OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of emodin on nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) induced by high fat diet in rats.

METHODSNAFL model was established by feeding with high fat diet for 12 weeks in 40 SD rats, confirmed by liver pathologic examination, which were randomly divided into 5 groups: the model control group the mere dietary treatment group (both with distilled water by gastrgarege), the low, moderate and high dose emodin groups treated with emodin 20,40 and 80 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) once per day respectively. Meanwhile a normal control group was used. The model control group was still fed with high fat diet while the other groups with normal diet. After 4 weeks, body weight, liver index (liver weight/body weight), hepatic function, blood lipid, hepatic lipid and histologic changes were assayed.

RESULTSIn the model control group,body weight, liver index, hepatic enzyme activities, serum lipid and hepatic triglyceride increased significantly (P <0. 05, or P <0. 01), serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol( HDL-C)decreased (P <0.01 ), and moderate to severe hepatocyte steatosis was observed, while these indexes were all improved significantly in the 3 emodin groups; hepatic histologic changes were improved in the mere dietary treatment group, however, high level of ALT and hyperlipidemia persisted.

CONCLUSIONEmodin combined with dietary therapy is effective for NAFL rats induced by high fat diet.

Animals ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Dietary Fats ; toxicity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Emodin ; therapeutic use ; Fatty Liver ; diet therapy ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo establish an assay method for detecting the migration of transferred apoptotic cells into the recipient using flow cytometry.

METHODSSpleen lymphocytes were isolated and labeled with an intracellular amine dye, carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE), to allow discrimination. The labeled cells were induced with dexamethasone to undergo apoptosis and transferred into recipient mice via tail venous transfusion. Flow cytometry and histological examination of different tissues were performed at different time points. The stability of CFSE labeling for apoptotic cells was also tested.

RESULTSThe CFSE-labeled apoptotic cells were highly fluorescent with a positive labeling rate of (98.0+/-1.9)%. The stability of CFSE-labeling was testified, and the CFSE-labeled apoptotic cells entering different tissues at different time points were detected by flow cytometry and verified by histological examination.

CONCLUSIONFlow cytometry using CFSE labeling is reliable, sensitive, precise and convenient for apoptotic cell tracing in vivo and in vitro.

Adoptive Transfer ; methods ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Fluoresceins ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Fluorescent Dyes ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Lymphocytes ; chemistry ; cytology ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Reproducibility of Results ; Spleen ; cytology ; Succinimides ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVESTo explore the therapeutic effects of metformin on rat fatty livers induced by high fat feeding.

METHODSA fatty liver model was established by feeding rats with a high caloric laboratory chow for 12 weeks, then the rats were randomly divided into three groups, i.e. model control group, metformin group and dietary treatment group. A normal control group was organized at the same time. The rats of the metformin group were given metformin 156 mg/kg/d while the other groups were given distilled water of the same volume by stomach feeding. The model control group rats were fed with high caloric laboratory chow while other groups were fed a normal diet. After four weeks, all the animals were sacrificed. Liver index (liver/body weight ratio), serum activities of liver-associated enzymes, blood lipids, liver triglycerides, fasting blood glucose, fasting plasma insulin, HOMA insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), and the liver histology of rats of all groups were assayed.

RESULTSThe body weight, liver index, serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and liver triglycerides in the model group increased significantly, while HDL-cholesterol concentration decreased significantly. Fasting blood glucose, fasting plasma insulin and HOMA-IR showed an increasing tendency, but there was no significant difference of those indexes among the three groups. The liver histology in the model group showed moderate to severe steatosis, mainly as macro vesicle steatosis, lobular inflammatory, cell infiltration and necrosis. Compared with the model group, the levels of body weight, liver index, serum ALT, ALP, TC, TG and liver triglycerides in the metformin group were significantly lower and were similar to those of the normal group, while their HDL-cholesterol concentration was significantly higher. The liver histology in the metformin group was nearly normal. In the dietary treatment group, hyperlipidemia persisted, although liver index and GGT were lower and the liver histology changes were somewhat milder.

CONCLUSIONIt is suggestive that metformin might be effective in treating rat fatty liver induced by high fat feeding.

Animals ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; Fatty Liver ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Metformin ; therapeutic use ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha (HNF4alpha) and the activity of key enzyme glucokinase (GK) in glucose metabolism, and further to investigate the possible mechanism of berberine in treating type 2 diabetes.

