Search

Abstract Morinda citrifolia L. (Noni) has been widely used in traditional medicine in tropical zones and has become increasingly popular globally owing to its health benefits. Most noni fruits are consumed as juice, which is traditionally produced by the natural fermentation of noni fruits. In this study, the metabolic profiles of noni fruit juice (NJ1) and fermented noni fruit juices (NJ2 and NJ3) was compared. A total of 74, 83, and 91 compounds including anthraquinones, coumarins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, phenolics, terpenoids, and miscellaneous (acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, fatty acids, etc.) were tentatively identified from NJ1, NJ2, and NJ3 in both positive and negative electrospray ionization modes. The phenolic compound composition differed significantly between noni juice and fermented noni juice. The results of the unsupervised principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis showed that the non-fermented juice group clustered with the fermented juice groups. Asperulosidic acid, isoasperulosidic acid, and rutin levels were higher in the NJ1 group than those in the NJ2 group. Deacetylasperulosidic acid and monotropein contents in NJ2 were higher than those in NJ1. Similarly, NJ1 had higher asperulosidic acid and isoasperulosidic acid than those in NJ3. The findings from this study have the potential to enhance the quality of fermented noni juice.

Abstract Background Consumption of dietary fiber has been suggested as an important aspect of a healthy diet to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS), including cardiovascular disease. The role of fiber intake in MetS might differ by individual genetic susceptibility. APOA5 encodes a regulator of plasma triglyceride levels, which impacts the related mechanisms of MetS. This study investigated the association between dietary fiber and the risk of MetS, assessing their associations according to APOA5 genetic variants. Methods A total of 1985 participants aged 30–55 years were included from a cross-sectional study based on the Korean Medicine Daejeon Citizen Cohort study at baseline (2017–2019). Dietary fiber intake was measured using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. The APOA5 polymorphisms (rs2266788 A > G, rs662799 A > G, and rs651821 T > C) were genotyped using the Asia Precision Medicine Research Array. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Results A higher consumption of dietary fiber was associated with a lower prevalence of MetS (P = 0.025). Among the components of MetS, an inverse association with dietary fiber was observed in increased waist circumference (OR, 95% CI = 0.60, 0.41–0.88, P for trend = 0.009) and elevated triglycerides (OR, 95% CI = 0.69, 0.50–0.96, P for trend = 0.012). Regarding the interaction with APOA5 genetic variants, a stronger association with dietary fiber intake was shown in G allele carriers of rs662799 than in A/A carriers (OR, 95% CI = 2.34, 1.59–3.44, P for interaction = 0.024) and in C allele carriers of rs651821 than in T/T carriers (OR, 95% CI = 2.35, 1.59–3.46, P for interaction = 0.027). Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that the benefits of dietary fiber on the risk of MetS could be modified by genetic variants of the APOA5 gene, providing a more effective strategy for preventing MetS.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between dietary polyamine intake and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality in Korean population. Methods: A total of 37,715 participants were included in a population-based cohort study. Dietary polyamine intake (µmol/d) were calculated using the average spermidine and spermine content (µmol/g) and daily consumed food components (mg/d) from 12 food groups. Cox proportional hazards examined associations between dietary polyamine and all-cause and CVD-related mortality. Results: Among the participants, 2,080 all-cause and 483 CVD-related deaths occurred. The lowest risk of all-cause and CVD-related mortality was found in the highest tertile of fruit, vegetables, legume, nut and seafood-derived spermidine and spermine intake, after adjusting covariates. The relationship between dietary polyamine intake and all-cause and CVD-related mortality was more pronounced in men and older individuals than in their counterparts. Conclusions: Higher intake of mediterranean-like diet derived polyamine was associated with lower CVD-related and all-cause mortality in Korean adults.

