Intensive insulin therapy prevents the progression of diabetic microvascular complications in Japanese patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus : a randomized prospective 6-year study

Germinated brown rice and its bio-functional compounds.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (Gaba) is a non-proteinogenic amino acid that is widely present in microorganisms, plants, and vertebrates. So far, Gaba is well known as a main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Its physiological roles are related to the modulation of synaptic transmission, the promotion of neuronal development and relaxation, and the prevention of sleeplessness and depression. Besides, various pharmaceutical properties of Gaba on non-neuronal peripheral tissues and organs were also reported due to anti-hypertension, anti-diabetes, anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammation, anti-microbial, anti-allergy, hepato-protection, reno-protection, and intestinal protection. Therefore, Gaba may be considered as potential alternative therapeutics for prevention and treatment of various diseases. Accordingly, this updated review was mainly focused to describe the pharmaceutical properties of Gaba as well as emphasize its important role regarding human health.

An Updated Review on Pharmaceutical Properties of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid.

Brown rice, unmilled or partly milled, contains more nutritional components than ordinary white rice. Despite its elevated content of bioactive components, brown rice is rarely consumed as a staple food for its dark appearance and hard texture. The germination of brown rice can be used to improve its taste and further enhance its nutritional value and health functions. Germinated brown rice is considered healthier than white rice, as it is not only richer in the basic nutritional components such as vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers, and essential amino acids, but also contains more bioactive components, such as ferulic acid, γ-oryzanol, and gamma aminobutyric acid. Moreover, germinated brown rice has been reported to exhibit many physiological effects, including antihyperlipidemia, antihypertension, and the reduction in the risk of some chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, it is likely that germinated brown rice will become a popular health food.

Germinated brown rice and its role in human health.

Grains are global dietary staples that when consumed in whole grain form, offer considerable health benefits compared with milled grain foods, including reduced body weight gain and reduced cardiov...

Germinated grains: a superior whole grain functional food?

White rice (WR) is made by polishing brown rice (BR) and has lost various nutrients; however, most people prefer it to BR, maybe because of the hardness of BR. Pre-germinated brown rice (PGBR) improves the problem of BR. It is made by soaking BR kernels in water to germinate and becomes softer than BR. In this study we compared the effects of WR and PGBR on blood glucose and lipid concentrations in the impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or type 2 diabetes patients. Six men and 5 women with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or type 2 diabetes were randomly allocated to 6 wk on WR or PGBR diet separated by a 2 wk washout interval in a crossover design. Each subject was instructed to consume 3 packs of cooked WR or PGBR (180 g/pack) daily in each intervention phase. Blood samples were collected 4 times (in study weeks 0, 6, 8 and 14) for biochemical examination. Blood concentrations of fasting blood glucose, fructosamine, serum total cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels were favorably improved on the PGBR diet (p<0.01), but not on the WR diet. The present results suggest that diets including PGBR may be useful to control blood glucose level.

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jnsv/54/2/54_2_163/_pdf

Effects of Pre-Germinated Brown Rice on Blood Glucose and Lipid Levels in Free-Living Patients with Impaired Fasting Glucose or Type 2 Diabetes

Background/Aim: Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) plays a critical role in the regulation of the extracellular matrix; however, its genotypes have seldom been examined in gastric cancer (GC). This study aimed to investigate the contribution of MMP-2 promoter -1306 (rs243865) and -735 (rs2285053) genotypes to GC risk in a cohort of Taiwanese individuals. Materials and Methods: This study included 121 GC cases and 363 age- and sex-matched controls. The genotypes of MMP-2 were determined by typical polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: The genotypic and allelic frequency analysis showed that MMP-2 rs243865 variant genotypes decreased the risk of GC. Stratification analysis showed that MMP-2 rs243865 genotypes associate with smoking, alcohol drinking, and Helicobacter pylori infection status to confer personal susceptibility to GC. There is no such association for MMP-2 rs2285053 genotype with GC risk. Conclusion: The MMP-2 rs243865 genotypes may serve as a novel predictive marker for GC personal susceptibility among Taiwanese.

Association of Matrix Metallopeptidase-2 Genotypes With Risk of Gastric Cancer in Taiwan

Abstract Background/Aim: Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) has been reported to plays a critical role in the metastatic behaviors of cancer via regulation of the extracellular matrix. However, its genotypes have seldom been examined in colorectal cancer (CRC). We examined the role of MMP2 promoter −1306 (rs243865) and −735 (rs2285053) genotypes in colorectal cancer (CRC). Materials and Methods: Genotypes of MMP2 were determined by typical polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methodology in 362 CRC cases and 362 age-, sex- and behavior-matched controls. Results: The genotypic analysis showed that MMP2 −1306 CT and TT genotypes were significantly associated with an increased CRC risk (odds ratios=1.41 and 3.55, 95% confidence intervals=1.02-1.96 and 1.75-7.19, and p=0.0482 and p=0.0004, respectively). The allelic frequency analysis showed that the T allele for MMP2 −1306 increased CRC risk (odds ratio=1.71, 95% confidence interval=1.32-2.23, p=4.89×105). Stratification analysis showed that MMP2 −1306 genotypes were specifically associated with alcohol drinking, and metastatic status among patients with CRC. There was no association with MMP2 −735. Conclusion: The MMP2 −1306 genotype serves as a novel predictive marker for CRC risk among Taiwanese, and patients who have a tendency to undergo metastasis.

/pdf/role-of-matrix-metallopeptidase-2-genotypes-in-taiwanese-jop7z7k3.pdf

Role of Matrix Metallopeptidase-2 Genotypes in Taiwanese Patients With Colorectal Cancer

The 11,12-epoxy-eicosatrienoic acid (11,12-EET) is formed from arachidonic acid (AA) by cytochrome P450 2J2 (CYP 2J2) epoxygenase and function as an effector in blood vessels. Human endothelial progenitor cells (hEPCs), a preceding cell source for endothelial cells (ECs), involve in the vascular tissue repairing by postnatal neovasculogenesis. However, the effect of 11, 12-EET on hEPCs and neovasculogenesis is not well known. In the current study, we examined the function of 11, 12-EET in hEPCs-mediated neovasculogenesis by using tubular formation analysis, Western Blotting assay, immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry analysis and zymogram analysis. The results suggest that 11, 12-EET significantly induces neovasculogenesis through the phosphorylation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3–K)/Akt, endothelial-nitric oxide synthase (e-NOS) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) signaling pathways. 11, 12-EET up-regulates the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin–dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) proteins. Moreover, 11, 12-EET augments the expression of VE-cadherin and CD31 proteins in hEPCs. 11, 12-EET also augmented Rac1/Rho A signaling cascades, cell migration and an up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) −2 and −9 proteins. These results demonstrate that 11, 12-EET exerts a significant function in the neovasculogenesis of hEPCs.

/pdf/neovasculogenic-effect-of-1112-epoxyeicosatrienoic-acid-3ptdxeae.pdf

Mei Due Yang

Papers

Effects of Pre-Germinated Brown Rice on Blood Glucose and Lipid Levels in Free-Living Patients with Impaired Fasting Glucose or Type 2 Diabetes

Association of Matrix Metallopeptidase-2 Genotypes With Risk of Gastric Cancer in Taiwan

Role of Matrix Metallopeptidase-2 Genotypes in Taiwanese Patients With Colorectal Cancer

Neovasculogenic effect of 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid involves the Akt/eNOS signaling pathways in human endothelial progenitor cells