Objective To investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of 1,25-(OH) 2D3 on airway remodeling in asthmatic rats,and to explore the effect of 1,25-(OH) 2D3 on the expression of transforming growth factor-β 1 (TGF-β 1) and the related mechanism between them.Methods Seventy male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into seven groups:normal control group (group A,n =10),asthmatic group (group B,n =10),dexamethasone group (group C,n =10),1,25-(OH)2D3 2 μg/(kg·d) group (group D,n=10),1,25-(OH)2D3 4 μg/(kg · d) group (group E,n =10),1,25-(OH)2D3 8 μg/(kg · d) group (group F,n =10),1,25(OH)2D3 16 μg/(kg · d) group (group G,n=10).Rats were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) to establish the asthmatic model in B,C,D,E,F,G group respectively.Rats in group B and group C were fed with normal saline 10 ml/(kg · d) and dexamethasone 2 mg/(kg · d) before atomization.While group D-G was 1,25-(OH)2D3 intervention group,rats were fed with vitamin D 2,4,8,16 μg/(kg · d) before atomization.The number of total and different cells of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from the 7 groups was counted for analysis;The change of the thickness,the area of airway wall and the number of ASMC nucleus and pulmonary tissue changes were observed by microscope.The protein and mRNA expression of TGF-β1 in the lung tissue was measured by immunochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results (1) The airway remodeling and pulmonary inflammatory exudation in the B group were significantly heavier than those in the A,C and G groups (P ＜0.01);and the difference between groups of different doses of vitamin D [D group (minimum dose) and G group(the maximum dose)] was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.01).(2) The results of TGF-β1 mRNA and protein levels in rats of each group showed that the expression level of TGF-β1 mRNA and integrated option density (IOD) value in A group were significantly lower than those in other groups (P ＜0.01);the expression level of TGF-β1 mRNA and IOD value in B group was higher than the other groups (P ＜0.01);Compared with the B group,the expression level of TGF-β1 mRNA and IOD value in G group (large dose vitamin D group) was decreased,with statistically difference.Conclusions In the rat model of asthma,1,25-(OH) 2D3 may alleviate airway remodeling by regulating the expression of TGF-beta 1 and play its opposite biological effect in the prevention and treatment of asthma.

Objective:To examine the impact of berberine on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in mice, and to investigate the effects of berberine on the intestinal flora and the intestinal flora on PCOS.Methods:A mouse model of PCOS was established by administering dehydroepiandrosterone in combination with high fat diet, and the mouse model was given a berberine treatment. The study consisted of a blank control group (C group), a PCOS model group (M group) and a berberine treatment group (T group). During the experiment, the mice were closely monitored through timed body weight measurements and estrous cycle monitoring; intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test were done. Upon completion of the pharmacological intervention, the wet weights of liver, ovary and fat deposits of mice were assessed and subjected to HE staining to confirm the success of PCOS modeling and the efficacy of berberine. Additionally, fecal samples were analyzed for intestinal flora through 16S rRNA analysis.Results:The PCOS model was established successfully, berberine alleviated the disturbance of estrous cycle in mice, and significantly alleviated fat accumulation and metabolic abnormalities of glucose in mice. The cross-sectional area of fat pad cells in T group was (2 858±146) μm2, which was significantly lower than that in M group [(9 518±347) μm2], and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). The blood glucose levels in T group were significantly lower than those in M group ( P<0.05). The composition and structure of intestinal flora in mice of M group with PCOS (compared with C group) and in mice of T group after berberine intervention (compared with M group) were significantly altered. However, alpha diversity did not change significantly among three groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Berberine could alleviate PCOS by intervening in the alterations of gut microbiota.

Objective:To describe the current status and efficacy of additional acarbose combined with insulin therapy in adult patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) .Methods:Adult T1DM patients with acarbose combined with insulin (acarbose group) or insulin alone (insulin group), age≥18 years and disease course≥1 year, who were registered in the T1DM Translational Medicine Research Project of Guangdong Province from June 2011 to December 2014 were enrolled in the study. The hemoglobin A1c (HbA 1c), body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), insulin dosage and hypoglycemia of acarbose group and insulin group after 1 year were compared. Results:A total of 717 adult patients with T1DM were included (62 cases in acarbose group and 655 cases in insulin group). At the time of enrollment, the onset age of acarbose group was higher than that of insulin group [(31.1±12.3)years vs (27.4±12.4)years, P=0.019]; There were no significant differences in gender, age, course of disease, body weight, BMI, WHR, proportion of carbohydrate heat ≥50%, proportion of exercise time ≥150 min per week, HbA 1c, dosage of insulin, occurence of hypoglycemia and proportion of patients with dyslipidemia between the 2 groups (all P>0.05). After 1 year of follow-up, the HbA 1c in acarbose and insulin group decreased from baseline ( P=0.014, P<0.001), the body weight and BMI increased from baseline (all P<0.05), but WHR, insulin dosage and hypoglycemia occurrence were not statistically significant between the two groups (all P>0.05). After 1 year of follow-up, there were no significant difference in changes of HbA 1c, body weight, BMI, WHR, insulin dosage and hypoglycemia occurrence in acarbose group compared with insulin group from baseline (all P>0.05). Conclusions:In the clinical practice of T1DM treatment, acarbose is used more frequently in patients with a slightly older age of onset. Treatment of T1DM with insulin combined with acarbose did not increase the incidence of hypoglycemia, and no benefit was observed in improving HbA 1c, maintaining body weight, and reducing insulin use.