Cuscuta chinensis polysaccharide (CPS) was extracted using hot water and enzymatically hydrolyzed C. chinensis polysaccharide (ECPS) was produced by the mannase enzymatic hydrolysis process. The purpose of this research was to investigate the antimelanogenic activity of ECPS and CPS in B16F10 melanoma cells. The in vitro antioxidant activity was assessed by their ferric iron reducing power and DPPH free radical scavenging activities. The molecular mass distribution of polysaccharides was determined using SEC-MALLS-RI. CPS was successfully enzymatically degraded using mannase and the weighted average molecular weights of CPS and ECPS were 434.6 kDa and 211.7 kDa. The results of biological activity assays suggested that the enzymatically hydrolyzed polysaccharide had superior antimelanogenic activity and antioxidant effect than the original polysaccharide. ECPS exhibited antimelanogenic activity by down-regulating the expression of tyrosinase, MITF, and TRP-1 without cytotoxic effects in B16F10 melanoma cells. In conclusion, ECPS have the potential to become a skin whitening product.

Objetivo O objetivo desta metanálise foi investigar a associação entre os níveis de leptina e o risco patogenético de doença arterial coronariana e acidente vascular cerebral. Materiais e métodos Foram identificados estudos nas bases de dados PubMed, Embase e Springer Link sem restrição quanto à língua. A razão de chances (OR) e os intervalos de confiança de 95% correspondentes (95% CI) foram usados como índices de efeitos. A associação entre os níveis de leptina e o risco patogenético de doença arterial coronariana e acidente vascular cerebral com cada unidade adicional na concentração de leptina foi analisada por meio de metanálise. O viés da publicação foi avaliado por meio do teste de regressão linear de Egger. Resultados Oito estudos com caso controle aninhado envolvendo 1.980 pacientes e 11.567 controles foram incluídos na metanálise. As ORs (95% CIs) da associação entre as concentrações de leptina e a doença arterial coronariana e o acidente vascular cerebral foram de 1,90 (1,06; 3,43) e 2,14 (1,48; 3,08), respectivamente. Além disso, foram obtidos resultados significativos com a variação de risco para a doença arterial coronariana a cada unidade adicional na concentração de leptina (OR =1,04; 95% CI =1,00‐1,08; P=0,044). Não houve viés de publicação significativo sugerido pelos desfechos no teste de Egger. Conclusão Há associação significativa entre a leptina e o risco patogenético de doença arterial coronariana e acidente vascular cerebral, e concentrações aumentadas de leptina podem elevar significativamente o risco patogenético de doença arterial coronariana.

Objective This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association of leptin levels with pathogenetic risk of CHD and stroke. Materials and methods Studies were identified in the PubMed, Embase, and Springer link database without language restriction. Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used as effect indexes. The association of leptin levels with pathogenetic risk of CHD and stroke, as well as the risk variation of CHD with each additional one unit of leptin level were examined via meta-analysis. The publication bias was assessed via Egger’s linear regression test. Results Eight nested case-control studies consisting of 1,980 patients and 11,567 controls were included for current meta-analysis. ORs (95% CIs) of association of leptin levels with CHD and stroke was 1.90 (1.06, 3.43), and 2.14 (1.48, 3.08), respectively. In addition, significant result was obtained regarding the risk variation of CHD with each additional one unit of leptin level (OR =1.04, 95% CI =1.00‐1.08, P=0.044). There was no significant publication bias as suggested by Egger test outcomes. Conclusion There was a significant association of leptin with pathogenetic risk of CHD and stroke, and raised leptin levels could significantly increase the pathogenetic risk of CHD.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) oil supplementation on the growth performance and lipid metabolism in geese and the fatty acid concentrations in their liver and muscle tissues. One hundred and ninety two one-day old geese were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments. The diet in Group A, the control, contained 2.5% soyabean oil, that in Group B 2.0% soyabean oil and 0.5% CLA, that in Group C 1.0% soybean oil and 1.5% CLA and that in Group D 2.5% CLA. The birds were fed for 56 days. No significant effects were observed in body weight and body weight gain between Groups B, C and the control, but these parameters were significantly lower in Group D compared to the control. The feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and abdominal fat percentage (AFP) were significantly lower in the groups receiving CLA in their diets compared with the control. Dietary CLA altered serum lipid concentrations by decreasing total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations, the atherogenic index and activity of lipoprotein lipase, and increased serum concentration of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol. The fatty acid composition of the liver and muscle tissues showed significant increases in the biologically active cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 CLA isomers in the geese fed increasing levels of CLA. The supplementation of CLA to the geese led to significant increases in saturated fatty acid concentrations and significant reductions in the monounsaturated fatty acid concentrations in liver and muscle tissues. The results clearly demonstrated that geese can successfully incorporate CLA in their liver and muscle tissues, thus producing a healthy food for humans.