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Background: Coffee leaves are a major source of bioactive components and are used as ethnomedicine. However, despite their traditional medicinal use, information about their effects on antihyperlipidemia remains limited. Methods: The aims of this study were to evaluate the main components of leaf extracts from Arabica and Robusta coffees and to examine the potential of these coffee leaves in reducing lipid digestion and absorption in vitro. Results: Coffee leaf extracts from Arabica coffee contain a high amount of caffeine, whereas extracts from Robusta coffee contain high amounts of chlorogenic acid (CGA) and caffeine. Additionally, leaf extracts from Arabica and Robusta coffee demonstrated the inhibition of pancreatic lipase, decreased micellar cholesterol solubility, and reduced bile acid binding. Furthermore, these extracts resulted in a reduction in cholesterol uptake in Caco-2 cells. Molecular docking experiments supported this discovery, showing CGA and caffeine binding to Niemann–Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1), a key protein in cholesterol absorption. The results indicated that CGA and caffeine can competitively bind to NPC1L1 at the cholesterol binding pocket, reducing its cholesterol binding rate. These findings suggest that coffee leaves might help suppress lipid absorption and digestion, highlighting their potential use in preventing and treating hyperlipidemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracts from Holothuria scabra (HS) have been shown to possess anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer activities. More recently, it was shown to have neuroprotective potential in Caenorhabditis elegans PD model. Here, we assessed whether HS has neuroprotective and neurorestorative effects on dopaminergic neurons in both mouse and cellular models of PD. We found that both pre-treatment and post-treatment with HS improved motor deficits in PD mouse model induced with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) as determined by grid walk test. This was likely mediated by HS protective and restorative effects on maintaining the numbers of dopaminergic neurons and fibers in both substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and striatum. In a cellular model of PD, HS significantly attenuated 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-induced apoptosis of DAergic-like neurons differentiated from SH-SY5Y cells by enhancing the expression of Bcl-2, suppressing the expression of cleaved Caspase 3 and preventing depolarization of mitochondrial membrane. In addition, HS could stimulate the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and suppressed the formation of α-synuclein protein. Taken together, our in vivo and in vitro findings suggested that HS is an attractive candidate for the neuroprotection rather than neurorestoration in PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saponins are secondary metabolites that provide medicinal benefits in controlling body homeostasis and metabolic functions. Sea cucumber has been consumed in many Asian countries due to their health benefits. Active chemicals found in sea cucumber include natural source of saponins which are enriched in their tissues, including the Cuvierian tubules and the body wall. Tissue origin of the saponin biosynthesis and accumulation is limitedly known. The present study is to indicate major compositions and distributions of saponins in the body wall of Holothuria leucospilota. Structurally, their body wall consisted of the pigmented layer of the epidermis, the dermal connective tissues, and inner muscular layers. Interestingly, release of the pigmented granules from the epidermis was related to detection of epidermal saponins. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI‐MS) revealed identical mass spectra in the saponin extracts and compared to the known compounds of holothurians. To investigate the release of epidermal saponins, the epidermis dissolved in either butanol or distilled water were analyzed and presented the saponin masses with two prominent masses of m/z 1,243.3 (holothurin A and scabraside B) and 1,259.3 (holothurin A3). MALDI‐IMS also demonstrated strong signals of the known saponins which were only localized in the epidermis of the body wall. Taken together, this study shows that granule release from epidermal pigmented cells is somehow related to the amount of epidermal saponins released to surrounding seawater. Hence, the future research in the sea cucumber better focuses on epidermal cells that are the enriched site of saponins, although several active compounds require further investigation. ‐ Electron microscopy and MALDI‐IMS revealed the major compositions and the distributions of saponins in H. leucospilota body wall, particularly in the epidermis. ‐ The epidermal saponins, m/z 1,243.3 and 1,259.3 were the most abundant compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expression of a sex-specific gene in Macrobrachium rosenbergii ( Mr-Mrr), encoding a male reproduction-related (Mrr) protein, has been identified in the spermatic ducts (SDs) and postulated to be involved in sperm maturation processes. M. rosenbergii is the only decapod that the expression and fate of the Mrr protein has been studied. To determine that this protein was conserved in