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Objectives To compare the accuracy of abdominal visceral fat area (VFA) measurements between abdominal dual bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and whole-body BIA referenced to computed tomography (CT) measures. Methods Abdominal VFAs were measured in 102 individuals: 59 men and 43 women with a mean age of 44.2 ± 16.3 years (range 21 – 76), body mass index 23.9 ± 7.8 kg/m 2 (range 18 – 35) using a DUALSCAN HDS-2000 machine (dual abdominal BIA) and an InBody720 machine (whole-body BIA). The VFA values from each machine were compared with those from CT under various conditions. Results Mean abdominal VFAs were 116 ± 69 cm 2 by CT, 89 ± 47 cm 2 by dual abdominal BIA, and 84 ± 33 cm 2 by whole-body BIA. The former measure showed a higher correlation with the CT measure than the latter ( r = 0.89 vs. r = 0.64, P < 0.001). Both BIA methods tended to underestimate abdominal VFAs compared with CT scans when CT VFA was not small. The dual abdominal BIA had less bias than the whole-body BIA in the assessment of VFAs. The whole-body BIA was affected by subcutaneous fat area. Conclusions Dual BIA was more accurate in assessing abdominal VFA than whole-body BIA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We present the strain-smoothed MITC3+ shell finite element for nonlinear analysis. • The total Lagrangian formulation is adopted allowing for large displacement kinematics. • Its performance is demonstrated in geometrical and material nonlinear analyses. This paper presents the strain-smoothed MITC3+ shell finite element for nonlinear analysis. The strain-smoothed MITC3+ shell element, recently developed for linear analysis, significantly improves the membrane behavior of the MITC3+ shell element while retaining its excellent bending behavior. The achievement is attained by adopting the strain-smoothed element (SSE) method to the membrane strain field. To extend its formulation to nonlinear analysis, the total Lagrangian formulation is employed allowing for large displacements and rotations. Through various numerical examples, we verify that the strain-smoothed MITC3+ shell element also shows the superior performance in geometrical and material nonlinear analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Densification behavior of 99.998% purity SiC by hot pressing without metallic additives was investigated. A theoretical densification of 92% was achieved at 2350 °C with 50 MPa in 3 h. The densification was more affected by the sintering pressure rather than by the sintering temperature and was independent of initial particle size. Data were interpreted according to the power-law creep model. The β-SiC phase was preserved in the high purity, hot-pressed SiC specimen without β→α phase transformation even at 2350 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Akebia saponin PA induces autophagy and apoptosis in AGS human gastric cancer cells. [•] PI3K/Akt/mTOR and AMPK/mTOR pathways are involved in akebia saponin PA-induced autophagy. [•] Autophagy plays the main role in akebia saponin PA-induced cell death. [•] Akebia saponin PA-induced autophagy activates JNK/p38 to promote caspase-3-dependent apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper examined the mechanical and electrical properties of poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene: FEP) film modified by electron beam (EB). The simultaneous irradiation method with EB was adopted for the grafting of styrene and subsequent sulfonation onto FEP film. The thermal and mechanical characteristics of the irradiated FEP film, and also those of the grafted and sulfonated FEP films, were investigated by TGA, FT-IR spectrometer, and Instron. The simultaneous irradiation with EB facilitated the homogeneous grafting, as well as a high degree of grafting with a maximum value of around 60%, thereby allowing accurate control of the degree of grafting at doses ranging from 10 to 100kGy. The grafting or sulfonation decreased the thermal stability of FEP, whereas it considerably increased its mechanical properties. The high radiation resistance of virgin FEP up to a dose of 100kGy enabled the sulfonation of FEP film to considerably reinforce its polymeric structures except of 10kGy, thereby increasing its tensile strength at 30kGy by two-fold compared to that of the virgin FEP film. The ion conductivity (IC) and ion-exchange capacity (IEC) values of the FEP membrane (125μm thick), which were dependant on the degree of grafting, were 0.25Scm−1 and 2.4mmol/g, respectively, at 59.2% of the degree of grafting and were superior to those of the commercialized Nafion membrane (IC, 0.12Scm−1; IEC, 0.9–1.0mmol/g). