased lipid accumulation in epididymal white adipose tissue with a higher M2/M1 macrophage ratio. Conclusions: Besides in the liver, modulating of mitochondrial biogenesis and adipose tissue browning were characterized by increased Tmem26, Tfam, and Prdm16 expression by GGCLT in EWAT also contributes to the beneficial action in NAFLD.

Rhizoma Coptidis is a popular phytomedicine for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in Asia, but its effective dose for diabetes treatment remains confused because of diverse origins. This study aimed to investigate the dose-response effects of Rhizoma Coptidis extract granules (RCEG), produced with standardized quality control, on hypoglycemic effects in patients with type 2 diabetes. We conducted a retrospective analysis of Chang Gung Research Database from January 01, 2008 to November 30, 2017. Outpatients visiting traditional Chinese medicine clinics and receiving RCEG for type 2 diabetes treatment were included. Plasma glucose, lipid, and other parameters were analyzed from 93 patients with a total of 737 visits within 60 weeks. Scatter plots with the LOESS analysis were used to explore the association between RCEG dose and hypoglycemic effect. The minimal effective dose was chosen to divide the study population into the high-dose and low-dose RCEG groups. Non-parametric tests were used for between-group and within-group comparisons. The multivariate nonlinear mixed-effects model was applied to access the effect of treatment length and groups simultaneously on the change of HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose. The “arule” package in R was used to present the network diagram of RCEG and other co-prescriptions. We first discovered a significant relationship between RCEG dose and HbA1c reduction when the dose reached 0.08 g/kg/day or higher. We thus defined 0.08 g/kg/day of RCEG as the minimum effective dose, and a threshold to separate patients into the high-dose (≥0.08 g/kg/d) and low-dose (

Inflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of depression. This study aims to elucidate the antidepressant effect of baicalein, an anti-inflammatory component of a traditional Chinese herbal medicine (Scutellaria baicalensis), on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression-like behavior in mice, and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. In vitro, baicalein exhibited antioxidant activity and protected macrophages from LPS-induced damage. The results of the tail suspension test and forced swimming test (tests for despair potential in mice) showed the antidepressant effect of baicalein on LPS-treated mice. It also substantially decreased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1, and eotaxin, elicited by LPS in the plasma. Baicalein downregulated NF-κB-p65 and iNOS protein levels in the hippocampus, demonstrated its ability to mitigate neuroinflammation. Additionally, baicalein increased the levels of the mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF) in the hippocampus of LPS-treated mice, and elevated the ratio of mBDNF/proBDNF, which regulates neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity. Baicalein also promoted the expression of CREB, which plays a role in a variety of signaling pathways. In summary, the findings of this study demonstrate that the administration of baicalein can attenuate LPS-induced depression-like behavior by suppressing neuroinflammation and inflammation induced by the peripheral immune response.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a main cause of dementia, is the most common neurodegenerative disease that is related to the abnormal accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) proteins. Yi-Gan-San (YGS), a traditional herbal medicine, has been used for the management of neurodegenerative disorders and for the treatment of neurosis, insomnia and dementia. The aim of this study was to examine antioxidant capacity and cytotoxicity of YGS treatment by using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays in vitro. We explored neuroprotective effects of YGS treatment in alleviating Aβ neurotoxicity of Drosophila melanogaster in vivo by comparing survival rate, climbing index, and Aβ expressions through retinal green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression, highly sensitive immunomagnetic reduction (IMR) and Western blotting assays. In the in vitro study, our results showed that scavenging activities of free radical and SH-SY5Y nerve cell viability were increased significantly (p < 0.01–0.05). In the in vivo study, Aβ42-expressing flies (Aβ42-GFP flies) and their WT flies (mCD8-GFP flies) were used as an animal model to examine the neurotherapeutic effects of YGS treatment. Our results showed that, in comparison with those Aβ42 flies under sham treatments, Aβ42 flies under YGS treatments showed a greater survival rate, better climbing speed, and lower Aβ42 aggregation in Drosophila brain tissue (p < 0.01). Our findings suggest that YGS should have a beneficial alternative therapy for AD and dementia via alleviating Aβ neurotoxicity in the brain tissue.

Abstract Antrodia cinnamomea (AC) exhibits many bioactivities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and hepatoprotection activities. Many researchers have studied the functions of the components or fractions of AC, but the functions of the original extractions of AC have not been studied. In addition, the detailed relationship between AC and immune-related signaling pathways is unclear. In this study, we screened the effects of CCM111, which is the extract of AC, on seven immune-related signaling pathways and further investigated whether CCM111 can influence inflammation. Interestingly, our results showed that CCM111 significantly inhibited the IL-6-stimulated STAT3 pathway and the LPS-stimulated NF-κB pathway in macrophages. CCM111 also decreased the phosphorylation of STAT3, Tyk2 and the nuclear translocation of p65. Moreover, CCM111 and F4, a fraction of CCM111, down-regulated nitric oxide (NO) production, the protein levels of iNOS and COX-2, and inflammatory cytokines in macrophage cells. Therefore, our study suggested that CCM111 has the potential to be developed as an effective anti-inflammatory agent.

Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with bad cardiovascular outcomes and a high prevalence of anxiety and depression. This study investigated the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on the severity of anxiety and depression in OSA patients with or without coronary artery disease (CAD) and on the rate of cardio- and cerebro-vascular events in those with OSA and CAD. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included patients with moderate-to-severe OSA, with or without a recent diagnosis of CAD; all were started on CPAP therapy. Patients completed the Chinese versions of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) at baseline and after 6-month follow-up. The occurrence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) was assessed every 3 months up to 1 year. Results: BAI scores decreased from 8.5 ± 8.4 at baseline to 5.4 ± 6.9 at 6 months in CPAP-compliant OSA patients without CAD (P < 0.05). BAI scores also decreased from 20.7 ± 14.9 to 16.1 ± 14.5 in CPAP-compliant OSA patients with CAD. BDI-II scores decreased in CPAP-compliant OSA patients without CAD (from 11.1 ± 10.7 at baseline to 6.6 ± 9.5 at 6 months) and in CPAP-compliant OSA patients with CAD (from 20.4 ± 14.3 to 15.9 ± 7.3). In addition, there was a large effect size (ES) of BAI and BDI in 6-month CPAP treatment of OSA patients with CAD and a large ES in those with OSA under CPAP treatment. In OSA patients with CAD, the occurrence of MACCE was significantly lower in CPAP-compliant patients than that in CPAP noncompliant patients (11% in CPAP compliant and 50% in noncompliant; P < 0.05). Conclusions: CPAP improved anxiety and depression in OSA patients regardless of CAD. In OSA patients with CAD, CPAP-compliant patients had a lower 1-year rate of MACCE than CPAP-noncompliant patients.

BackgroundIn Asian countries, many patients with type 2 diabetes fail to achieve controlled glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels while taking several classes of oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs). Traditional Chinese medicine could be an alternative therapeutic option for poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. YH1 is a concentrated Chinese herbal extract formula that combines Rhizoma Coptidis and Shen-Ling-Bai-Zhu-San. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study evaluated YH1 as an add-on medication for poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.MethodsForty-six patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned 1:1 to the YH1 or placebo group. Before the trial, all subjects had received three or more classes of OHAs with HbA1c > 7.0% (53 mmol/mol) and a body mass index ≥ 23 kg/m2. During the 12-week trial, participants continued to take OHAs without any dose or medication changes. The primary endpoint was the percentage change in HbA1c level. Per-protocol analysis was applied to the final evaluation.ResultsAt week 12, there was an 11.1% reduction in HbA1c from baseline and a 68.9% increase in homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) of β cell function in the YH1 group, which also exhibited significant reductions in two-hour postprandial glucose (-26.2%), triglycerides (-29.5%), total cholesterol (-21.6%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-17.4%), body weight (-0.5%), and waist circumference (-1.1%). The changes in fasting plasma glucose, HOMA insulin resistance and symptom scores were not significantly different between the YH1 and placebo groups. No serious adverse events occurred during this clinical trial.ConclusionsThis pilot study indicates that YH1 together with OHAs can improve hypoglycemic action and β-cell function in overweight/obese patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. YH1 is a safe add-on medication for OHAs and has beneficial effects on weight control and lipid metabolism. A larger study population with longer treatment and follow-up periods is required for further verification.

RespireAid™ (NRICM101) is an effective anti-SARS-CoV-2 traditional Chinese medicine formula and has been licensed as a drug or dietary supplement in Taiwan, Luxembourg, Australia, Singapore, Cambodia, Philippines, and Canada. In this study, we provided integrated quality control strategy to analyze the ingredient of RespireAid™. In addition, the lot-to-lot efficacy stabilities were also evaluated. We found that RespireAid™ comprised of monosaccharides and disaccharides (34.0%), maltodextrin (23.5%), inorganic elements and ash (12.2%), oligosaccharides and polysaccharides (11.4%), principal components (4.4%), moisture (4.0%), amino acids (3.5%), b-Cyclodextrin (0.25%), menthol (0.25%), and nucleotides (0.14%), while the remainder was unidentified (6.36%). This is the first time that the chemical composition of a complex traditional Chinese medicine was clarified using various analytical instruments. The lot-to-lot anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation efficacies of RespireAid™ were consistent, with average 50% scavenging concentrations of 0.22 ± 0.02 mg/mL and 5.76 ± 0.59 mg/mL, respectively. From a comprehensive quality control strategy point of view, RespireAid™, designed from a traditional Chinese medicine formula, displayed high quality, transparency, and efficacy. This integrated strategy provides a clear and reliable way to evaluate the quality of complex traditional Chinese medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]