Objective Fluctuation of glucose levels is more likely to cause oxidative stress which contributes to the development of insulin resistance through activating c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK).Such antio xidants as vitamin C or vitamin E do not appear very helpful.Radix Astragali (RA) is an herbal medicine with antioxidative ability.The study was to explore whether RA would lower the risk of insulin resistance in diabetic rats.Methods Diabetic rats received RA,insulin or both RA and insulin after diabetes were induced in male Wistar rats.Serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα),advanced glycation endproducts(AGEs) levels in kidney,the expression of insulin receptor (IR),insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1),p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK),p-p38 MAPK,p-JNK,p-IRS-1 Ser307,and p-IRS-1 Tyr612 in skeletal muscles were determined.Results Compared to diabetic rats treated with insulin,the diabetic rats treated with both insulin and RA demonstrated significantly lower levels of IL-6,TNF-α and AGEs (P ＜ 0.05),significantly lower activation of p-p38 MAPK and JNK (P ＜0.05),significantly higher expressions of IRS-1 (P ＜0.05),p-IRS-1 Tyr612,and significantly lower expression of p-IRS-1 Ser307 (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions RA can lower the risk of insulin resistance through fighting oxidative stress in diabetic rats.

The body is exposed to various organic anions,so it is the best way to remove the toxic substances in the body quickly and effectively.Cross epithelial active transport mediated by organic anion transporter is the rate limiting process.Renal secretion and re-absorption of a variety of endogenous and exogenous organic anions are occurred in the proximal tubular epithelial cells of the organic anion transporter family.The expression of organic anion transporter-1 (OAT1) in proximal tubular epithelial cells plays an important role in the introduction of organic anion into the renal tubular epithelial cells.This article reviewed the renal expression,the substrate and the polymorphism of the organic anion transport protein OAT1,the renal toxicity of adefovir dipivoxil,the interaction between organic anion transporters and drug,and the influence of the renal toxicity on the renal toxicity of adefovir dipivoxil.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the malignant tumors with highest mortality.Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) as the mediator of many pathways,such as metabolic pathway,angiogenesis and adherence factor,is implicated in the onset and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.Through the literature retrieval,the activity of NF-κB and its implication in the onset,progression,invasion and metastasis have been reviewed in the article.