6‐Dihydroparadol,a Ginger Constituent,Enhances Cholesterol Efflux from THP‐1‐Derived Macrophages

1 Scope

Ginger is reported to be used for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Cholesterol efflux from macrophage foam cells is an important process in reverse cholesterol transport, whose increase may help to prevent or treat CVD. In this study, we investigated the effects of 6‐dihydroparadol from ginger on macrophage cholesterol efflux.

2 Methods and results

We show that 6‐dihydroparadol concentration‐dependently enhances both apolipoprotein A1‐ and human plasma–mediated cholesterol efflux from cholesterol‐loaded THP‐1‐derived macrophages using macrophage cholesterol efflux assay. 6‐Dihydroparadol increases protein levels of both ATP‐binding cassette transporters A1 and G1 (ATP‐binding cassette transporter A1 [ABCA1] and ATP‐binding cassette transporter G1 [ABCG1]) according to Western blot analysis. The ABCA1 inhibitor probucol completely abolishes 6‐dihydroparadol‐enhanced cholesterol efflux. Furthermore, increased ABCA1 protein levels in the presence of 6‐dihydroparadol were associated with both increased ABCA1 mRNA levels and increased ABCA1 protein stability. Enhanced ABCG1 protein levels were only associated with increased protein stability. Increased ABCA1 protein stability appeared to be the result of a reduced proteasomal degradation of the transporter in the presence of 6‐dihydroparadol.

3 Conclusion

We identified 6‐dihydroparadol from ginger as a novel promoter of cholesterol efflux from macrophages that increases both ABCA1 and ABCG1 protein abundance. This newly identified bioactivity might contribute to the antiatherogenic effects of ginger.     

Stereospecific analysis of triacylglycerol and phospholipid fractions of four freshwater fish species: Salmo trutta, Ictalurus punctatus, Ictalurus melas and Micropterus salmoides

The fatty acid compositions and the positional distributions of fatty acid in triacylglycerol (TAGs) and phospholipid (PLs) fractions of four cultured freshwater fish species (Salmo trutta, Ictalurus punctatus, Ictalurus melas and Micropterus salmoides) were investigated. As regards the TAGs fraction, the S. trutta (trout) and I. punctatus (channel catfish) species had the highest % content in n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and the lowest n6/n3 ratio; this ratio resulted always lower than 1 in all the considered fish species. The PLs fraction of the considered fish was very interesting because of the high percentage of PUFAs, both in phosphatidylcholines and in phosphatidylethanolamines. The fatty acid distribution among the three sn-positions of the glycerol backbone was non-random; generally, both n6 and n3 PUFAs were mainly distributed between sn-2- and sn-3-positions of TAGs while the contents in sn-1-position were generally lower; in PLs fraction these fatty acids preferred the sn-2-position.     

Quality traits in muscle biceps femoris and back-fat from purebred Iberian and reciprocal Iberian×Duroc crossbred pigs

The present study evaluated the physico-chemical characteristics of muscle biceps femoris and back-fat from purebred Iberian (PBI) pigs and reciprocal crossbred Iberian × Duroc pigs (IB × D pigs: Iberian dams × Duroc sires; D × IB pigs: Duroc dams × Iberian sires). Muscles from PBI pigs contained significantly higher amounts of IMF, heme pigments and iron than those from crossbred pigs. In addition, muscles from PBI pigs were darker (lower L^*-values) and redder (higher a^*-values) and exhibited a more intense colour (higher chroma value) which was closer to the true red axis (lower hue value) than muscles from crossbred pigs. Back-fat from PBI pigs had significantly higher percentages of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and significantly smaller percentages of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) than those from crossbred pigs. Regarding the fatty acid profiles of the muscle lipid fractions, the genetic background particularly affected the composition of the polar lipid (PL) fraction. PL in muscles from PBI pigs contained significantly higher proportions of oleic acid and total MUFA and significantly lower amounts of arachidonic acid, certain long-chain PUFA (ω-6 and ω-3 fatty acids) and total amount of PUFA than PL in muscles from crossbred pigs. The results obtained indicate that tissues from PBI pigs would be more suitable for the production of dry-cured meats than those from cross-bred pigs. The position of the dam or the sire in reciprocal Iberian × Duroc crosses had no clear effects on meat quality.     

What predicts psychological resilience after disaster? The role of demographics, resources, and life stress.

A growing body of evidence suggests that most adults exposed to potentially traumatic events are resilient. However, research on the factors that may promote or deter adult resilience has been limited. This study examined patterns of association between resilience and various sociocontextual factors. The authors used data from a random-digit-dial phone survey (N = 2,752) conducted in the New York City area after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack. Resilience was defined as having 1 or 0 posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and as being associated with low levels of depression and substance use. Multivariate analyses indicated that the prevalence of resilience was uniquely predicted by participant gender, age, race/ethnicity, education, level of trauma exposure, income change, social support, frequency of chronic disease, and recent and past life stressors. Implications for future research and intervention are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Condom Use Among High-Risk Adolescents: Testing the Influence of Alcohol Use on the Relationship of Cognitive Correlates of Behavior.

The goal of this study was the exploration of distal effects of alcohol use on condom use. Criminally involved adolescents completed an initial measure of attitudes, beliefs, and prior behavior. Of the 300 who completed the initial measurement, 267 (89%) completed a behavioral assessment 6 months later. Analyses validated a theoretical model of condom use intentions and indicated that intentions and attitudes measured at baseline were significant predictors of condom use behavior 6 months later. Neither alcohol use nor alcohol problems moderated relationships among model variables or the influence of intentions and attitudes on behavior. The findings do not support a distal role for alcohol use in altering the cognitive correlates of condom use intentions and behavior among high-risk adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)