Sleep quality is a vital determinant of human health as sleep disorders are associated with cognitive deficits, and chronic sleep deprivation is associated with a broad range of health complications. Previous studies on the association between the gut microbiome and sleep quality have been constrained by small sample sizes or have focused on specific sleep disorders, thus yielding inconsistent results. Herein, we investigated the relationship between microbial composition and sleep quality in a cohort of 159 Koreans. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), determined through a self-administered questionnaire. Gut microbiome analyses were performed using 16S rRNA amplicons. We found no direct correlation between microbial alpha diversity metrics and sleep; however, we identified differences in beta diversity among sleep quality groups (with a PSQI score > 5 indicating poor sleep quality and PSQI ≤5 indicating good sleep quality). We also found differential microbial signatures (Bacteroides, Prevotella 9, and Faecalibacterium) among the groups. Furthermore, functional metabolic pathway profiles revealed significant linear correlations of the L-arginine and L-tryptophan biosynthetic pathways as well as 4-aminobutanoate degradation with sleep status. In particular, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which harbors these metabolic pathways, showed differences between sleep quality groups and a linear association with sleep quality scores and was thus identified as the species most strongly associated with sleep status. This study provides a significant advance in our understanding of the relationship between gut microbiota and sleep regulation. The current findings provide a basis for further research into potential therapeutic strategies for sleep disorders targeting the gut microbiome.

Volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) are not only important for their therapeutic potential but also significantly influence the flavor profiles of agricultural products. VSCs exhibit various chemical structures due to their stability and volatility, and they may form or be altered as a result of enzymatic and chemical reactions during storage and cooking. This study has focused on profiles of VSCs in 58 different vegetable samples by using HS-SPME-GC/MS technique and chemometric analyses. The validation was carried out using cabbage juice as a vegetable matrix for VSCs analysis, showing satisfactory repeatability (RSD 8.07% ~ 9.45%), reproducibility (RSD 4.22% ~ 7.71%), accuracy and specificity. The established method was utilized on various vegetables, revealing that 21 VSCs such as sulfides, disulfides, trisulfides, isothiocyanates, sulfhydryls, and thiophenes were successfully identified and quantified. These compounds were found in a range of vegetables including Allium species, Cruciferae, Capsicum species, green leafy vegetables, and mushrooms. In particular, isocyanate and allyl groups were abundant in Cruciferae and Allium vegetables, respectively. Cooking conditions were shown to reduce the levels of certain sulfur compounds such as dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl trisulfide in vegetables like broccoli and cabbage, suggesting that heat treatment can lead to the volatilization and reduction of these compounds. The present study provides reliable insights into the compositions of VSCs in various vegetables and examines the changes induced by different cooking methods.

IntroductionThe use of natural products for the treatment of sleep disturbances is increasing owing to the side effects and limitations of traditional sleep therapy. Moreover, recent studies have shown a significant correlation between sleep quality and gut microbiota composition. This study aimed to assess the impact of LTC-022, a commercially available dietary supplement containing Lactium and L-theanine, on enhancing sleep quality.MethodsForty participants experiencing sleep discomfort were enrolled in a double-blind randomized controlled trial, wherein they received LTC-022 or a placebo orally for 8 weeks. The effects of treatment on sleep quality were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Insomnia Severity Index. To comprehensively evaluate changes in sleep patterns, various parameters were evaluated, including the time in bed (TIB), total sleep time (TST), sleep onset latency (SOL), sleep efficiency (SE), wake after sleep onset (WASO) counts, and bedtime. These parameters were derived from daily sleep logs recorded over the 8-week study period, categorized into weekdays and weekends. Stool samples were analyzed for microbiome composition. The V4 region of bacterial 16S rRNA genes was amplified using specific primers (515F and 806R) and targeted for analysis. Microbial diversity, including operational taxonomic units, the Shannon and Chao indices, the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio, and the variety of bacterial taxa, was assessed.ResultsNo significant differences were observed in sleep quality and insomnia scale characteristics between the two groups. In-depth analysis using sleep diaries showed that WASO counts after 8 weeks and bedtime after 4 weeks showed significant differences between the LTC-022 and control groups. In the LTC-022 group, significant differences were observed in the increase in TST, decrease in SOL, increase in SE, decrease in WASO counts, and earlier bedtime. Microbiome analysis revealed that the abundance of the genera Blautia and Ruminococcus increased in fecal samples from the LTC-022 group.ConclusionThese results suggest that continuous LTC-022 intake has a beneficial effect on maintaining sleep duration and an appropriate bedtime. Additionally, changes in the gut microbiota may be linked to changes in sleep patterns resulting from the consumption of Lactium and L-theanine.Clinical trial registrationhttps://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do/22841, KCT0007750.