METHODMouse primary hepatocytes were isolated by an improved single two-step perfusion method. The murine hepatocytes were cultured and incubated with berberine (0, 1, 3, 10, 30, 100 micromol x L(-1)) and 1 mmol x L(-1) metformin for 24 h respectively. The mRNA expression of HNF4alpha were quantified by RT-PCR and the protein expression of HNF4alpha were quantified by Western-blot. And the activity of GK were detected with enzyme kinetics method.

RESULTAs compared with the negative control group, at a certain concentration range, the expression of HNF4alpha mRNA and protein and the activity of GK were promoted by berberine. Both of them reached the top at the concentration of 30 micromol x L(-1) (P<0.01). But the metformin made no difference with the negative control group on the expression of HNF4alpha and the activity of GK.

CONCLUSIONIt is suggested that the effects of berberine on improving glucose metabolism can be mechanically associated with its up-regulating the HNF4a expression and inducing the activity of hepatic glucokinase.

Animals ; Berberine ; pharmacology ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Glucokinase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: Tiny cerebral aneurysms are difficult to embolize because the aneurysm's sac is too small for a single small coil, and coils within the aneurysm may escape from the confinement of a stent. This study was performed to introduce the stent-assisted coil-jailing technique and to investigate its effect on the coil embolization of tiny intracranial aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients with tiny intracranial aneurysms treated with the stent-assisted coil-jailing technique between January 2011 and December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed and followed-up. RESULTS: All aneurysms were successfully treated with the coil-jailing technique, and at the end of embolization, complete occlusion of the aneurysm was achieved in 9 cases (56.3%), incomplete occlusion in 6 (37.5%), and partial occlusion in 1 (6.3%). Intraprocedural complications included acute thrombosis in one case (6.3%) and re-rupture in another (6.3%). Both complications were managed appropriately with no sequela. Follow-up was performed in all patients for 3-24 months (mean, 7.7 months) after embolization. Complete occlusion was sustained in the 9 aneurysms with initial complete occlusion, progressive thrombosis to complete occlusion occurred in the 6 aneurysms with initial near-complete occlusion, and one aneurysm resulted in progressive thrombosis to complete occlusion after initial partial occlusion. No migration of stents or coils occurred at follow-up as compared with their positions immediately after embolization. At follow-up, all patients had recovered with no sequela. CONCLUSION: The stent-assisted coil-jailing technique can be an efficient approach for tiny intracranial aneurysms, even though no definite conclusion regarding its safety can be drawn from the current data.
Adult ; Aged ; Cerebral Angiography ; Embolization, Therapeutic/*instrumentation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm/pathology/*therapy ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of Notch1 on the membrane of bone marrow CD38(+)CD138(+) plasma cells in the patients with multiple myeloma (MM), and explore the importance of Notch signaling pathway in the formation and progression of MM.

METHODSThirty three MM patients and 15 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The expression of Notch1 on the membrane of bone marrow CD38(+)CD138(+) and CD38(+)CD138(-) plasma cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The clinical data of MM patients were also analyzed.

RESULTSThe ratio of Notch1 on the membrane of CD38(+)CD138(+) plasma cells of MM patients was (60.21 ± 25.06)% which was significantly higher than those of CD38(+)CD138(-) plasma cells of MM patients (39.84 ± 18.94)% (P = 0.000) and controls (38.34 ± 19.39)% (P = 0.004). There was no statistical difference between the two latter groups (P > 0.05). The expression of Notch1 on CD38(+)CD138(+)plasma cells from 24 newly diagnosed MM patients was correlated to the level of malignant plasma cells in there bone marrow (r = 0.914, P = 0.000), serum level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (r = 0.754, P = 0.007), and β(2)-MG(r = 0.716, P = 0.013). The ratio of Notch1 on the membrane of CD38(+)CD138(+) plasma cells of MM patients who had renal dysfunction was correlated to their abnormal serum creatinine levels. The expression of Notch1 on CD38(+)CD138(+) plasma cells from 17 MM patients who received VD (bortezamib and dexamethasone) chemotherapy was correlated to the ratio of plasma cell reduction after the first VD chemotherapy (r = 0.842, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of Notch1 on the membrane of CD38(+)CD138(+) plasma cells of MM patients was significantly higher than those of CD38(+)CD138(-) plasma cells of MM patients and controls. Notch1 overexpressed plasma cells were sensitive to the early VD therapy, and correlated to the progression and long term outcome of MM.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 ; immunology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Marrow ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Cell Count ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; immunology ; metabolism ; Plasma Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Receptor, Notch1 ; metabolism ; Syndecan-1 ; immunology

