Objective To study the preventive effect and mechanism of aesculin on intestinal mucosa in rats with experimental ulcerative colitis (UC) . Methods Forty specific-pathogen free SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, salicylazosulfapyridine (SASP, 600 mg/kg) group and aesculin (EH, 100 mg/kg) group, 10 in each group. Rats in model group, SASP group and EH group were given enema with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid ( TNBS, 100 mg/kg) for the establishment of UC model. The rats in SASP group and EH group were given gastric gavage of SASP and aesculin respectively. At the end of experiment, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha ( TNF-α) and interleukin 10 ( IL-10) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) . The general state, histological features of intestinal mucosa and serum TNF-αand IL-10 levels of rats in each group were compared. Results Aesculin significantly improved the general state and relieved the inflammation of the colonic mucosa of UC rats. The disease activity index ( DAI) scores and tissue damage index (TDI) scores in the model group were significantly higher than those in the normal group ( P<0.01) . The DAI scores and TDI scores in the medication groups were significantly lower than those in the model group (P<0.01) . The serum TNF-αlevel was significantly higher and IL-10 level was significantly lower in the model group than the normal group ( P<0.01) . After treatment, TNF-α was decreased and IL-10 was increased in SASP group and EH group as compared with the model group (P<0.01) . Conclusion Aesculin has certain therapeutic effect on TNBS-induced UC in rats through significantly relieving the symptoms of UC rats. The mechanism may be related with the inhibition of TNF-α secretion and the increase of IL-10 expression, and then improving the disorder of intestinal immune function.

Aim To investigate the interactions be-tween the neuroinflammation caused by lipopolysaccha-ride(LPS) and brain CYP2E1.Methods The human cholinergic neuroblastoma cell line IMR-32 was treated with LPS ( 0.1 mg · L-1 , 1.0 mg · L-1 ) , and the LDH and SOD activities were determined after 24 h in-cubation .In order to determine the roles of MAPK sig-naling pathway in the regulation of CYP 2E1 by LPS, the IMR-32 cells were treated with p38 pathway inhibi-tor SB203580 or ERK pathway inhibitor U 0126 for 45 min before the incubation with LPS .The human do-paminergic neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y with CYP2 E1 over-expression was established . The LDH and SOD activities were determined in SH-SY5 Y cells over-expressed CYP2 E1 and control cells treated with LPS(0.1 mg· L-1 , 1.0 mg· L-1 ) for 24 h.Results
The levels of LDH in IMR-32 cells treated with high-dose LPS were increased by 1.38-fold ( P <0.01 ) compared with the control group , and the levels of SOD reduced by 15.0%( P <0.01 ) .Compared with the control, CYP2E1 mRNA and protein levels in IMR-32 cells treated with high-dose LPS were increased by 1.25-fold(P<0.01) and 1.19-fold(P<0.05).The up-regulation of CYP2E1 by LPS could be attenuated by SB203580 and U0126 pretreatment.Compared with the control cells, the CYP2E1 over-expression in-creased LDH levels by 1.28-fold ( P<0.01 ) and de-creased SOD levels by 3.53-fold ( P<0.01 ) after the low-dose of LPS treatment .The CYP2E1 over-expres-sion increased LDH levels by 1.54-fold ( P <0.01 ) and decreased SOD levels by 2.17-fold( P<0.01) af-ter the high-dose of LPS treatment , compared with the control cells.Conclusions LPS can induce CYP2E1 mRNA and protein levels , and the p38 and ERK sig-naling pathway may be involved in the regulation .The elevated CYP2 E1 levels aggravate the damage to neuro-nal cells caused by LPS .Brain CYP2E1 may be an im-portant contributing factor to the pathological process of neuroinflammatory injury .

Objective To investigate the expression of TLR2 in colon mucosa of ulcerative colitis (UC) and to analyze the correlation with clinical activity and endoscopic grading. Methods The biopsies from 47 UC patients and 13 healthy controls were collected, and the expression of TLR2 protein and mRNA in colonic mucosa was determined by Western Blot and semi-quantitative RT-PCR, respectively. The patients were graded according to endoscopic and clinical findings. Results The expressions of TLR2 protein and TLR2 mRNA in UC patients were significantly increased than those in healthy controls, which was correlated with the progression of the disease. Conclusion The expressions of TLR2 protein and TLR2 mRNA in colon mucosa from UC patients might be used as a marker for disease activity.

OBJECTIVE To observe the effects of glycogen synthase 3β (GSK-3β) in the regula-tion of NLRP3 inflammasome activation after acute myocardial infarction (MI) in Sprague Dawley(SD) rats. METHODS Ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) in SD rats was used to establish an acute myocardial infarction model. SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=10, each group):sham group,MI group,and MI+SB group:the GSK-3β inhibitor(SB216763)was given 1 h by intrave-nous injection(0.6 mg·kg-1·d-1)before surgery.The serum and heart tissue were collected to measure lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and IL-1β content and mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, Cas-pase-1,IL-1β and GSK-3β after 2 days and 7 days operation,respectively.RESULTS The serum levels of LDH and IL-1β in the MI group were significantly higher than those in the sham group(P<0.01),and the MI+SB group was obviously lower than the MI group(P<0.01).In addition,mRNA and protein levels of NNLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1β and GSK-3β expressions in MI group were clearly increased (P<0.01) compared with those in sham group.These indicators were significantly decreased in SB+MI group (P<0.01). Interestingly, the indicators were all higher at 7 days than 2 days. CONCLUSION GSK-3β inhibition induces cardioprotection via attenuating the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome after the acute myocardial infarction in rats.

Five cadinane-type sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the n-hexane extract of Commiphora myrrha by using various chromatographic techniques, including silica gel, ODS and semi-preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified by physicochemical properties and spectroscopic data. These compounds were defined as (3S,4R)-3,9-dimethoxymyrrhone (1), 9-methoxymyrrhone (2), myrrhone (3), commiterpene B (4) and comosone Ⅱ (5). Compound 1 is a new compound, of which the absolute configuration was established by single crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis. Compound 5 is firstly isolated from the Commiphora genus.

To prepare cyclosporine A (CyA) loaded block copolymer micelles and observe its release behaviors in vitro and pharmacokinetics in rats, methoxylpoly (ethylene glycol)-poly (D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) (mPEG-PLGA) was synthesized by ring-opening copolymerization of lactide and glycolide in the presence of methoxylpoly (ethylene glycol) (mPEG) as initiator. The structure of the mPEG-PLGA copolymer was confirmed with 1H NMR and FT-IR. The cyclosporine A loaded micelles (CyA-PM) were prepared by solvent evaporation method and their morphology was observed by the transmission electron microscope (TEM). The mean size and size distribution were determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The release behaviors in vitro and pharmacokinetics in rats were investigated by HPLC method using cyclosporine A injection commercial agent, sandimmune, as the reference. The obtained CyA-PM showed spherical shape with the core-shell structure, the mean particle sizes are in the range of 136.1-141.9 nm. The drug loading amount and entrapment efficiency were increased and the particle size became smaller with decreasing the ratio of acetone to water. With the increasing of the amount of cyclosporine A fed the drug loading increased, entrapment efficiency decreased and the particle size had no change. CyA-PM showed significant sustained release behave in vitro compared with sandimmune and only 9.7% of encapsulated cyclosporine A was released after 12 hours, the release characteristics was well fitted with Higuchi equation (r = 0.999). The Pharmacokinetics study at equal administration dosage (5 mg x kg(-1)) in rats showed the half-life (t1/2) of CyA-PM extended and the area under concentration-time curve (AUC) increased compared to sandimmune. The results also showed that cyclosporine A concentration-time data were all in accord with two compartment model. Cyclosporine A loaded mPEG-PLGA micelles showed obviously solubility enhancement, sustained release and overcome the side effect and toxicity of sandimmune resulted from solubiling agent-polyoxyethylene castor oil (Cremophor EL) and might be developed as a novel dosage form of cyclosporine A.
Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Cyclosporine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Carriers ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Drug Compounding ; Half-Life ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Micelles ; Particle Size ; Polyesters ; administration & dosage ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacokinetics ; Polyethylene Glycols ; administration & dosage ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacokinetics ; Polymers ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUNDControlling plasma glucose levels, blood pressure and lipid levels is proven to reduce the risk of vascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This has prompted intensive multitherapy targeted at several macrovascular risk factors. Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is a reliable measure of early atherosclerosis. We sought to determine whether a 6-month intensive mutiltherapy program resulted in better goal attainment than usual care and its effect on the development of cIMT among patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODSThe study randomly assigned 220 patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus to intensive or traditional therapy groups. The clinical parameters, such as fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, blood pressure, body weight and insulin were assessed at the baseline and after the 6-month therapy. cIMT of the patients was also obtained.

RESULTSThe average levels of fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c, total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the intensive group were significantly lower than those in the control group at the end of 6-month treatment. By 6 months, a higher proportion of patients in the intensive therapy group than in the control group attained goals for fasting plasma glucose (FPG), TC, LDL-C and hemoglobin A1c. With intensive multherapy the level of carotid intima-media thickness in the intensive therapy group was lower than that in the control group ((0.88 +/- 0.26) mm vs (0.96 +/- 0.22) mm, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe evidence from this clinical trial demonstrates that intensive glucose, lipid and blood pressure control in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes is associated with diabetic macrovascular benefits. Intensive multitherapy allows more patients to achieve aims of control and may reduce macrovascular complications and delay disease progression.

Arteriosclerosis ; prevention & control ; Carotid Arteries ; pathology ; Diabetes Complications ; prevention & control ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Tunica Intima ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of clinicopathology and prognosis of 3 pediatric cases diagnosed as C3 glomerulopathy, and to improve the understanding of C3 glomerulopathy in children.

METHODThe medical record, plasma complement C3, Factor H (FH) and its autoantibody, and therapeutic response of the 3 cases were analyzed, and their prognosis were followed up.