Lignans are phytoestrogens found in various forms such as glycosides, ester-linked oligomers, and aglycones in a variety of foods, including soy products, legumes, grains, nuts, vegetables, and fruits. This study aimed to optimize the extraction of lignans from cereal grains using response surface methodology (RSM). Lignans, including secoisolariciresinol (Seco), matairesinol (Mat), pinoresinol (Pin), lariciresinol (Lar), and syringaresinol (Syr), were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. A Box–Behnken design was employed to determine the optimal values for three extraction parameters: temperature (X1: 20°C–60°C), methanol concentration (X2: 60%–100%), and extraction time (X3: 30–90 min). The highest lignan contents were obtained at X1 = 44.24°C, X2 = 84.64%, and X3 = 53.63 min. To apply these experimental conditions to the actual experiment, the optimal conditions were slightly adjusted to X1 = 40°C, X2 = 80%, and X3 = 60 min. The predicted results closely matched the experimental results obtained using the modified optimal extraction conditions. The highest lignan content found in barley sprouts (85.930 μg/100 g), however, most grains exhibited relatively low concentrations of lignans. These findings provide valuable insights into the lignan content of grains and contribute to the generation of reliable data in this field.

Abstract Background In the context of population aging, advances in healthcare technology, and growing interest in healthy aging and higher quality of life (QOL), have gained central focus in public health, particularly among middle-aged adults. Methods This study presented an optimal prediction model for QOL among middle-aged South Korean adults (N = 4,048; aged 30–55 years) using a machine-learning technique. Community-based South Korean population data were sampled through multistage stratified cluster sampling. Twenty-one variables related to individual factors and various lifestyle patterns were surveyed. QOL was assessed using the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) and categorized into total QOL, physical component score (PCS), and mental component score (MCS). Seven machine-learning algorithms were used to predict QOL: decision tree, Gaussian Naïve Bayes, k-nearest neighbor, logistic regression, extreme gradient boosting, random forest, and support vector machine. Data imbalance was resolved with the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE). Random forest was used to compare feature importance and visualize the importance of each variable. Results For predicting QOL deterioration, the random forest method showed the highest performance. The random forest algorithm using SMOTE showed the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) for total QOL (0.822), PCS (0.770), and MCS (0.786). Applying the data, SMOTE enhanced model performance by up to 0.111 AUC. Although feature importance differed across the three QOL indices, stress and sleep quality were identified as the most potent predictors of QOL. Random forest generated the most accurate prediction of QOL among middle-aged adults; the model showed that stress and sleep quality management were essential for improving QOL. Conclusion The results highlighted the need to develop a health management program for middle-aged adults that enables multidisciplinary management of QOL.

A low energy ion irradiation system based on the deuterium arc ion source with a high perveance of 1 μP for a single extraction aperture has been successfully developed for the investigation of ion irradiation on plasma-facing components including the first mirror of plasma optical diagnostics system. Under the optimum operating condition for mirror testing, the ion source has a beam energy of 200 eV and a current density of 3.7 mA/cm2. The ion source comprises a magnetic cusp-type plasma source, an extraction system, a target system with a Faraday cup, and a power supply control system to ensure stable long time operation. Operation parameters of plasma source such as pressure, filament current, and arc power with D2 discharge gas were optimized for beam extraction by measuring plasma parameters with a Langmuir probe. The diode electrode extraction system was designed by IGUN simulation to optimize for 1 μP perveance. It was successfully demonstrated that the ion beam current of ∼4 mA can be extracted through the 10 mm aperture from the developed ion source. The target system with the Faraday cup is also developed to measure the beam current. With the assistance of the power control system, ion beams are extracted while maintaining a consistent arc power for more than 10 min of continuous operation.

Objectives This study used National Health Insurance claims data from Korea to report the prevalence of sleep disorders and treatment status, including traditional Korean medicine, in the last 10 years.Methods This is a retrospective cohort study in Korea. All diagnosis and prescription data, including herbal medicine claims, from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from 2011 to 2020 were reviewed. Prevalence estimation, direct medical expenses and prescribed amounts for sleep disorders were recorded.Results The prevalence of sleep disorders increased from 3 867 975 (7.62%) in 2011 to 7 446 846 (14.41%) in 2020, nearly doubling over 10 years. Insomnia was observed in 91.44% (n=9 011 692) of the patients. The mean number of hospital visits per patient for sleep disorders was 11.5 (±26.62). Benzodiazepines are the most commonly prescribed medications for sleep disorders, and gamma-isoyosan is the most frequently prescribed herbal medicine.Conclusions Sleep disorders are continuously increasing, as is the use of medical services—personal and social medical expenses are also increasing accordingly. Sleep disorders should be recognised as a significant health problem that needs to be actively addressed to improve quality of life.

Introduction: HER2 overexpression induces cancer aggression and frequent recurrences in many solid tumors. Because HER2 overproduction is generally followed by gene amplification, inhibition of protein–protein interaction (PPI) between transcriptional factor ELF3 and its coactivator MED23 has been considered an effective but challenging strategy. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the hotspot of ELF3-MED23 PPI and further specify the essential residues and their key interactions in the hotspot which are controllable by small molecules with significant anticancer activity. Methods: Intensive biological evaluation methods including SEAP, fluorescence polarization, LC-MS/MS-based quantitative, biosensor, GST-pull down assays, and in silico structural analysis were performed to determine hotspot of ELF3-MED23 PPI and to elicit YK1, a novel small molecule PPI inhibitor. The effects of YK1 on possible PPIs of MED23 and the efficacy of trastuzumab were assessed using cell culture and tumor xenograft mouse models. Results: ELF3-MED23 PPI was found to be specifically dependent on H-bondings between D400, H449 of MED23 and W138, I140 of ELF3 for upregulating HER2 gene transcription. Employing YK1, we confirmed that interruption on these H-bondings significantly attenuated the HER2-mediated oncogenic signaling cascades and exhibited significant in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity against HER2-overexpressing breast and gastric cancers even in their trastuzumab refractory clones. Conclusion: Our approach to develop specific ELF3-MED23 PPI inhibitor without interfering other PPIs of MED23 can finally lead to successful development of a drug resistance-free compound to interrogate HER2 biology in diverse conditions of cancers overexpressing HER2.

A 36-year-old female with severe spastic dysarthria participated in this study. She received 4 weeks of individual, intensive voice-focused treatment. Voice recordings were conducted at three baseline points, immediately posttreatment, and at a 4-month follow-up. The primary outcome variables were selected acoustic measures of vocal function: sound pressure level (SPL), mean fundamental frequency (F0), maximum phonation time (MPT), jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonics ratio (NHR), and maximum phonation frequency range (MPFR). Significant pre-to-posttreatment changes (p < 0.05) were found for most acoustic variables. All acoustic gains, except for MPFR, were maintained at the 4-month follow-up. The significant posttreatment changes in the majority of the acoustic measures analyzed suggest that intensive voice-focused treatment may have the potential to improve vocal function in adults with severe spastic dysarthria secondary to cerebral palsy (CP). Evidence-based treatment options for voice disorders in adults with CP are limited. Results emphasize the need for more studies with this population.

We comparatively evaluated the antioxidant properties of key triterpenes from Centella asiatica, including asiatic acid (AA), asiaticoside, madecassic acid, and madecassoside, in several cell types, including skin fibroblasts, macrophages, hepatocytes, and endothelial cells, under conditions promoting oxidative stress. AA conferred the highest viability on Hs68 cells exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation. Triterpene pretreatment attenuated the UVB-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as the UVB-induced depletion of glutathione (GSH) in skin fibroblasts. AA most potently inhibited UVB-induced MMP generation, resulting in increased intracellular collagen levels. Pretreatment with triterpenes, particularly AA, significantly improved cell viability and attenuated TBHP-induced levels of ROS, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase in HepG2 cells. Triterpenes attenuated ROS levels and reduced MDA and GSH expression in EA.hy926 cells. In RAW264.7 macrophages, production of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 (indicators of LPS-induced oxidative damage) was significantly reduced by treatment with any of the triterpenes. Statistical analyses of triterpene biological activities using principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering revealed that AA exerted the greatest overall influence and showed remarkable activity in Hs68 and HepG2 cells.

BackgroundPatient-generated health data are important in the management of several diseases. Although there are limitations, information can be obtained using a wearable device and time-related information such as exercise time or sleep time can also be obtained. Fitbits can be used to acquire sleep onset, sleep offset, total sleep time (TST), and wakefulness after sleep onset (WASO) data, although there are limitations regarding the depth of sleep and satisfaction; therefore, the patient’s subjective response is still important information that cannot be replaced by wearable devices. ObjectiveTo effectively use patient-generated health data related to time such as sleep, it is first necessary to understand the characteristics of the time response recorded by the user. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of individuals’ time perception in comparison with wearable data. MethodsSleep data were acquired for 2 weeks using a Fitbit. Participants’ sleep records were collected daily through chatbot conversations while wearing the Fitbit, and the two sets of data were statistically compared. ResultsIn total, 736 people aged 30-59 years were recruited for this study, and the sleep data of 543 people who wore a Fitbit and responded to the chatbot for more than 7 days on the same day were analyzed. Research participants tended to respond to sleep-related times on the hour or in 30-minute increments, and each participant responded within the range of 60-90 minutes from the value measured by the Fitbit. On average for all participants, the chat responses and the Fitbit data were similar within a difference of approximately 15 minutes. Regarding sleep onset, the participant response was 8 minutes and 39 seconds (SD 58 minutes) later than that of the Fitbit data, whereas with respect to sleep offset, the response was 5 minutes and 38 seconds (SD 57 minutes) earlier. The participants’ actual sleep time (AST) indicated in the chat was similar to that obtained by subtracting the WASO from the TST measured by the Fitbit. The AST was 13 minutes and 39 seconds (SD 87 minutes) longer than the time WASO was subtracted from the Fitbit TST. On days when the participants reported good sleep, they responded 19 (SD 90) minutes longer on the AST than the Fitbit data. However, for each sleep event, the probability that the participant’s AST was within ±30 and ±60 minutes of the Fitbit TST-WASO was 50.7% and 74.3%, respectively. ConclusionsThe chatbot sleep response and Fitbit measured time were similar on average and the study participants had a slight tendency to perceive a relatively long sleep time if the quality of sleep was self-reported as good. However, on a participant-by-participant basis, it was difficult to predict participants’ sleep duration responses with Fitbit data. Individual variations in sleep time perception significantly affect patient responses related to sleep, revealing the limitations of objective measures obtained through wearable devices.

To protect the body against environmental threats, cosmetics can play important antiinflammatory and anti-aging roles. Many researchers have developed cosmetic ingredients using natural plant extracts or the active compounds of such extracts. In this study, we assessed the ability of extracts from the seeds of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to affect skin cells. In a keratinocyte-derived cell line (HaCaT cells), alfalfa polysaccharide extract (APE) treatment triggered cornified envelope formation and increased the gene expression levels of filaggrin and involucrin, suggesting that APE increased epidermal cell differentiation. In addition, APE dramatically increased the mRNA and protein levels of claudin1, suggesting that it enhances tight junction formation. Finally, APE exerted antiinflammatory effects in keratinocytes by decreasing the LPSinduced production of proinflammatory cytokines. In primary normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF), APE increased procollagen synthesis and decreased elastase activity and metalloproteinase-1 (MMP) secretion. APE also showed superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity in a cell-free system, resulting in antioxidant effects. Finally, we found that the polysaccharides from alfalfa seeds used in our experiments consist mainly of galactose and mannose. Based on our findings, we conclude that APE may have potent skin-protective and skin-improving effects and could be developed as an important ingredient in cosmetics and medicines.

