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This study aimed to determine the anti-inflammatory activities and bioactive compounds of soymilk yogurt prepared using Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TOKAI 17 or Pediococcus pentosaceus TOKAI 759 m. Mice were divided into five groups: normal diet (ND), soymilk, soymilk yogurt using L. plantarum TOKAI 17 (SY 17) or P. pentosaceus TOKAI 759 m (SY 759 m), and 0.5 × 109 cells of each starter strain (BC 17 or BC759m). In the SY 759 m group, the serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and the cytotoxicity of natural killer cells were attenuated compared to the ND group. In the cecum microbiota, the abundances of butyrate-producing bacteria increased in the SY 759 m and BC 17 groups. Furthermore, SY 759 m metabolites contained high levels of aglycone isoflavone, adenine and showed a significant decrease in CCL-2 and interleukin-6 production in lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophage. In conclusion, soymilk yogurt produced using P. pentosaceus TOKAI 759 m modulates the gut microbiota and can potentially prevent pro-inflammatory cytokine production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoxyl sulfate (IS), a uremic toxin, is a physiologically active sulfated metabolite, specifically in kidney failure patients. Our previous studies have shown that IS downregulates phagocytic immune function in a differentiated HL-60 human macrophage cell model. However, it remains unclear whether IS exerts similar effects on macrophage function in other cell types or in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-sensitive immune cell models. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of IS on intracellular oxidation levels and phagocytic activity in a differentiated U937 human macrophage cell model, both in the absence and presence of LPS. Our results demonstrated that IS significantly increases intracellular oxidation levels and decreases phagocytic activity, particularly in cells activated by LPS. Furthermore, we found that 2-acetylphenothiazine, an NADH oxidase inhibitor, attenuates the effects of IS in LPS-activated macrophage cells. Representative antioxidants, trolox, α-tocopherol, and ascorbic acid, significantly mitigated the effects of IS on the macrophages responding to LPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new resin glycosides, muricatins XII (1) and XIII (2), were isolated from the crude resin glycoside fraction of the seeds of Ipomoea muricata (L.) Jacq. (Convolvulaceae), along with three known ones, muricatins V (3), VI (4), and IX (5). Compounds 1 and 2 contained new glycosidic acids, muricatic acids E (1a) and F (2a), respectively. The structures of these compounds were determined using data obtained from spectroscopy measurements and chemical evidence. The results suggested that 1 and 2 have macrolactone structures (jalapins). Furthermore, the cytotoxic activity of the crude resin glycoside fraction and 3–5 against HL-60 human promyelocytic leukaemia cells was evaluated. All tested samples demonstrated cytotoxic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new resin glycosides with macrolactone structures (jalapins), namely, calyhedins VII (1)–X (4), were isolated from the rhizomes of Calystegia hederacea Wall. (Convolvulaceae). The structures of 1–4 were determined based on spectroscopic data. They were classified into three ring types: a 27-membered ring (1), a 22-membered ring (2, 3), and a 23-membered ring (4). Their sugar moieties were partially acylated using five organic acids, including (E)-2-methylbut-2-enoic acid, 2S-methylbutyric acid, and 2 R-methyl-3R-hydroxybutyric acid. Compound 4 was the first genuine resin glycoside with calyhedic acid F as the glycosidic acid component. Additionally, the cytotoxic activities of 1, 2, and 4 towards HL-60 human promyelocytic leukaemia cells were evaluated. All compounds demonstrated almost the same activity as the positive control, cisplatin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiplexing characteristics of a dc-removed coaxial holographic storage system were evaluated for what is believed to be the first time. Our dc-removed coaxial system achieved 3.5 times higher raw data density than a conventional coaxial system that involved dc recording. The increase of the data density was due not only to less M/# consumption but also to the effects of signal amplification and noise reduction by use of the positive and negative images reconstructed from the same holograms. [c] 2009 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 210.2860, 210.4680, 090.0090.