To analyze the prognosis and risk factors of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL), 94 patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia were enrolled in this study, while survival rate and risk factors of prognosis were analyzed. The results indicated that the complete remission (CR) ratio was 51.1%. Overall survival and event-free survival rates of month 6, 12, 18, 24 were 68.6%, 55.8%, 53.8%, 46.4%, 21.3% and 57.9%, 38.6%, 33.3%, 31.6%, 0% respectively. The factors such as age<40 years, WBC<10.0x10(9)/L before chemotherapy, WBC in the period of bone marrow suppression<1.0x10(9)/L, chemotherapy within 1 month after occurrence of leukemia, blood transfusion before chemotherapy of APL had favourable influence on remission and survival rates of ANLL patients. CR1, the time to get CR, length of CR and relapse significantly correlated with prognosis (p<0.05). It is concluded that the individualized therapy concerning the risk factors should be applied to ANLL patients for improving the remission, survival rate and prognosis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cytarabine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Harringtonines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Tretinoin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

The 1-DNJ named 1-deoxynojirimycinis (2R,3R,4R,5S)-2-(hydroxymethyl) piperidine-3,4,5-triol, which is the nature active components existingin mulberryresources including leaves, stems, roots and silkworm larva, silkworm chrysalis, etc.The 1-deoxynojirimycin is a polyhydroxylated piperidine alkaloid, which was first found in Streptomyces as an antibiotic. Then the Japanese researchers isolated it from the mulberry root. 1-DNJ can inhibit postprandial hyperglycemia by suppressing intestinal alpha glucosidase. Therefore, 1-DNJ is often used to treat treating diabetes and complicating disease and to prevent obesity and weight-related disorders. With the development of the researches, 1-deoxynojirimycin and its derivtiv was discovered to possess anti-hyperglycemic, anti-virus, anti-tumor functions and so on. Therefore,based on our current studythe existing knowledge on source, technique preparation process, pharmacokinetics, bioactivties,and in silico target fishing of 1-DNJ were summarized, so that the researchers may use it to explore future perspective of research on 1-DNJ.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the leading causes of death in the world. With the improvement of clinical therapy, the mortality of acute MI has been significantly reduced. However, as for the long-term impact of MI on cardiac remodeling and cardiac function, there is no effective prevention and treatment measures. Erythropoietin (EPO), a glycoprotein cytokine essential to hematopoiesis, has anti-apoptotic and pro-angiogenetic effects. Studies have shown that EPO plays a protective role in cardiomyocytes in cardiovascular diseases, such as cardiac ischemia injury and heart failure. EPO has been demonstrated to protect ischemic myocardium and improve MI repair by promoting the activation of cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs). This study aimed to investigate whether EPO can promote MI repair by enhancing the activity of stem cell antigen 1 positive stem cells (Sca-1⁺ SCs). Darbepoetin alpha (a long-acting EPO analog, EPO_anlg) was injected into the border zone of MI in adult mice. Infarct size, cardiac remodeling and performance, cardiomyocyte apoptosis and microvessel density were measured. Lin^- Sca-1⁺ SCs were isolated from neonatal and adult mouse hearts by magnetic sorting technology, and were used to identify the colony forming ability and the effect of EPO, respectively. The results showed that, compared to MI alone, EPO_anlg reduced the infarct percentage, cardiomyocyte apoptosis ratio and left ventricular (LV) chamber dilatation, improved cardiac performance, and increased the numbers of coronary microvessels in vivo. In vitro, EPO increased the proliferation, migration and clone formation of Lin^- Sca-1⁺ SCs likely via the EPO receptor and downstream STAT-5/p38 MAPK signaling pathways. These results suggest that EPO participates in the repair process of MI by activating Sca-1⁺ SCs.
Animals ; Mice ; Ventricular Remodeling ; Erythropoietin ; Myocardial Infarction ; Heart ; Stem Cells

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 ; Betacoronavirus ; COVID-19 ; Cardiovascular Agents/pharmacology* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Coronavirus Infections/physiopathology* ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/physiology* ; Pneumonia, Viral/physiopathology* ; SARS-CoV-2