Abstract Background Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is overexpressed during pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and exacerbates PF; however, the upregulation of HSP27 during PF and the therapeutic strategy of HSP27 inhibition is not well elucidated. Methods We have developed a mouse model simulating clinical stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) with focal irradiation and validated the induction of RIPF. HSP25 (murine form of HSP27) transgenic (TG) and LLC1-derived orthotropic lung tumor models were also used. Lung tissues of patients with RIPF and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and lung tissues from various fibrotic mouse models, as well as appropriated cell line systems were used. Public available gene expression datasets were used for therapeutic response rate analysis. A synthetic small molecule HSP27 inhibitor, J2 was also used. Results HSP27 expression with its phosphorylated form (pHSP27) increased during PF. Decreased mRNA expression of SMAD-specific E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase 2 (Smurf2), which is involved in ubiquitin degradation of HSP27, was responsible for the increased expression of pHSP27. In addition, increased expression of miRNA15b was identified with decreased expression of Smurf2 mRNA in PF models. Inverse correlation between pHSP27 and Smurf2 was observed in the lung tissues of PF animals, an irradiated orthotropic lung cancer models, and PF tissues from patients. Moreover, a HSP27 inhibitor cross-linked with HSP27 protein to ameliorate PF, which was more effective when targeting the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) stage of PF. Conclusions Our findings identify upregulation mechanisms of HSP27 during PF and provide a therapeutic strategy for HSP27 inhibition for overcoming PF.

Purpose: Children with dysarthria secondary to cerebral palsy may experience reduced speech intelligibility and diminished communicative participation. However, minimal research has been conducted examining the outcomes of behavioral speech treatments in this population. This study examined the effect of Speech Intelligibility Treatment (SIT), a dual-focus speech treatment targeting increased articulatory excursion and vocal intensity, on intelligibility of narrative speech, speech acoustics, and communicative participation in children with dysarthria. Method: American English-speaking children with dysarthria (n = 17) received SIT in a 3-week summer camp-like setting at Columbia University. SIT follows motor-learning principles to train the child-friendly, dual-focus strategy, "Speak with your big mouth and strong voice." Children produced a story narrative at baseline, immediate post-treatment (POST), and at 6-week follow-up (FUP). Outcomes were examined via blinded listener ratings of ease of understanding (n = 108 adult listeners), acoustic analyses, and questionnaires focused on communicative participation. Results: SIT resulted in significant increases in ease of understanding at POST, that were maintained at FUP. There were no significant changes to vocal intensity, speech rate, or vowel spectral characteristics, with the exception of an increase in second formant difference between vowels following SIT. Significantly enhanced communicative participation was evident at POST and FUP. Considerable variability in response to SIT was observed between children. Conclusions: Dual-focus treatment shows promise for improving intelligibility and communicative participation in children with dysarthria, although responses to treatment vary considerably across children. Possible mechanisms underlying the intelligibility gains, enhanced communicative participation, and variability in treatment effects are discussed.

Abstract Attitudes that are blindly adopted, termed premature cognitive commitments, can place unnecessary limitations on how we perceive and engage in the world around us, including how we perceive fatigue. Fatigue is still widely treated as a somatic reaction, caused by physical limitations. In contrast to this, our hypothesis, based on Langer’s mind/body unity theory, states that people perceive fatigue at proportional milestones during a task, regardless of how long it is, how strenuous it is, or whether it is physical or cognitive, and that fatigue can be manipulated psychologically. Five studies were designed to investigate (a) whether or not proportional perceptions of fatigue, or fatigue milestones, exists, rendering fatigue an illusion and (b) whether perceptions of fatigue are malleable by way of Langerian mindfulness, offering individuals control in the management of fatigue. Study 1 introduced a fatigue scale and used retrospective perceptions about travel-fatigue. Study 2 added an objective measure of physical fatigue in a cognitive task. Study 3 tested the illusion of fatigue on an athlete population in a physical task. Study 4 included the Langer Mindfulness Scale to further study subjective perceptions of fatigue in physical tasks. Study 5 tested mindful interventions on fatigue. The findings indicate that (a) an illusion of fatigue exists, with proportional set-in and peak milestones, what we label the fatigue illusion and (b) constructs of Langerian mindfulness offer individuals control over the timing, amount, and even the experience of fatigue.