decapods, we firstly used cloning techniques to identify the Mrr gene in two crabs, Portunus pelagicus ( Pp-Mrr) and Scylla serrata ( Ss-Mrr). We then investigated expression of Pp-Mrr by in situ hybridization, and immunolocalization, as well as phosphorylation and glycosylation modifications, and the fate of the protein in the male reproductive tract. Pp-Mrr was shown to have 632 nucleotides, and a deduced protein of 110 amino acids, with an unmodified molecular weight of 11.79 kDa and a mature protein with molecular weight of 9.16 kDa. In situ hybridization showed that Pp-Mrr is expressed in the epithelium of the proximal, middle, distal SDs, and ejaculatory ducts. In Western blotting, proteins of 10.9 and 17.2 kDa from SDs were all positive using anti-Mrr, antiphosphoserine/threonine, and antiphosphotyrosine. PAS staining showed they were also glycosylated. Immunolocalization studies showed Pp-Mrr in the SD epithelium, lumen, and on the acrosomes of spermatozoa. Immunofluorescence staining indicated the acrosome of spermatozoa contained the Mrr protein, which is phosphorylated with serine/threonine and tyrosine, and also glycosylated. The Mrr is likely to be involved in acrosomal activation during fertilization of eggs. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dysregulation of the immune response contribute to a significant role in endometriosis. This research examined macrophages and natural killer (NK) cells numbers in endometriotic lesions and their association with the different lesion colors: red, black, and white. To investigate the amount of the CD68 and CD56 in eutopic endometrium and different type of the endometriotic lesions., Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted. Women suspected endometriosis requiring laparoscopic surgery between July 2016 and January 2017 were recruited. Their lesions were classified as red, black, or white and these lesions were excised by standard laparoscopic surgery. Twenty-four endometriotic lesions from each color group were obtained from 45 women who met the inclusion criteria. One type of lesion was collected from 25 women. Two different lesion types and three-color lesion types were collected from the same women in 13 and 7 subjects, respectively. Immunohistochemistry staining with anti-human mouse cluster of differentiation (CD) 68 monoclonal antibody for macrophages and mouse anti-human CD56 monoclonal antibody for NK cells were performed., Results: The number of CD68 macrophages in red lesions was higher than in black and white lesions [median (25 th -75 th percentile); 10 (5-19.4), 0 (0-6.9), 0 (0-2.5) cells per mm 2 , respectively, adjusted P=0.001 for red vs. black lesions and red vs. white lesions, and adjusted P=1.000 for black and white lesions]. The number of CD56 NK cells was not significantly different among red, black, and white lesions [median (25 th -75 th percentile; 5 (2-16.5), 3.8 (0-14.4), 1.3 (0-6.9) respectively, adjusted P=1.000 for red vs. black lesions and black vs. white lesions, and adjusted P=0.617 for red vs. white lesions]., Conclusion: The dynamic changes in the immune cells in ectopic endometrium were specific to the macrophages but not to the NK cells, as demonstrated by the highest number of CD68 macrophages in the red lesion, the earliest established ectopic endometrium. NK cells in endometriosis may have a role in the uterus., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright© by Royan Institute. All rights reserved.)

Background: The differential diagnosis between uterine fibroid and adenomyosis is sometimes difficult; a precise diagnosis is required in women with infertility because of the different choice of treatments. Ultrasound elastography (UE) is a novel technique to evaluate the elasticity or the stiffness of the tissue of interest. The present study aims to compare UE shear wave velocity (SWV) among normal uterine myometrium, uterine fibroid, and adenomyosis, and assess the accuracy of shear wave elastography in the diagnosis of adenomyosis., Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 25 subjects for each group (control, adenomyosis, and fibroid) from April 2019 to April 2020. Transvaginal UE using an Aplio 500 (Toshiba Medical Systems, Japan) with ultrasound mapping for point of tissue biopsy was performed for all subjects. The diagnosis was confirmed by histology. Masson's trichrome staining for collagen was performed and quantified., Results: The mean ± standard deviation (SD) for SWV was 3.44 ± 0.95 m/seconds (control group), 4.63 ± 1.45 m/ seconds (adenomyosis group), and 4.53 ± 1.07 m/seconds (fibroid group). The mean SWV differed when comparing normal myometrium and adenomyosis after adjustments for age and endometrial pathology (P=0.019). The cut-off point of SWV at 3.465 m/seconds could differentiate adenomyosis from the normal uterus with an 80% sensitivity, 80% specificity, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.68-0.93) (P<0.001). No significant difference in SWV between the adenomyosis and fibroid groups was detected., Conclusion: Shear wave elastography could be an alternative tool to distinguish between normal myometrium and adenomyosis; however, it could not differentiate adenomyosis from uterine fibroid or uterine fibroid from normal myometrium., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright© by Royan Institute. All rights reserved.)

