ObjectivesDementia is an oxidative stress-related disease. Coenzyme Q10 is a nutrient that occurs... more ObjectivesDementia is an oxidative stress-related disease. Coenzyme Q10 is a nutrient that occurs naturally in the human body and acts as an antioxidant. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of coenzyme Q10 status, biomarkers for dementia (amyloid β and tau protein), and antioxidant capacity in patients with dementia.MethodsEighty dementia patients aged ≥60 years and with a mini mental state examination (MMSE) score ≤ 26 were enrolled. The levels of coenzyme Q10, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), amyloid β, and tau protein were measured.ResultsA total of 73% of patients had a low coenzyme Q10 status. Patients with low coenzyme Q10 status had a significantly higher level of serum amyloid β-42 and amyloid β-42/40 ratio (p < 0.05). Coenzyme Q10 status was significantly correlated with the values of TAC, MMSE score, amyloid β-42, and amyloid β-42/40 ratio (p < 0.05) but not with tau protein. Additionally, a high proportion of moderate dementia patients we...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022
The purpose of this study was to investigate the nutritional status of dementia patients and exam... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the nutritional status of dementia patients and examine the correlation with sarcopenia, frailty, depression, and quality of life. We enrolled patients aged 60 years and over with Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores ≤ 26 (Taiwan), and dementia diagnosed by a neurologist or psychiatrist. Nutritional status was assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Muscle mass was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Muscle strength and endurance were evaluated by handgrip, leg-back strength, dumbbell curls, sit to stand test, and gait speed. Quality of life, frailty, and depression status were measured by questionnaires. Patients with moderate dementia (MMSE ≤ 20) had a significantly lower MNA score, muscle function, and quality of life than patients with mild dementia (p < 0.01). A lower MNA score was significantly associated with the risk of frailty (odds ratio: 4.76, p < 0.01), depression (odds ratio: 3.17, p = 0.03...
This study was conducted to investigate the β-carotene status in osteoarthritis (OA) patients and... more This study was conducted to investigate the β-carotene status in osteoarthritis (OA) patients and examine its relationships with the risk of inflammation and metabolic syndrome. OA patients were stratified by obesity based on body fat percentage (obese OA, n = 44; non-obese OA, n = 56), and sixty-nine subjects without OA or obesity were assigned as a non-obese control group. β-carotene, metabolic parameters, and inflammation status were assessed. Obese OA patients exhibited a significantly higher rate of metabolic syndrome (p = 0.02), abdominal obesity (p < 0.01), and lower β-carotene status (p < 0.01) compared with non-obese OA and non-obese controls. After adjusting for potential confounders, β-carotene status (≥0.8 µM) was significantly inversely correlated with the risk of metabolic syndrome (odds ratio = 0.27, p < 0.01), abdominal obesity (odds ratio = 0.33, p < 0.01), high blood pressure (odds ratio = 0.35, p < 0.01), hyperglycemia (odds ratio = 0.45, p < 0.0...
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term and mid-term effectiveness of a smoking ... more The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term and mid-term effectiveness of a smoking cessation clinic project sponsored by the Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health, Taiwan. Subjects who visited the smoking cessation clinic operated by the Department of Family Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital during October 1 through December 31, 2002 were assigned by the subjects' selection to the group receiving the combination of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and counseling (31 subjects including 4 females and 27 males) or to the group receiving counseling only (25 subjects including 2 females and 23 males). Subjects were followed up by weekly telephone interviews inquiring about the most current status of smoking cessation until relapse of smoking was recorded. The short-term (within 3 weeks) and mid-term (within 3 months) smoking cessation rates for the group receiving the combination of NRT and counseling were 29.0% and 22.6%, respectively, while...
Osteoarthritis (OA) causes oxidative stress. Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that participates in ... more Osteoarthritis (OA) causes oxidative stress. Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that participates in energy production in the human body. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among coenzyme Q10 status, oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, and muscle function in patients with OA. This case-control study recruited 100 patients with OA and 100 without OA. The coenzyme Q10 status, oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, muscle mass (by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), muscle strength (hand-grip and leg-back strength), and muscle endurance (dumbbell curls, gait speed, chair-stand test, and short physical performance battery) were measured. The results showed that both OA and elderly subjects had a low coenzyme Q10 status (<0.5 μM). Oxidative stress was significantly negatively correlated with muscle function (protein carbonyl, p < 0.05). Coenzyme Q10 level was positively associated with antioxidant capacity, muscle mass, muscle strength and muscle enduran...
Ubiquinone is a lipid antioxidant, and a novel liquid ubiquinol (a hydro-soluble, reduced form of... more Ubiquinone is a lipid antioxidant, and a novel liquid ubiquinol (a hydro-soluble, reduced form of coenzyme Q10) supplement was recently developed. The purpose of this study was to examine the levels of glucose, lipids and antioxidant capacity of type 2 diabetes patients after liquid ubiquinol supplementation. This study was designed as a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. In all, fifty participants were randomly assigned to a placebo (n 25) or liquid ubiquinol (100 mg/d, n 25) group, and the intervention lasted for 12 weeks. Plasma coenzyme Q10, glucose homoeostasis parameters, lipid profiles, oxidative stress and antioxidative enzyme activities were measured during the study. After 12 weeks of supplementation, glyco Hb (HbA1c) value was significantly decreased in the liquid ubiquinol group (P=0·03), and subjects in the liquid ubiquinol group had significantly lower anti-glycaemic medication effect scores (MES) compared with those in the placebo group (P=0·03). The ...
Burdock complex (BC) constitutes of burdock (Arctium lappa), angelica (Angelica sinensis), gromwe... more Burdock complex (BC) constitutes of burdock (Arctium lappa), angelica (Angelica sinensis), gromwell (Lithospermum erythrorhizon), and sesame (Sesamum indicum) oil, which are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating various disorders. This study intended to examine the anti-H. pylori activity of BC on AGS cell model as well as in asymptomatic H. pylori-infected subjects. AGS cell incubated with H. pylori and treated with BC to evaluate the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC), cell viability (MTT) anti-adhesion activity, and inflammatory markers. In case of clinical trial, H. pylori-positive subjects (urea breath test [UBT] >10%, n = 36) were enrolled and requested to intake BC (n = 19) or placebo (n = 17) for 8 weeks. Antioxidant capacity, total phenol, UBT, inflammatory markers were analyzed at the initial, 4th, 8th, and 10th weeks. Moreover, the endoscopic examination was carried out on baseline and 10th week. In vitro studies showed that BC treatment ...
Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001), Jan 21, 2016
Prolonged sitting is associated with increased risk of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adu... more Prolonged sitting is associated with increased risk of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults and can lead to poor muscle function, impaired balance and transfer abilities, and mobility limitations. Sitting time can be a modifiable factor in preserving independent mobility in older adults. Assessing sitting time is an important measure for preventive medicine in older populations. The purposes of this study were to examine the test-retest reliability of older adults' reported (using a recall strategy) sitting time and to determine its association with mobility limitation. In this cross-sectional study, 140 older adults aged 65 years or more from community centers were assessed for their sitting time and mobility limitation. A week later, 86 participants returned for the retest of sitting time. The test-retest reliability of the reported (recall strategy) measure of sitting time was examined by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and its association with mobility lim...
Objectives Long-term d-galactose injection induces accelerated aging in experimental rodent model... more Objectives Long-term d-galactose injection induces accelerated aging in experimental rodent models. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary fructo-oligosaccharide (FO) on the brain β-amyloid (Aβ), amyloid-associated enzymes, cognitive function, and plasma antioxidant levels in d-galactose-treated Balb/c mice. Methods The subcutaneous (s.c.) injection and the dietary treatment were conducted simultaneously for 49 days. Mice (12 weeks of age) were divided into five groups (n = 14/group): control (s.c. saline, control diet) serving as a young control, DG (s.c. 1.2 g d-galactose/kg body weight, control diet), DG + LFO (2.5% w/w FO, low-dose FO diet), DG + HFO (5% w/w FO, high-dose FO diet), and DG + E (α-tocopherol 0.2% w/w, vitamin E diet) as an antioxidant reference group. Another group of older mice (64 weeks of age) without any injection served as a natural aging (NA) group. Results The DG and NA groups had greater Aβ levels in the cortex, hippocampus, and the ...
Previous studies have shown that mulberry water extracts (MWEs), which contain polyphenolic compo... more Previous studies have shown that mulberry water extracts (MWEs), which contain polyphenolic compounds, have an antiatherosclerotic effect in vivo and in vitro through stimulating apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Histological analysis was performed on atherosclerotic lesions from high-cholesterol diet (HCD)-fed rabbits after treatment with 0.5-1% MWEs for 10 weeks. Immunohistochemistry showed that the expressions of SMA, Ras, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 in the VSMCs were dose-dependently inhibited after MWE treatment. The antimigratory effects of MWEs on A7r5 VSMCs were assessed by western blot analysis of migration-related proteins, visualization of F-actin cytoskeleton, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that MWEs inhibited VSMC migration through reducing interactions of the integrin-β3/focal adhesion kinase complex, alterations of the cytoskeleton, and downregulation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β/nuclear factor κB signalin...
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. The purpose of this study ... more Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma levels of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin B-6 and the risk of CAD. Patients with at least 50% stenosis of one major coronary artery identified by cardiac catheterization were assigned to the case group (n = 45). The control group (n = 89) comprised healthy individuals with normal blood biochemistry. The plasma concentrations of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin B-6 (pyridoxal 5'-phosphate) and the lipid profiles of the participants were measured. Subjects with CAD had significantly lower plasma levels of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin B-6 compared to the control group. The plasma coenzyme Q10 concentration (β = 1.06, P = .02) and the ratio of coenzyme Q10 to total cholesterol (β = .28, P = .01) were positively correlated with vitamin B-6 status. Subjects with higher coenzyme Q10 concentration (≥516.0 nmol/L) had a significantly lower risk of CAD, even aft...
Metabolic syndrome (MS) represents a cluster of physiological and anthropometric abnormalities. T... more Metabolic syndrome (MS) represents a cluster of physiological and anthropometric abnormalities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between the levels of inflammation, adiponectin, and oxidative stress in subjects with MS. The inclusion criteria for MS, according to the Taiwan Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health, were applied to the case group (n = 72). The control group (n = 105) comprised healthy individuals with normal blood biochemical values. The levels of inflammatory markers [high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), adiponectin, an oxidative stress marker (malondialdehyde), and antioxidant enzymes activities [catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)] were measured. Subjects with MS had significantly higher concentrations of inflammatory markers and lower adiponectin level, and lower antioxidant enzymes activities than the control subjects. The levels of inflammatory markers and adiponectin were significantly correlated with the components of MS. The level of hs-CRP was significantly correlated with the oxidative stress marker. The IL-6 level was significantly correlated with the SOD and GPx activities, and the adiponectin level was significantly correlated with the GPx activity. A higher level of hs-CRP
The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E and the ant... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E and the antioxidant status in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS). Subjects with MS (n = 72) were included according to the criteria for MS. The non-MS group (n = 105) was comprised of healthy individuals with normal blood biochemical values. The plasma coenzyme Q10, vitamin E concentrations, lipid profiles, and antioxidant enzymes levels (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase) were measured. The subjects with MS had significantly higher concentrations of plasma coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E than those in the non-MS group, but these differences were not significant after being normalized for triglyceride level. The levels of antioxidant enzymes were significantly lower in the MS group than in the non-MS group. The subjects with the higher antioxidant enzymes activities had significant reductions in the risk of MS (P < 0.01) after being adjusted for coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E....
