Plasma Vitamin C Concentrations Were Negatively Associated with Tingling, Prickling or Pins and Needles Sensation in Patients with Postherpetic Neuralgia.

Vitamin C deficiency increases the risk of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). In this cross-sectional study, the relationships among plasma vitamin C concentrations, pain and Leeds assessment of neuropathic symptoms and signs (LANSS) items were investigated during their first pain clinic visit of 120 PHN patients. The factors associated with vitamin C deficiency were determined.

Therapeutic treatment with vitamin C reduces focal cerebral ischemia-induced brain infarction in rats by attenuating disruptions of blood brain barrier and cerebral neuronal apoptosis.

Stroke is a major public health problem and ranks third most common cause of death in adults worldwide. Thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and endovascular thrombectomy are the main revascularization therapies for acute ischemic stroke. However, ischemia-reperfusion injury, mainly caused by oxidative/nitrosative stress injury, after revascularization therapy can result in worsening outcomes.

Anti-Metastatic Effects of Antrodan with and without Cisplatin on Lewis Lung Carcinomas in a Mouse Xenograft Model.

Antrodan, a unique protein-bound polysaccharide derived from the fungal mycelia of , has been reported to exhibit antitumor and anti-metastatic effects on Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells through direct action and immunomodulation in vitro. In this study, we investigated the combined treatment of antrodan with an anti-cancer drug-cisplatin-and its underlying molecular mechanisms of action in a mouse xenograft tumor model. C57BL/6 mice were implanted (s.

Lycopene Inhibits Metastasis of Human Liver Adenocarcinoma SK-Hep-1 Cells by Downregulation of NADPH Oxidase 4 Protein Expression.

NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), with the sole function to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), can be a molecular target for disrupting cancer metastasis. Several studies have indicated that lycopene exhibited anti-metastatic actions in vitro and in vivo. However, the role of NOX4 in the anti-metastatic action of lycopene remains unknown.

Black Hoof Medicinal Mushroom Phellinus linteus (Agaricomycetes) Extracts Protect Against Radiation-Induced Hematopoietic Abnormality in Mice.

We investigated the effects of Phellinus linteus extracts (PLEs) against radiation damage in mice. First, BALB/c mice were irradiated once with γ-rays at 4, 5, 6, or 8 Gy and allowed to recover for 20 days. Results reveal that 8-Gy radiation caused death in 100% of mice on day 13, and 6-Gy radiation caused death in 86.

Therapeutic treatment with ascorbate rescues mice from heat stroke-induced death by attenuating systemic inflammatory response and hypothalamic neuronal damage.

The impact of ascorbate on oxidative stress-related diseases is moderate because of its limited oral bioavailability and rapid clearance. However, recent evidence of the clinical benefit of parenteral vitamin C administration has emerged, especially in critical care. Heatstroke is defined as a form of excessive hyperthermia associated with a systemic inflammatory response that results in multiple organ dysfunctions in which central nervous system disorders such as delirium, convulsions, and coma are predominant.

A Nampt inhibitor FK866 mimics vitamin B3 deficiency by causing senescence of human fibroblastic Hs68 cells via attenuation of NAD(+)-SIRT1 signaling.

Vitamin B3 (niacin) deficiency can cause pellagra with symptoms of dermatitis, diarrhea and dementia. However, it is unclear whether the vitamin B3 deficiency causes human aging. FK866 (a Nampt inhibitor) can reduce intracellular NAD(+) level and induce senescence of human Hs68 cells.

The anti-angiogenic action of 2-deoxyglucose involves attenuation of VEGFR2 signaling and MMP-2 expression in HUVECs.

Aims: 2-Deoxyglucose (2-DG) is a glucose analogue and has been shown to inhibit angiogenesis in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) through interference with N-linked glycosylation. However, the anti-angiogenic mechanisms of 2-DG are not fully elucidated.

Main Methods: We first employed an ex vivo rat aortic ring model to substantiate the anti-angiogenic action of 2-DG and then used HUVECs to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying such an action.

Alpha-carotene inhibits metastasis in Lewis lung carcinoma in vitro, and suppresses lung metastasis and tumor growth in combination with taxol in tumor xenografted C57BL/6 mice.

