Retirement, reemployment, and bio-psycho-social health among older adults in Taiwan.

Objectives: This study examined the associations between retirement, reemployment, and health outcomes-covering physical, mental, and social domains-among middle-aged and older adults in Taiwan.

Study Design: Data were drawn from the Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study in Taiwan (HALST), with 4015 participants (mean age 68.2 ± 7.

Sp1-mediated ectopic expression of T-cell lymphoma invasion and metastasis 2 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

T-cell lymphoma invasion and metastasis 2 (TIAM2) is a neuron-specific protein that has been found ectopically expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Results from clinical specimens and cellular and animal models have shown that the short form of TIAM2 (TIAM2S) functions as an oncogene in the tumorigenesis of liver cancer. However, the regulation of TIAM2S ectopic expression in HCC cells remains largely unknown.

Cembrane derivatives from the soft corals, Sinularia gaweli and Sinularia flexibilis.

A new norcembranoidal diterpene, 1-epi-sinulanorcembranolide A (1), and a new cembranoidal diterpene, flexibilin D (2), were isolated from the soft corals, Sinularia gaweli and Sinularia flexibilis, respectively. The structures of new metabolites 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, and compound 2 was found to significantly inhibit the accumulation of the pro-inflammatory iNOS and COX-2 proteins of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells.

5-Episinuleptolide acetate, a norcembranoidal diterpene from the formosan soft coral Sinularia sp., induces leukemia cell apoptosis through Hsp90 inhibition.

5-Episinuleptolide acetate (5EPA), a cytotoxic norcembranoidal diterpene recently identified from the Formosan soft coral Sinularia sp., exhibited potent activity against the K562, Molt 4 and HL 60 cancer cell lines. The antiproliferative assay, as well as the annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) apoptotic assay, indicated that the HL 60 cell line is the most sensitive one towards 5EPA.

A new 5α,8α-Epidioxysterol from the soft coral Sinularia gaweli.

A new sterol, (22R,23R,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxy-22,23-methylene-24-methyl-cholest-6,9(11)-dien-3β-ol (1), and two known sterols, (22R,23R,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxy-22,23-methylene-24-methylcholest-6-en-3β-ol (2) and 24-methylenecholestane-1α,3β,5α, 6β,11α-pentol (3), were isolated from the soft coral Sinularia gaweli. The structure of sterol 1 was established by spectroscopic methods and by comparison of the spectral data with those of known analogues. The cytotoxicity of sterols 1-3 towards various tumor cells is reported.

Norcembranoidal diterpenes from a Formosan soft coral Sinularia sp.

Two norcembranoidal diterpenes, 5-episinuleptolide acetate (1) and scabrolide D (2), were isolated from a Formosan octocoral identified as Sinularia sp. The structures of norcembranoids 1 and 2 were established by spectroscopic methods and by comparison of the spectral data with those of known analogues and 1 was proven to be a new natural product. Norcembranoid 1 was found to exhibit cytotoxicity toward a panel of tumor cells.

Echinohalimane A, a bioactive halimane-type diterpenoid from a Formosan gorgonian Echinomuricea sp. (Plexauridae).

A new halimane-type diterpenoid, echinohalimane A (1), was isolated from a gorgonian, identified as Echinomuricea sp. The structure of 1 was determined by spectroscopic methods and this compound was found to exhibit cytotoxicity toward various tumor cells and display an inhibitory effect on the release of elastase by human neutrophils. Echinohalimane A (1) is the first halimane analogue from the marine organisms belonging to phylum Cnidaria.

New 6-hydroxyeunicellins from a soft coral Cladiella sp.

Two new 6-hydroxyeunicellin diterpenoids, cladieunicellin G (1) and 6-epi-cladieunicellin F (2), were isolated from an Indonesian octocoral Cladiella sp. The structures of eunicellins 1 and 2 were established by spectroscopic methods and 2 was found to be an epimer of the known eunicellin cladieunicellin F (3). Eunicellin 2 displayed inhibitory effects on the generation of superoxide anion and the release of elastase by human neutrophils.