Background: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive lung disease characterized by fibroblast accumulation and collagen deposition, resulting in lung scarring and impaired gas exchange. Current treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have limited efficacy and significant side effects. Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) has emerged as a potential therapeutic target for PF due to its involvement in fibrotic processes. However, effective HSP27 inhibitors for PF treatment are still lacking.Methods: To assess the anti-fibrotic effects of NA49, we utilized murine PF models induced by radiation (IR) or bleomycin (BLM). We administered NA49 to the PF mice and evaluated its impact on lung fibrosis progression. We also investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying NA49's effects, focusing on its inhibition of EMT-related signaling pathways.Results: In our study, we evaluated the potential of a novel HSP27 inhibitor, NA49, in preclinical models of PF. NA49 effectively suppressed PF development in radiation and bleomycin-induced PF models. It reduced fibrosis, inhibited NFkB signaling, and downregulated EMT-related molecules. Importantly, we evaluated the safety profile of NA49 by assessing its impact on DNA strand breakage. Compared to previous HSP27 inhibitors, NA49 showed lower levels of DNA damage in human lung epithelial cells, and suggests that NA49 may have reduced toxicity compared to other HSP27 inhibitors. Overall, our results demonstrate that NA49 effectively inhibits PF development in preclinical models. It reduces lung fibrosis, inhibits EMT-related signaling pathways, and exhibits improved safety profiles. These findings highlight the potential of NA49 as a promising candidate for the treatment of PF.Conclusion: NA49 exhibited significant anti-fibrotic effects, inhibiting fibrosis development and EMT-related signaling pathways. Moreover, NA49 showed improved safety profiles compared to previous HSP27 inhibitors.

Dietary protein sources and protein adequacy are crucial modulators of muscle quality and body composition. We investigated the association between dietary protein sources (and their adequacy) and body composition and the risk of sarcopenic obesity (SO) in South Korean populations. The participants (n = 1967) were classified into SO, obese, sarcopenia, and normal groups. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the KS-15 questionnaire, short-form food frequency questionnaire, and anthropometric measurements. The percentage of body fat (male: 35.36 ± 0.51%; female: 44.14 ± 0.36%) was significantly high, while appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM; male: 36.39 ± 0.30%, female: 30.32 ± 0.19%) was low in the SO group. Beef and pork consumption was negatively associated with ASM (%) but positively associated with body fat (%) in the normal group and positively associated with ASM (kg/m2: beta = 0.002, p = 0.02) and BFM (kg: beta = 0.012, p = 0.03) in the SO group, respectively. The highest quintile (Q5: 173.6 g/day) showed a decreased risk of SO prevalence (AORs: 0.46, CI: 0.22–0.94) compared with that in the lowest quintile (Q1: 21.6 g/day) among the people with inadequacy protein intake. Daily poultry and egg intake was positively linked with body composition in the participants with SO, while red meat showed a negative effect on imbalanced body composition in participants in the normal and SO groups. Furthermore, a lower intake of poultry and eggs was strongly associated with SO prevalence in people who consumed inadequate amounts of daily dietary protein.

The newly synthesized compound TGF-β signaling agonist (T74) is a small molecule associated with the TGF-β receptor signaling pathway. Tolerogenic dendritic cells (tDCs) have been used to examine immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects in multiple autoimmune disease models. The aim of this study was to investigate whether treatment of DCs with T74 has an antirheumatic effect in a mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Bone marrow-derived cells were obtained from DBA/1J mice and differentiated into DCs. T74-treated DCs (T74-DCs) were generated by treating bone marrow-derived DCs with LPS, type II collagen, and T74. T74-DCs expressed lower levels of surface molecules and inflammatory cytokines associated with antigen presentation and T cell stimulation. The ability of T74-DCs to differentiate effector T cells was lower than that of T74-untreated DCs (NT-DCs), but T74-DCs increased the regulatory T (Treg) cell differentiation in vitro. DBA/1J mice received two subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of type II collagen to establish CIA. Mice then received two s.c. injections of T74-DCs or NT-DCs. Joint inflammation was ameliorated in the paws of T74-DC-treated mice. Additionally, Treg populations in T74-DC-treated mice were higher than in NT-DC-treated or PBS-treated CIA mice. Taken together, these results demonstrate that T74 induces tolerance in DCs, and that T74-mediated DCs exert antirheumatic effects via induction of Tregs.