Dietary fat is one of the most important environmental factors associated with the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. In this study, the antiobesity effects of rutin (R) and o-coumaric acid (oCA) were investigated. Wistar rats were divided into normal and obese groups, and obese rats were prefed a high-fat diet (HFD) containing 40% beef tallow for 4 weeks. Then, R and oCA were given as a supplement to obese rats at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively, for a period of 8 weeks. The results showed that body, liver organ, and adipose tissue weights of peritoneal and epididymal fat pads in the HFD+ R and HFD+oCA groups were significantly decreased as compared to those in the HFD group. Serum lipid profiles, insulin, and leptin were significantly decreased in the HFD+ R (high dose, HD) and HFD+oCA (HD) groups as compared to those in the HFD group. Hepatic triacylglycerol and cholesterol levels were significantly decreased in the HFD+ R (HD) and HFD+oCA (HD) groups as compared to those in the HFD group. Moreover, the consumption of R and oCA reduced oxidative stress and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) content, and enhanced the levels of glutathione (GSH), GSH peroxidase (GPx), GSH reductase (GRd), and GSH S-transferase (GST) in the hepatic tissue of rats with HFD-induced obesity. These results demonstrate that intake of R and oCA can be beneficial for the suppression of high-fat-diet-induced dyslipidemia, hepatosteatosis, and oxidative stress in rats.

Tai Chi has been shown to have many great health benefits. However, few research attempts have been made to explore the effects of practicing TCC on life span. This study provides direct evidence of Tai Chi's antiaging effects. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study to compare the rejuvenating and antiaging effects among Tai Chi group (TCC) and brisk walking group (BW) and no exercise habit group (NEH). Thirty-two participants were selected out of a possible 60 based on a survey, and they were separated into three groups: the TCC group (practicing for more than 1 year), the BW group (practicing for more than 1 year), and the NEH group. The CD34 + cell counts in peripheral blood of the participants was determined, and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to evaluate and compare the antiaging effects of the three groups. Of the 32 participants in this study, the participants in the TCC group (N = 10) outperformed the NEH group (N = 12) with respect to the number of CD34 + progenitor cells. No significant difference was found between the TCC group and the BW group. TCC practice sustained for more than 1 year may be an intervention against aging as effective as BW in terms of its benefits on the improvement of CD34 + number.

The correlation between lung cancer incidence and air pollution has been established in previous research, but the other detail impact of air pollution to lung cancer is still under investigation. This study aimed to explore if air pollution affected the subtype and staging of lung cancer. At the same time, we investigated the effect of individual pollutant to subtypes and staging. Single center data were extracted from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020 using the search engine in the radiology reporting system of Shuang-Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan. There were 169 patients finally included for analysis. The nationwide statistics data of lung cancer were extracted from the Taiwan Cancer Registry. The air quality data were extracted from the Taiwan air quality monitoring network. Comparison of the single center lung cancer characteristics with nationwide data was made using the chi-square test. Comparison of the air quality of the living space of the included cases with the average quality in Taiwan in 2020 was made using the Z-test. The result shows there was significant difference of cancer subtype and staging between the regional data and the nationwide data. The regional data demonstrated a tendency of higher incidence of adenocarcinoma and advanced stage disease. As for air quality, there was no significant difference. The regional PM10 level presented generally lower levels in regional data as compared to Taiwan in 2020 with near statistically significant P-value (0.052); the regional NO2 level presented generally higher levels in regional data as compared to Taiwan in 2020 with near statistically significant P-value (0.060). The results indicate that air pollution might be related to increase in adenocarcinoma ratio and advanced stage of lung cancer at initial presentation. The NO2 was probably the leading pollutant causing this trend.

Alcohol exposure associated with participation in a mixology course may have an effect on caries in students. These findings suggest that occupational safety and health education should be applied to students participating in mixology courses.