Annals of the Academy of Medicine Singapore, Mar 1, 2009
Introduction: To investigate the attitudes of medical and nursing student towards the older Chine... more Introduction: To investigate the attitudes of medical and nursing student towards the older Chinese population. Materials and Methods: A reliable and valid Chinese language version of Kogan's Attitudes toward Older People (KAOP) with 17 matched item pairs (34 items) was completed by 275 medical and nursing students. Descriptive data analysis was employed. Results: Participants reported slightly to have a more positive attitudes (Mean, 144.30 ± 17.89) than those reported from studies in other countries (Jordanian: Mean, 110.6 ± 21.79). Students who were females (Mean, 148.27 ± 18.97), younger (Mean, 146.01 ± 18.59) and studying nursing (Mean, 156.86 ± 17.56) were more likely to have a more positive attitudes than older (Mean, 140.04 ± 15.31), males (Mean, 140.47 ± 15.93), studying medicine (Mean, 138.77 ± 15.04). Discussion: Results show that students may have greater ambivalence attitudes on 10 out of 17 matched item pairs which provides useful information for faculty involved in aged care curriculum design. Working as a volunteer in the university hospital may increase students' interactions with the elderly and may positively influence attitudes towards the elderly.
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2015
Many studies have demonstrated that Graptopetalum paraguayense has good antioxidant ability; howe... more Many studies have demonstrated that Graptopetalum paraguayense has good antioxidant ability; however, few studies have examined its anti-inflammatory effect. The study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of water extracts of G. paraguayense (WGP, 4 g day(-1)) in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS). Intervention was administered for 12 weeks. Levels of inflammatory markers [high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] and antioxidant enzymes activities were measured. Forty-two subjects completed the 12 week intervention study (placebo, n = 19; WGP, n = 23). After 12 weeks supplementation, subjects in WGP group had significantly lower levels of inflammatory markers than the baseline (P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.05) and the placebo group (CRP, P = 0.07; TNF-α, P = 0.04; IL-6, P = 0.03). The changes in levels of the inflammatory markers were significantly decreased in WGP group (CRP, P = 0.04; TNF-α, P = 0.06; IL-6, P = 0.01) compared to the placebo group. Levels of inflammatory markers were significantly negatively correlated with the antioxidant enzymes activities after supplementation. This study demonstrated a significant reduction in inflammatory status in MS after WGP supplementation. WGP may exert an anti-inflammatory effect on MS in addition to its antioxidant ability.
ObjectivesDementia is an oxidative stress-related disease. Coenzyme Q10 is a nutrient that occurs... more ObjectivesDementia is an oxidative stress-related disease. Coenzyme Q10 is a nutrient that occurs naturally in the human body and acts as an antioxidant. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of coenzyme Q10 status, biomarkers for dementia (amyloid β and tau protein), and antioxidant capacity in patients with dementia.MethodsEighty dementia patients aged ≥60 years and with a mini mental state examination (MMSE) score ≤ 26 were enrolled. The levels of coenzyme Q10, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), amyloid β, and tau protein were measured.ResultsA total of 73% of patients had a low coenzyme Q10 status. Patients with low coenzyme Q10 status had a significantly higher level of serum amyloid β-42 and amyloid β-42/40 ratio (p < 0.05). Coenzyme Q10 status was significantly correlated with the values of TAC, MMSE score, amyloid β-42, and amyloid β-42/40 ratio (p < 0.05) but not with tau protein. Additionally, a high proportion of moderate dementia patients we...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022
The purpose of this study was to investigate the nutritional status of dementia patients and exam... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the nutritional status of dementia patients and examine the correlation with sarcopenia, frailty, depression, and quality of life. We enrolled patients aged 60 years and over with Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores ≤ 26 (Taiwan), and dementia diagnosed by a neurologist or psychiatrist. Nutritional status was assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Muscle mass was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Muscle strength and endurance were evaluated by handgrip, leg-back strength, dumbbell curls, sit to stand test, and gait speed. Quality of life, frailty, and depression status were measured by questionnaires. Patients with moderate dementia (MMSE ≤ 20) had a significantly lower MNA score, muscle function, and quality of life than patients with mild dementia (p < 0.01). A lower MNA score was significantly associated with the risk of frailty (odds ratio: 4.76, p < 0.01), depression (odds ratio: 3.17, p = 0.03...
This study was conducted to investigate the β-carotene status in osteoarthritis (OA) patients and... more This study was conducted to investigate the β-carotene status in osteoarthritis (OA) patients and examine its relationships with the risk of inflammation and metabolic syndrome. OA patients were stratified by obesity based on body fat percentage (obese OA, n = 44; non-obese OA, n = 56), and sixty-nine subjects without OA or obesity were assigned as a non-obese control group. β-carotene, metabolic parameters, and inflammation status were assessed. Obese OA patients exhibited a significantly higher rate of metabolic syndrome (p = 0.02), abdominal obesity (p < 0.01), and lower β-carotene status (p < 0.01) compared with non-obese OA and non-obese controls. After adjusting for potential confounders, β-carotene status (≥0.8 µM) was significantly inversely correlated with the risk of metabolic syndrome (odds ratio = 0.27, p < 0.01), abdominal obesity (odds ratio = 0.33, p < 0.01), high blood pressure (odds ratio = 0.35, p < 0.01), hyperglycemia (odds ratio = 0.45, p < 0.0...
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term and mid-term effectiveness of a smoking ... more The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term and mid-term effectiveness of a smoking cessation clinic project sponsored by the Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health, Taiwan. Subjects who visited the smoking cessation clinic operated by the Department of Family Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital during October 1 through December 31, 2002 were assigned by the subjects' selection to the group receiving the combination of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and counseling (31 subjects including 4 females and 27 males) or to the group receiving counseling only (25 subjects including 2 females and 23 males). Subjects were followed up by weekly telephone interviews inquiring about the most current status of smoking cessation until relapse of smoking was recorded. The short-term (within 3 weeks) and mid-term (within 3 months) smoking cessation rates for the group receiving the combination of NRT and counseling were 29.0% and 22.6%, respectively, while...
Osteoarthritis (OA) causes oxidative stress. Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that participates in ... more Osteoarthritis (OA) causes oxidative stress. Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that participates in energy production in the human body. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among coenzyme Q10 status, oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, and muscle function in patients with OA. This case-control study recruited 100 patients with OA and 100 without OA. The coenzyme Q10 status, oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, muscle mass (by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), muscle strength (hand-grip and leg-back strength), and muscle endurance (dumbbell curls, gait speed, chair-stand test, and short physical performance battery) were measured. The results showed that both OA and elderly subjects had a low coenzyme Q10 status (<0.5 μM). Oxidative stress was significantly negatively correlated with muscle function (protein carbonyl, p < 0.05). Coenzyme Q10 level was positively associated with antioxidant capacity, muscle mass, muscle strength and muscle enduran...
Ubiquinone is a lipid antioxidant, and a novel liquid ubiquinol (a hydro-soluble, reduced form of... more Ubiquinone is a lipid antioxidant, and a novel liquid ubiquinol (a hydro-soluble, reduced form of coenzyme Q10) supplement was recently developed. The purpose of this study was to examine the levels of glucose, lipids and antioxidant capacity of type 2 diabetes patients after liquid ubiquinol supplementation. This study was designed as a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. In all, fifty participants were randomly assigned to a placebo (n 25) or liquid ubiquinol (100 mg/d, n 25) group, and the intervention lasted for 12 weeks. Plasma coenzyme Q10, glucose homoeostasis parameters, lipid profiles, oxidative stress and antioxidative enzyme activities were measured during the study. After 12 weeks of supplementation, glyco Hb (HbA1c) value was significantly decreased in the liquid ubiquinol group (P=0·03), and subjects in the liquid ubiquinol group had significantly lower anti-glycaemic medication effect scores (MES) compared with those in the placebo group (P=0·03). The ...
Burdock complex (BC) constitutes of burdock (Arctium lappa), angelica (Angelica sinensis), gromwe... more Burdock complex (BC) constitutes of burdock (Arctium lappa), angelica (Angelica sinensis), gromwell (Lithospermum erythrorhizon), and sesame (Sesamum indicum) oil, which are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating various disorders. This study intended to examine the anti-H. pylori activity of BC on AGS cell model as well as in asymptomatic H. pylori-infected subjects. AGS cell incubated with H. pylori and treated with BC to evaluate the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC), cell viability (MTT) anti-adhesion activity, and inflammatory markers. In case of clinical trial, H. pylori-positive subjects (urea breath test [UBT] >10%, n = 36) were enrolled and requested to intake BC (n = 19) or placebo (n = 17) for 8 weeks. Antioxidant capacity, total phenol, UBT, inflammatory markers were analyzed at the initial, 4th, 8th, and 10th weeks. Moreover, the endoscopic examination was carried out on baseline and 10th week. In vitro studies showed that BC treatment ...
Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001), Jan 21, 2016
Prolonged sitting is associated with increased risk of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adu... more Prolonged sitting is associated with increased risk of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults and can lead to poor muscle function, impaired balance and transfer abilities, and mobility limitations. Sitting time can be a modifiable factor in preserving independent mobility in older adults. Assessing sitting time is an important measure for preventive medicine in older populations. The purposes of this study were to examine the test-retest reliability of older adults' reported (using a recall strategy) sitting time and to determine its association with mobility limitation. In this cross-sectional study, 140 older adults aged 65 years or more from community centers were assessed for their sitting time and mobility limitation. A week later, 86 participants returned for the retest of sitting time. The test-retest reliability of the reported (recall strategy) measure of sitting time was examined by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and its association with mobility lim...
Objectives Long-term d-galactose injection induces accelerated aging in experimental rodent model... more Objectives Long-term d-galactose injection induces accelerated aging in experimental rodent models. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary fructo-oligosaccharide (FO) on the brain β-amyloid (Aβ), amyloid-associated enzymes, cognitive function, and plasma antioxidant levels in d-galactose-treated Balb/c mice. Methods The subcutaneous (s.c.) injection and the dietary treatment were conducted simultaneously for 49 days. Mice (12 weeks of age) were divided into five groups (n = 14/group): control (s.c. saline, control diet) serving as a young control, DG (s.c. 1.2 g d-galactose/kg body weight, control diet), DG + LFO (2.5% w/w FO, low-dose FO diet), DG + HFO (5% w/w FO, high-dose FO diet), and DG + E (α-tocopherol 0.2% w/w, vitamin E diet) as an antioxidant reference group. Another group of older mice (64 weeks of age) without any injection served as a natural aging (NA) group. Results The DG and NA groups had greater Aβ levels in the cortex, hippocampus, and the ...
Previous studies have shown that mulberry water extracts (MWEs), which contain polyphenolic compo... more Previous studies have shown that mulberry water extracts (MWEs), which contain polyphenolic compounds, have an antiatherosclerotic effect in vivo and in vitro through stimulating apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Histological analysis was performed on atherosclerotic lesions from high-cholesterol diet (HCD)-fed rabbits after treatment with 0.5-1% MWEs for 10 weeks. Immunohistochemistry showed that the expressions of SMA, Ras, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 in the VSMCs were dose-dependently inhibited after MWE treatment. The antimigratory effects of MWEs on A7r5 VSMCs were assessed by western blot analysis of migration-related proteins, visualization of F-actin cytoskeleton, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that MWEs inhibited VSMC migration through reducing interactions of the integrin-β3/focal adhesion kinase complex, alterations of the cytoskeleton, and downregulation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β/nuclear factor κB signalin...
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. The purpose of this study ... more Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma levels of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin B-6 and the risk of CAD. Patients with at least 50% stenosis of one major coronary artery identified by cardiac catheterization were assigned to the case group (n = 45). The control group (n = 89) comprised healthy individuals with normal blood biochemistry. The plasma concentrations of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin B-6 (pyridoxal 5'-phosphate) and the lipid profiles of the participants were measured. Subjects with CAD had significantly lower plasma levels of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin B-6 compared to the control group. The plasma coenzyme Q10 concentration (β = 1.06, P = .02) and the ratio of coenzyme Q10 to total cholesterol (β = .28, P = .01) were positively correlated with vitamin B-6 status. Subjects with higher coenzyme Q10 concentration (≥516.0 nmol/L) had a significantly lower risk of CAD, even aft...