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A nonlinear beam element is proposed for analysis of multi-layer strand cables. • Complex helical geometries of the cables including inter-wire motions are considered. • The beam element can be used regardless of the number of subordinate helical wires. • Its accuracy and efficiency are illustrated through several numerical examples. This study presents a multi-director continuum beam finite element developed for efficient analysis of multi-layer strand cables. The beam element is derived from the continuum mechanics based beam formulation incorporating multi-directors and cross-sectional elements to describe the helical geometries of wires that constitute the strand cables. The main advantage of the present continuum beam formulation is that complex geometries of strand cable and inter-wire motions can be addressed in the framework of the beam kinematics regardless of the numbers of layers and subordinate helical wires. This approach enables simple modeling together with efficient analysis, and allows both geometric and material nonlinearities to be considered. In addition to its excellent accuracy, the proposed beam element model requires a significantly reduced number of degrees of freedom compared to conventional three-dimensional solid finite element models for cable analysis. Through several numerical examples, the predictive ability of the proposed beam model is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Associations between TCF7L2 SNP and diabetic complications and diabetes-related factors were investigated. Subjects with rs7903146 variant had significantly higher prevalence of stroke (24.1% vs. 11.1%; P =0.039) among subjects exhibiting a long disease duration (≥10 years). In conclusion, the TCF7L2 SNP variant may confer a higher risk of stroke in diabetic patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Spicatoside A enhanced memory consolidation in the passive avoidance task. [•] Spicatoside A increased the expression levels of hippocampal mBDNF in naïve mice. [•] Spicatoside A enhanced memory consolidation by increasing hippocampal mBDNF level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The relationship between the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and diabetes has been studied for many years. However, studies that assessed RAS components comprehensively were limited. We hypothesized that serum RAS components, especially the effector peptide angiotensin-II, might be closely associated with glucose metabolism status and diabetic complications.Methods: We investigated the association of individual RAS component with albuminuria in 407 subjects with normal glucose metabolism (NGM), prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Anthropometric and biochemical parameters, including glucose homeostasis, albuminuria, and RAS-related parameters such as plasma renin activity (PRA), aldosterone, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), and angiotensin-II levels, were measured.Results: The mean±standard deviation (SD) age and body mass index were 57.1±11.1years and 24.7±3.3kg/m2, respectively. There were 54 subjects with NGM, 102 with prediabetes, and 251 with T2DM. The mean±SD angiotensin-II levels in these groups were 9.32±6.89, 12.89±10.39, and 17.00±15.28pg/mL, and the respective urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratios (ACRs) were 8.1±5.3, 13.3±17.3, and 30.7±51.9mg/g, which were significantly different among the groups. The serum angiotensin-II levels were correlated with levels of PRA, insulin resistance, C-reactive protein, and urinary ACR. Among RAS-related parameters, only the angiotensin-II level was significantly associated with urinary ACR after adjusting for relevant risk factors.Conclusions: Angiotensin-II may play an important role in the development of albuminuria, particularly in subjects with impaired glucose metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bone homeostasis is maintained by a balance between bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. Osteoporosis occurs when osteoclast activity surpasses osteoblast activity. Pro-inflammatory cytokines stimulate osteoclast differentiation and activity by increasing production of macrophage-colony stimulating factor and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL). In this study, we investigated whether Magnoliae Flos (MF), one of the most commonly used Chinese medicinal herbs for managing rhinitis, sinusitis and headache, could effectively inhibit osteoporosis. In ovariectomized (OVX) mice compared to sham mice, the body weight increased and serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase 5b, calcium, and osteocalcin were significantly elevated. However, orally administrated MF extract substantially inhibited the increased body weight and serum levels of bone turnover markers, without any evidence of tissue toxicity. MF extract treatment significantly reversed the morphometric parameters of ovariectomy-induced bone loss, including trabecular bone volume, thickness, number, separation, and bone density, to almost the same levels of the sham mice. Furthermore, MF extract reduced the RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption by inhibiting the activities of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cathepsin K in mouse bone marrow macrophages. MF extract appeared to increase ALP activity in murine osteoblastic cells. Taken