Extracts from Holothuria scabra (HS) have been shown to possess anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer activities. More recently, it was shown to have neuroprotective potential in Caenorhabditis elegans PD model. Here, we assessed whether HS has neuroprotective and neurorestorative effects on dopaminergic neurons in both mouse and cellular models of PD. We found that both pre-treatment and post-treatment with HS improved motor deficits in PD mouse model induced with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) as determined by grid walk test. This was likely mediated by HS protective and restorative effects on maintaining the numbers of dopaminergic neurons and fibers in both substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and striatum. In a cellular model of PD, HS significantly attenuated 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP + )-induced apoptosis of DAergic-like neurons differentiated from SH-SY5Y cells by enhancing the expression of Bcl-2, suppressing the expression of cleaved Caspase 3 and preventing depolarization of mitochondrial membrane. In addition, HS could stimulate the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and suppressed the formation of α-synuclein protein. Taken together, our in vivo and in vitro findings suggested that HS is an attractive candidate for the neuroprotection rather than neurorestoration in PD., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Noonong, Sobhon, Sroyraya and Chaithirayanon.)

Background: Progestin has been used for symptomatic treatment of adenomyosis, although its effect on the immune system has not been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of macrophage and natural killer (NK) cell infiltration in tissues obtained from women with adenomyosis who did or did not receive oral progestin dienogest., Materials and Methods: In this randomized controlled clinical trial study, 24 patients with adenomyosis who required hysterectomy were enrolled. Twelve patients received dienogest 28-35 days before surgery, and the other 12 patients were not treated with any hormones. The endometrial and myometrial tissue samples were immediately collected after hysterectomy, and immunohistochemistry for a macrophage marker (CD68) and a NK cells marker (CD57) was performed., Results: The number of CD57 cells was significantly increased in endometrial glands of the treated group compared to the untreated group (P=0.005) but not in stroma in the endometrium of the treated patients (P=0.416). The difference in the number of CD68 cells was not statistically significant between treated and untreated groups in the endometrial glands (P=0.055) or stromal tissues (P=0.506)., Conclusion: Administration of oral progestin dienogest to patients with adenomyosis increased the number of uterine infiltrating NK cells in glandular structure of eutopic endometrium. The differential effects of progestin on NK cells depended on the site of immune cell infiltration. The effects of oral progestin on uterine NK cells in adenomyosis have the potentials to be beneficial to pregnancies occurring following discontinuation of treatment in terms of embryo implantation and fetal protection (Registration number: TCTR20150921001)., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright© by Royan Institute. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although Depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), an injectable contraceptive progestin, is very effective for pain relief and prevention of recurrence in women with endometriosis, there is no report on the mechanism of this medication about cell proliferation and apoptosis., Objective: To investigate the effects of DMPA on cell proliferation and apoptosis in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis., Material and Method: A randomized controlled study was conducted in 28 women with endometriosis. The DMPA-treated group included 14 women who were scheduled to undergo laparoscopic surgery after 150 mg of DMPA injections. The control group included 14 women who were scheduled to undergo the surgery without DMPA injection. The endometrial tissue was obtained from each woman by endometrial aspiration before surgery. The ELISA formats of PCNA and the quantitative colorimetric analysis of TUNEL were used for estimating cell proliferation and apoptosis of the eutopic endometrium., Results: There were no differences in the women characteristics between the two groups. The relative level of cell proliferation was significantly less in the DMPA than the control groups (1.08±0.57 vs. 1.73±0.50, p = 0.014). Whereas the relative level of cell apoptosis was greater in the DMPA group than that in the control group (1.12±0.36 vs. 0.82±0.39, p = 0.034)., Conclusion: Three months of 150 mg DMPA treatment could suppress cell proliferation and enhance cell apoptosis of the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis.