BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The glycemic index (GI) is a measure of the postprandial glucose response (PPGR) to food items, and glycemic load (GL) is a measure of the PPGR to the diet. For those who need to maintain a healthy diet, it is beneficial to regulate appropriate levels of blood glucose. In reality, what influences the meal GI or GL depends on the macronutrient composition and the physical chemistry reactions in vivo. Thus, we investigated whether different macronutrients in a meal significantly affect the PPGR and the validity of calculated GI and GL values for mixed meals. SUBJECTS/METHODS: 12 healthy subjects (6 male, 6 female) were recruited at a campus setting, and subjects consumed a total of 6 test meals one by one, each morning between 8:00 and 8:30 am after 12 h of fasting. PPGR was measured after each consumed meal and serial finger pricks were performed at indicated times. Test meals included 1) 68 g oral glucose, 2) 210 g rice, 3) rice plus 170 g egg white (RE), 4) rice plus 200 g bean sprouts (RS), 5) rice plus 10 g oil (RO), and 6) rice plus, egg white, bean sprouts, and oil (RESO). The incremental area under the curve (iAUC) was calculated to assess the PPGR. Mixed meal GI and GL values were calculated based on the nutrients the subjects consumed in each of the test meals. RESULTS: The iAUC for all meals containing two macronutrients (RS, RO, or RE) were not significantly different from the rice iAUC, whereas, the RESO iAUC (2,237.5 ± 264.9) was significantly lower (P < 0.05). The RESO meal's calculated GI and GL values were different from the actual GI and GL values measured from the study subjects (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The mixed meal containing three macronutrients (RESO) decreased the PPGR in healthy individuals, leading to significantly lower actual GI and GL values than those derived by nutrient-based calculations. Thus, consuming various macronutrient containing meals is beneficial in regulating PPGR.
Blood Glucose ; Chemistry, Physical ; Diet ; Egg White ; Fasting ; Fingers ; Glucose ; Glycemic Index ; Glycemic Load ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male ; Meals

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Acorus tatarinowii Schott and its active component 5- hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) on learning and memory and ERK/CREB signal in hippocampus of rats with exercise-induced fatigue. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into normal group (A), exercise group (B), exercise + HMF low, middle and high dose treatment group (C, D, E), exercise + acorus tatarinowii Schott low, middle and high dose treatment group (F, G, H), with ten rats in each group. The rats in group C, D and E were treated with HMF at the doses of 0.10, 1.00 and 3.00 mg. kg by ig. The rats in group F, G and H were treated with the extracts of Acorus tatarinowii Schott at the doses of 0.12, 1.20 and 4.80 g. kg by ig. Learning and memory of rats were tested by the method of water maze experiment, and the expression levels of p-ERK1/2 and p-CREB protein in hippocampus of rats were tested by the method of Western blot in the end of the experiment. RESULTS: The escape latencies of E and H groups were lower than those of groups B, C, D, F and G; and the numbers of plateau crossing were more than those of groups B, C, D, F and G and the expression levels of p-ERK1/2, p-CREB protein were higher than those of groups B, C, D, F and G , respectively(P ＜ 0.01). There was no significant difference in the above indexes among groups A, E and H(P＞0.05) except that the expression levels of p-ERK2 protein in group E were lower than those in group A and H (P＜0.05). CONCLUSION Acorus tatarinowii and its active component- HMF can improve the learning and memory of rats with exercise-induced fatigue, and the mechanism is related to the up-regulation of ERK / CREB signal in hippocampus of rats with exercise-induced fatigue.
Acorus ; chemistry ; Animals ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; metabolism ; Fatigue ; drug therapy ; Furaldehyde ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Phytochemicals ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Animals ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; blood ; Heart ; drug effects ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Lycium ; chemistry ; Male ; Nitrates ; blood ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; adverse effects ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; blood

PURPOSE: Stone size and location are generally considered the most important factors associated with spontaneous ureter stone passage (SSP). Several parameters related to inflammatory changes have been identified as predictors associated with SSP. Our aim was to investigate the predictive role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for SSP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on 131 patients who were referred to the urology outpatient clinic and diagnosed with unilateral ureteral stones at our emergency department between July 2016 and December 2016. The presence of ureteral stones was confirmed with non-contrast-enhanced computed tomography (NCCT) for all patients. SSP was confirmed with either the patient collecting the stone during urination or by NCCT performed at 3 weeks from the first stone episode. Physical examination, urinalysis, complete blood count, serum chemistry and inflammatory markers, plain radiographs, and NCCT at initial presentation were reviewed to analyze predictors of future SSP. RESULTS: Of 113 patients included for analysis, 90 (79.6%) passed their stones spontaneously. The SSP rates within 3 weeks according to the stone's size (5–10 mm and ≤5 mm) were 62.2% and 88.2%, respectively. A lower stone location [odds ratio (OR), 11.54; p=0.001], smaller stone size (≤5 mm) (OR, 8.16; p=0.001), and NLR (<2.3) (OR, 9.03; p=0.003) were independent predictors of SSP. CONCLUSION: Low NLR (<2.3) may predict SSP in patients with ureter stones ×1.0 cm in size. Our results suggest that ureteral inflammation plays an important role in SSP. Early intervention may be considered for patients presenting with high NLR (≥2.3).
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Blood Cell Count ; Calculi ; Chemistry ; Early Intervention (Education) ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Physical Examination ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Ureter* ; Urinalysis ; Urinary Calculi ; Urination ; Urology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Chinese medicine (CM) Schisandra chinensis on interleukin (IL), glucose metabolism, and pituitary-adrenal and gonadal axis of rats after strenuous navigation and exercise.

METHODSA total of 45 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into the quiet control group, the stress group, and the CM group (15 in each group). The CM group received 2.5 g/kg of Schisandra chinensis twice per day for one week before modeling. Except the quiet controls, rats were trained using the Bedford mode for 10 days. On the 11th day, they performed 3 h of stressful experimental navigation and 3 h of strenuous treadmill exercise. The levels of serum testosterone (T), cortisol (CORT), luteinizing hormone (LH), IL-1, IL-2, and IL-6 were tested by radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The adrenal cortex ultrastructure was observed using electron microscopy.

RESULTSCompared with the quiet control group, after navigation and strenuous exercise, blood glucose was increased, and T level was decreased in the stress group (both P<0.01). The blood glucose, CORT, IL-1 and IL-2 levels were significantly reduced in the CM group (P<0.05 or P<0.01) as compared with the stress group. Electron microscopy revealed that the rats in the CM group had a smaller decrease in adrenal intracellular lipid droplets and higher levels of apoptosis than those in the stress group.

CONCLUSIONSSchisandra chinensis can reduce serum CORT and blood glucose levels in stressed rats. It appears to protect the cell structure of the adrenal cortex, and offset the negative effects of psychological stress and strenuous exercise related to immune dysfunction. Schisandra chinensis plays a regulatory role in immune function, and can decrease the influence of stress in rats.

Adrenal Cortex ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Gonads ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Interleukins ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Schisandra ; chemistry ; Swimming ; physiology ; Testosterone ; blood

Animals ; Cardiovascular System ; physiopathology ; Fatigue ; drug therapy ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress ; Periplaneta ; chemistry ; Physical Conditioning, Animal

Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Fatigue ; blood ; Female ; Hypericum ; chemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of the postpone in skeletal muscle aging process of D-galactose rats by weight training and soy polypeptide supplement in 6 weeks, and discuss the initial mechanism.

METHODSixty male SD rats (three month old)were randomly assigned: 6 week control (C6,) and 6 week model (M6) 6 for each group, 12 week model (M12), big load (B12), small load (S12), peptide (P12), peptide + big load (PB12) and peptide + small load group (PS12) 8 for each group, eight fourteen month rats were taken in the natural aging group. The rats were killed by the end of 6th week and 12th week, tested the indicators.

RESULTCompare with group C6, the indicators in group M6 showed aging in different levels; Compare with group M12, weight training or soy polypeptide supplement in all intervention groups could increase the content of skeletal muscle superoxide dismutase (SOD), SOD/MDA, the serum growth hormone(GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I)and skeletal muscle IGF-I mRNA, decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of skeletal muscle, and they had notable interaction.

CONCLUSIONRat skeletal muscle aging model can be copied successfully by D-galactose hypodermic, and go on with 6-week weight training or soy polypeptide supplement, they can postpone the skeletal muscle aging process of D-galactose rats, and the two interference way united can have more obvious effect. Its preliminary mechanism may be related to the reduction of skeletal muscle oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, the correction of hormones and related factors metabolic disorders, the elevation of skeletal muscle IGF-I mRNA expression and so on.

Aging ; physiology ; Animals ; Galactose ; Growth Hormone ; blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Muscle, Skeletal ; drug effects ; physiology ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Soybean Proteins ; pharmacology ; Soybeans ; chemistry ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of exercise training on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) oxidative damage and 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase-1 (OGG1) expression in skeletal muscle of rats under continuous exposure to hypoxia. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 8): normoxia control group (NC), normoxia training group (NT), hypoxia control group (HC), and hypoxia training group (HT). The hypoxia-treated animals were housed in normobaric hypoxic tent containing 11.3% oxygen for consecutive 4 weeks. The exercise-trained animals were exercised on a motor-driven rodent treadmill at a speed of 15 m/min, 5% grade for 60 min/day, 5 days per week for 4 weeks. The results showed that, compared with NC group, hypoxia attenuated complex I, II, IV and ATP synthase activities of the electron transport chain, and the level of mitochondrial membrane potential in HC group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Moreover, hypoxia decreased mitochondrial OGG1, MnSOD, and GPx activities (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), whereas elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the level of 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) in mtDNA (P < 0.01). Furthermore, hypoxia attenuated muscle and mitochondrial [NAD⁺]/ [NADH] ratio, and SIRT3 protein expression (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Compared with HC group, exercise training in hypoxia elevated complex I, II, IV and ATP synthase activities, and the level of mitochondrial membrane potential in HT group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Moreover, exercise training in hypoxia increased MnSOD and GPx activities and mitochondrial OGG1 level (P < 0.01), whereas decreased ROS generation and the level of 8-oxodG in mtDNA (P < 0.01). Furthermore, exercise training in hypoxia increased muscle and mitochondrial [NAD⁺]/[NADH] ratio, as well as SIRT3 protein expression (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). These findings suggest that exercise training in hypoxia can decrease hypoxia-induced mtDNA oxidative damage in the skeletal muscle through up-regulating exercise-induced mitochondrial OGG1 and antioxidant enzymes. Exercise training in hypoxia may improve hypoxia tolerance in skeletal muscle mitochondria via elevating [NAD⁺]/[NADH] ratio and SIRT3 expression.
Animals ; DNA Glycosylases ; metabolism ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; chemistry ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Guanine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mitochondria, Muscle ; pathology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Traditional mineral Chinese medicine is a characteristic part of Chinese medicine, in the development of traditional Chinese medicine has its unique role. With the development of science and technology and the increase of the medical level, traditional mineral medicine research is gradually thorough and wide-ranging. In recent years, traditional mineral Chinese medicine research mainly includes the physical properties of mineral medicine, structure, chemical composition, pharmacology and treatment mechanism research. The above several aspects of research in the mineral medicine has important practical and theoretical significance. The above several aspects of research status and the problems existing in the research were briefly summarized and reviewed in this paper, and its development were discussed, to provide reference for further studies in the future.
Animals ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Minerals ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Physical Phenomena