RESULTOf the 3 cases, 2 were male and 1 was female, the age of onset was 9 years, 12 years, 5 years 4 months, the duration from onset to renal biopsy was 3 months, 7 months and 20 days, and the follow-up period were 2.6 years, 8 months and 1.5 years respectively.

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONSAll the 3 cases showed microscopic hematuria, with or without gross hematuria and proteinuria. Two showed persistently decreased plasma complement C3, in the other one C3 was in normal lower limit, all presented with decreased FH concertration, in 1 case anti-FH antibody was positive. Their clinical diagnosis was post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome (NS) nephritis type, and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis respectively.

PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGSAll showed evident deposition of C3 on glomerular basement membrance (GBM) and mesangial region by immunofluorescence (IF) and electron dense deposit in GBM, mesangial region or para-mesangial region by Electron microscopic (EM) examination Treatment and prognosis: The case with NS showed no response to steroid, so steroid was gradually stopped after renal biopsy and replaced by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor antagonist (ARB). The other two cases were treated with ACEI and renal protective treatment. Of the 3 cases, one gradually showed elevated serum creatinine (Scr) and decreased creatinine clearance rate (Ccr), the other two were normal, but slightly increased indications for early kidney injury.

CONCLUSIONC3 glomerulopathy is characterized by evident C3 deposition under IF. Its clinical and pathological manifestations vary a lot. The decreased plasma C3 and FH suggest that the abnormal regulation of complement system play an importment role in its pathogenesis.

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Complement C3 ; metabolism ; Complement Factor H ; deficiency ; metabolism ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Glomerulonephritis ; complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hematuria ; etiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Kidney Glomerulus ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; etiology ; pathology ; Proteinuria ; etiology ; pathology

BACKGROUNDFor patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the night sleep interruption and intermittent hypoxia due to apnea or hypopnea may induce glycemic excursions and reduce insulin sensitivity. This study aimed to investigate the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy in patients with OSAHS and T2DM.

METHODSContinuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) was used in 40 patients with T2DM and newly diagnosed OSAHS. The measurements were repeated after 30 days of CPAP treatment. Subsequently, insulin sensitivity and glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured and compared to the pretreatment data.

RESULTSAfter CPAP therapy, the CGMS indicators showed that the 24-h mean blood glucose (MBG) and the night time MBG were significantly reduced (P < 0.05 and P = 0.03, respectively). The mean ambulatory glucose excursions (MAGEs) and the mean of daily differences were also significantly reduced (P < 0.05 and P = 0.002, respectively) compared to pretreatment levels. During the night, MAGE also significantly decreased (P = 0.049). The differences between the highest and lowest levels of blood glucose over 24 h and during the night were significantly lower than prior to CPAP treatment (P < 0.05 and P = 0.024, respectively). The 24 h and night time durations of high blood glucose (>7.8 mmol/L and > 11.1 mmol/L) decreased (P < 0.05 and P < 0.05, respectively) after the treatment. In addition, HbA1c levels were also lower than those before treatment (P < 0.05), and the homeostasis model assessment index of insulin resistance was also significantly lower than before CPAP treatment (P = 0.034).

CONCLUSIONSCPAP therapy may have a beneficial effect on improving not only blood glucose but also upon insulin sensitivity in T2DM patients with OSAHS. This suggests that CPAP may be an effective treatment for T2DM in addition to intensive diabetes management.

Adult ; Blood Glucose ; physiology ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; methods ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

This paper was aimed to investigate the effects of ATP-sensitive potassium channels on the proliferation and differentiation of rat preadipocytes. We examined the expression of sulphonylurea receptor 2 (SUR2) mRNA in preadipocytes and adipocytes obtained by inducing for 5 d and the effects of the inhibitor (glibenclamide) and opener (diazoxide) of ATP-sensitive potassium channels on the expression of SUR2 mRNA in preadipocytes by real-time PCR. Preadipocyte proliferation and cell cycle were measured by MTT spectrophotometry and flow cytometer. The content of intracellular lipid was measured by oil red O staining, cell diameter was determined by Image-Pro Plus 5.0 software and the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) mRNA was estimated by RT-PCR. SUR2 mRNA was expressed in both preadipocytes and adipocytes obtained by inducing for 5 d, and the expression in adipocytes was obviously higher than that in preadipocytes. Glibenclamide inhibited the expression of SUR2 mRNA in preadipocyte, promoted preadipocyte proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, increased the cell percentages in G(2)/M + S phase, increased lipid content, augmented adipocyte diameter, and promoted the expression of PPAR-gamma mRNA. But the actions of diazoxide were contrary to those of glibenclamide. These results suggest that ATP-sensitive potassium channels regulate the proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes, and PPAR-gamma is probably involved in the effect of ATP-sensitive potassium channels.
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; metabolism ; Adipocytes ; cytology ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; KATP Channels ; physiology ; Male ; Obesity ; pathology ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Drug ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sulfonylurea Receptors