Metabolic syndrome (MS) represents a cluster of physiological and anthropometric abnormalities. T... more Metabolic syndrome (MS) represents a cluster of physiological and anthropometric abnormalities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between the levels of inflammation, adiponectin, and oxidative stress in subjects with MS. The inclusion criteria for MS, according to the Taiwan Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health, were applied to the case group (n = 72). The control group (n = 105) comprised healthy individuals with normal blood biochemical values. The levels of inflammatory markers [high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), adiponectin, an oxidative stress marker (malondialdehyde), and antioxidant enzymes activities [catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)] were measured. Subjects with MS had significantly higher concentrations of inflammatory markers and lower adiponectin level, and lower antioxidant enzymes activities than the control subjects. The levels of inflammatory markers and adiponectin were significantly correlated with the components of MS. The level of hs-CRP was significantly correlated with the oxidative stress marker. The IL-6 level was significantly correlated with the SOD and GPx activities, and the adiponectin level was significantly correlated with the GPx activity. A higher level of hs-CRP
The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E and the ant... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E and the antioxidant status in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS). Subjects with MS (n = 72) were included according to the criteria for MS. The non-MS group (n = 105) was comprised of healthy individuals with normal blood biochemical values. The plasma coenzyme Q10, vitamin E concentrations, lipid profiles, and antioxidant enzymes levels (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase) were measured. The subjects with MS had significantly higher concentrations of plasma coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E than those in the non-MS group, but these differences were not significant after being normalized for triglyceride level. The levels of antioxidant enzymes were significantly lower in the MS group than in the non-MS group. The subjects with the higher antioxidant enzymes activities had significant reductions in the risk of MS (P < 0.01) after being adjusted for coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E....
Annals of the Academy of Medicine Singapore, Mar 1, 2009
Introduction: To investigate the attitudes of medical and nursing student towards the older Chine... more Introduction: To investigate the attitudes of medical and nursing student towards the older Chinese population. Materials and Methods: A reliable and valid Chinese language version of Kogan's Attitudes toward Older People (KAOP) with 17 matched item pairs (34 items) was completed by 275 medical and nursing students. Descriptive data analysis was employed. Results: Participants reported slightly to have a more positive attitudes (Mean, 144.30 ± 17.89) than those reported from studies in other countries (Jordanian: Mean, 110.6 ± 21.79). Students who were females (Mean, 148.27 ± 18.97), younger (Mean, 146.01 ± 18.59) and studying nursing (Mean, 156.86 ± 17.56) were more likely to have a more positive attitudes than older (Mean, 140.04 ± 15.31), males (Mean, 140.47 ± 15.93), studying medicine (Mean, 138.77 ± 15.04). Discussion: Results show that students may have greater ambivalence attitudes on 10 out of 17 matched item pairs which provides useful information for faculty involved in aged care curriculum design. Working as a volunteer in the university hospital may increase students' interactions with the elderly and may positively influence attitudes towards the elderly.
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2015
Many studies have demonstrated that Graptopetalum paraguayense has good antioxidant ability; howe... more Many studies have demonstrated that Graptopetalum paraguayense has good antioxidant ability; however, few studies have examined its anti-inflammatory effect. The study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of water extracts of G. paraguayense (WGP, 4 g day(-1)) in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS). Intervention was administered for 12 weeks. Levels of inflammatory markers [high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] and antioxidant enzymes activities were measured. Forty-two subjects completed the 12 week intervention study (placebo, n = 19; WGP, n = 23). After 12 weeks supplementation, subjects in WGP group had significantly lower levels of inflammatory markers than the baseline (P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.05) and the placebo group (CRP, P = 0.07; TNF-α, P = 0.04; IL-6, P = 0.03). The changes in levels of the inflammatory markers were significantly decreased in WGP group (CRP, P = 0.04; TNF-α, P = 0.06; IL-6, P = 0.01) compared to the placebo group. Levels of inflammatory markers were significantly negatively correlated with the antioxidant enzymes activities after supplementation. This study demonstrated a significant reduction in inflammatory status in MS after WGP supplementation. WGP may exert an anti-inflammatory effect on MS in addition to its antioxidant ability.
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