This study aimed to investigate the anti-metastatic activity of α-carotene (AC) in Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) and in combination with taxol in LLC-xenografted C57BL/6 mice. Cell culture studies reveal that AC significantly inhibited invasion, migration and activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, -9 and urokinase plasminogen activator but increased protein expression of tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP)-1, -2 and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1. These effects of AC are similar to those of β-carotene at the same concentration (2.

Vitamin C protects against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and damage without reducing its effectiveness in C57BL/6 mice xenografted with Lewis lung carcinoma.

Vitamin C (vit C) has been shown to diminish cisplatin (CP)-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative damage in healthy rats and mice. However, little is known whether vit C has similar actions and enhances the anticancer effect of CP in tumor-bearing mice. Herein, C57BL/6 mice were implanted (s.

Peptic ulcer as a risk factor for postherpetic neuralgia in adult patients with herpes zoster.

Postherpetic neuralgia is the most common complication of herpes zoster. Identifying predictors for postherpetic neuralgia may help physicians screen herpes zoster patients at risk of postherpetic neuralgia and undertake preventive strategies. Peptic ulcer has been linked to immunological dysfunctions and malnutrition, both of which are predictors of postherpetic neuralgia.

Up-regulation of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase and increase of NAD+ levels by glucose restriction extend replicative lifespan of human fibroblast Hs68 cells.

Calorie restriction (CR) extends lifespan in a remarkable range of organisms. However, the mechanisms of CR related to the longevity effects are not fully elucidated to date. Using human fibroblast Hs68 (Hs68) cells cultured at a lower level of medium glucose (i.

Increased incidence of herpes zoster in adult patients with peptic ulcer disease: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) has been linked to immunological dysfunctions and malnutrition—both are predictors of herpes zoster(HZ). We hypothesized that PUD patients might have a greater risk for developing HZ.

Methods: Using the longitudinal National Health Insurance Research Database, we conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study to evaluate the incidence of HZ in adult PUD patients and controls matched by age and gender.

Global assessment of Antrodia cinnamomea-induced microRNA alterations in hepatocarcinoma cells.

Recent studies have demonstrated a potent anticancer potential of medicinal fungus Antrodia cinnamomea, especially against hepatocarcinoma. These studies, however, were performed with prolonged treatments, and the early anticancer events remain missing. To probe the early anticancer mechanisms of A.

Antimetastatic effects of α-carotene and possible mechanisms of action in human hepatocarcinoma SK-Hep-1 cells.

In vitro evidence suggests that α-carotene (AC) is an antimetastatic agent against cancer cells, but the mechanistic action is unclear. This study investigated the antimetastatic effect and possible mechanism of AC in comparison with β-carotene (BC) using human hepatocarcinoma SK-Hep-1 cells. Results reveal that treatment with AC (0.

Is peptic ulcer disease a risk factor of postherpetic neuralgia in patients with herpes zoster?

Postherpetic neuralgia is the most common complication of herpes zoster which is caused by a reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus. The pathogenesis of postherpetic neuralgia may involve peripheral and central mechanisms. Reported risk factors for postherpetic neuralgia include female gender, old age, diminished cell-mediated immunity and nutritional deficiencies.

Fucoxanthin enhances cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity via NFκB-mediated pathway and downregulates DNA repair gene expression in human hepatoma HepG2 cells.

Cisplain, a platinum-containing anticancer drug, has been shown to enhance DNA repair and to inhibit cell apoptosis, leading to drug resistance. Thus, the combination of anticancer drugs with nutritional factors is a potential strategy for improving the efficacy of cisplatin chemotherapy. In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferative effects of a combination of fucoxanthin, the major non-provitamin A carotenoid found in Undaria Pinnatifida, and cisplatin in human hepatoma HepG2 cells.

Nutritional factors in herpes zoster, postherpetic neuralgia, and zoster vaccination.

Herpes zoster (HZ) results from a reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV). HZ and its most common complication, termed postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), often cause long-term psychological distress and physical disabilities leading to profoundly negative impacts on the quality of patients' lives. The incidence and severity of HZ and PHN increase with advanced age as a consequence of declining cell-mediated immunity.

Trapping of methylglyoxal by curcumin in cell-free systems and in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Curcumin, the most active compound of curcuminoids, has been shown to inhibit formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. However, little is known on whether curcumin may trap methylglyoxal (MGO), a major reactive dicarbonyl compound, to inhibit AGE formation. We found that one molecule of curcumin effectively trapped one molecule of MGO at a 1:3 ratio at 24 h of incubation under physiological conditions (pH 7.