together, MF extract may be a beneficial supplement for the blockade of osteoporosis progression, particularly for the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Dipsaci radix, the dried root of Dipsacus asperoides C.Y. Cheng et al T.M.Ai is used as a medicinal plant in oriental clinics for the treatment of bone diseases and functions by strengthening bone and healing bone fractures. Aim of the study: This study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of Dipsaci radix in treating rheumatoid arthritis using a type II collagen (CII)-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model. Materials and methods: Arthritis was induced in male DBA/1 mice by immunization with CII. Dipsaci radix water (DR-W) extract at 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg was orally administered from days to after the induction of arthritis. Arthritic score, serum levels of anti-CII IgG2a, the inflammatory mediator prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6), and histological changes in the ankle joint were analyzed in CIA mice. Results: Arthritic induction increased the arthritic score, as well as serum levels of anti-CII IgG2a antibody, PGE2, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in mice. However, administration of DR-W extract in CIA mice significantly reduced arthritic scores and serum levels of anti-CII IgG2a antibody, PGE2, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 compared with those in vehicle-treated CIA mice. Furthermore, histopathological improvement in joint architecture was also observed in DR-W extract-treated CIA mice. Conclusions: DR-W extract has anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects in arthritic mice. This suggests that Dipsaci radix might be used as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of human arthritis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: The methanol extract of Cimicifugae Rhizome has been traditionally used in various disorders including inflammation. Aim of the study: The aim of the study is to explore whether anti-inflammatory action of 3 active compounds, two triterpenoid glycosides (cimiside E, 23-O-actylshengmanol-3-xyloside) and one furanocoumarin (isoimperatorin), isolated from Cimicifugae Rhizome is related with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) expression in human umbilical endothelial cell line, EA.hy926 cells. Materials and methods: Cell viability and production of reactive oxygen species were performed. In addition, adhesion of monocyte into endothelial cells and western blot for expression of adhesion molecules and signal proteins were investigated in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-activated cells. Results: Pretreatment of test compounds significantly reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), but not intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Three compounds all dose-dependently increased not only PPAR-γ expression in EA.hy926 cells but inhibited TNF-α-induced phosphorylation of Akt, extracelullar-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and protein kinase C (PKC) with different specificity. Finally, they prevented TNF-α-induced adhesion of U937 monocytic cells to EA.hy926 cells. Conclusions: The present results show that cimiside E, 23-O-actylshengmanol-3-xyloside, isoimperatorin isolated from Cimicifugae Rhizome selectively inhibits TNF-α-induced expression of VCAM-1 at least by upregulation of PPAR-γ, and signals for ERK1/2, PI3K, and PKC are involved in this effect. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Activators of PPAR have been demonstrated to inhibit the induction of VCAM-1 but not ICAM-1 in human endothelial cells (EC). During the screening of anti-inflammatory activity of traditional herbs, we found 7,8-didehydrocimigenol (7,8-DHC), one of active triterpenoids of Cimicifugae rhizoma (C. rhizoma) increases PPAR-γ expression in EC in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Therefore, we asked whether 7,8-DHC selectively inhibits the expression of VCAM-1 but not ICAM-1 in TNF-α-activated EC via upregulation of PPAR-γ. Treatment with 7,8-DHC or PPAR-γ agonists (GW1929, troglitazone) inhibited the expression of VCAM-1 but not ICAM-1. Furthermore, the selective inhibition of VCAM-1 expression was inhibited by PPAR-γ antagonist, GW9662, or siPPAR-γ-transfected cells. 7,8-DHC significantly inhibited NF-kB activity via inhibition of phosphorylation of IkB and it also inhibited phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt but not PKC. Finally, attachment of monocytes (U937) to EC by TNF-α was significantly reduced by 7,8-DHC. These results indicate that upregualtion of PPAR-γ by 7,8-DHC in EC inhibits NF-kB activity of TNF-α-activated EC which leads to selective inhibition of VCAM-1 expression. In addition, ERK1/2 and Akt signal pathways are involved in differential regulation by 7,8-DHC. We concluded that 7,8-DHC can be used for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders such as atherosclerosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]