Prediabetes is an abnormal condition between normal glucose metabolism and diabetes mellitus. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is an indicator of high-risk state of prediabetes. Positive interventions of IGT, including life style changes and pharmacological intervention, can effectively postpone and reduce the development of prediabetes into type 2 diabetes mellitus, suggesting that IGT is a key point of diabetes prevention. Currently, pharmacological intervention for prediabetes is still at early stage. In this review, we summarizes recent clinical and preclinical studies on pharmacological intervention for prediabetes, and studies in the development of animal models with IGT and the application of new techniques. We also discuss the prospects of drugs for diabetes prevention, especially with the traditional Chinese medicine.
Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; prevention & control ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Glucose Intolerance ; Humans ; Prediabetic State ; drug therapy

Objective To elucidate whether down-regulation of homo sapiens eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha 2 (EEF1A2) expression induces apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells and its possible mechanisms. Methods Two siRNAs targeting human EEF1A2 were synthesized and the siRNA/liposome complexes were transfected into the pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3. RTPCR and Western blot were used to analyze the change of EEF1A2 expression and the apoptosis rate of BxPC-3 cells was studied using Annexin-V/PI assay. To identify the mechanisms involved, the apoptosis associated proteins such as caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, PARP, cytochrome C and Bid were detected by Western blotting. Results Both EEF1A2-targeting siRNAs reduced the EEF1A2expression, and the No. 2 siRNA inhibited EEF1A2 expression to less than 25 % in mRNA and protein levels. Down-regulation of EEF1A2 expression in BxPC-3 cells enhanced cell apoptosis (15.28% ±3.65%) at a greater level than negative siRNA-expressing cells (10. 11% ± 3. 05%) or mock cells (9.41 % ±4.14 %). Furthermore, reduction of EEF1A2 activated the pro-caspase-8, pro-caspase-3,pro-caspase-9,PARP and Bid to their active forms, and increased the expression of cytochrome C.Conclusions These data suggest that EEF1A2 down-regulation could significantly induce apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3, which is likely mediated by the death receptor and mitochondrial apoptotic pathways.

Objective To explore the effect and the possible mechanisms of silent homo sapiens eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha 2(EEF1A2)gene on the growth of pancreatic cancer cell in vivo.Methods The pancreatic cancer xenograft models in mice were established.The mice were equally divided into control group,negative control group and EEF1A2 group,which were injected with PBS,negative control siRNA and EEF1A2 siRNA into xenograft tumors respectively.The size and weight of tumors in each group were measured.The expression of EEF1A2 and PCNA in tumor tissue of each group was detected by immunohistochemistry.The cell apoptosis rate in tumor tissue of each group was determined by TUNEL.Results In xenograft nude mice models,since the 17th day of injection,the growth of tumor size in EEF1A2 group was obviously slower than that of negative control group and control group(all P＜0.05).By the end of the treatment,the tumors were cut off and weighted.The weight of tumors in EEF1A2 group(0.27g± 0.06g)were significantly lower than those of control group and negative control group(0.39g± 0.08g and 0.43g± 0.07g,P＜0.05).EEF1A2 mostly expressed in cytoplasm of pancreatic cancer cell.In negative control group and control group,the positive cells distributed densely and the positive rate was(72.58 ± 25.47)％ and (76.75±23.19)％ respectively.The distribution of positive cells in EEF1A2 group was scattered and the positive rate was(34.78±21.36)％,the difference was statisically significant(P＜0.01).The expression of PCNA at protein level in EEF1A2 group was significantly lower those that of control group and negative control group(P＜ 0.01).The result of TUNEL test indicated that the cell apoptosis rate in EEF1A2 group was higher than those of control group and negative control group (P＜0.01).Conclusions The EEF1A2 gene can be effectively silented in vivo,which significantly inhibits the growth of pancreatic cancer cell.It may be related with inhibition of cell proliferation and promotion cell apoptosis.

The pancreatic enzyme-II type collagenase digestion method was adopted for primary culture of osteoblasts, inoculation and passage. They were identified by alkaline phosphatase dye-liquor. N-butanol extract fractions from different processed products of Cibotium barometz were prepared. The above osteoblasts were jointly cultured with protocatechuic acid, protocatechuic aldehyde, kojic acid and the mixed control liquid of the above three substances, and their proliferation was detected by CCK-8. Various n-butanol extract fractions from different processed products of C. barometz showed a significant proliferative effect on osteoblasts in the order of the wined > the heated > the salted > the sand-heated and wined system > the alcohol-processed > the steamed > the crude. The q test showed no significant difference among sand-heated, alcohol-processed and steamed C. barometz, no significant difference between heated and salted C. barometz. Various control substances also showed a certain proliferative effect on osteoblasts in the order of the mixed control > protocatechuic aldehyde > protocatechuic acid > kojic acid. The q test showed no significant difference between protocatechuic aldehyde and protocatechuic acid. All of n-butanol extract fractions from different processed products of C. barometz showed a significant effect on osteoblast proliferation, of which wined C. barometz showed the best effect. All of phenolic compounds such as protocatechuic aldehyde, protocatechuic acid and kojic acid showed a significant proliferative effect on osteoblasts.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Pteridophyta ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

A fusion protein of glucagons-like peptide-1 and human serum albumin (GLP-1/HSA) was expressed and secreted into the fermentation broth with recombinant Pichia pastoris. The productivity of expressed GLP-1/HSA could reach 63.6mg/L in 10L fermentor. After concentrated with hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane, GLP-1/HSA was purified from fermentation broth by hydrophobic chromatography, negative ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography in turn. The HPLC analysis showed that the purified GLP-1/HSA had an overall purity of 95.8%. Furthermore, the analysis of in vivo activity indicated that GLP-1/HSA had the bioactivity of native GLP-1, and could significantly reduce blood glucose level 4h after intraperitoneal administration. It was concluded that a great deal of GLP-1/HSA with higher purity could be harvested by Pichia pastoris expression system and the established purification methods. Preliminary studies show a new potential for developing the long-acting GLP-1 analogs for clinical applications.

Objective To study the regulatory effect of interferons(IFNs) on retinoic acid-inducible gene-Ⅰ(RIG-Ⅰ) and the roles of RIG-Ⅰ in IFNs signaling pathway. Methods RIG-Ⅰ expression before and after IFNs treatment in mouse embryonic fibroblasts(MEFs) were analyzed with Northern blotting and semi-quantitative RT-PCR assay.MEFs isolated from wild-type and RIG-Ⅰ-/-mice were used to test growth inhibition and antiviral activity of IFNs with MTT assay and cytopathic effect inhibition assay. Results Both IFN-? and IFN-? could induce RIG-Ⅰ expression in MEFs.Treated with 100 U/mL IFN-?,growth inhibition and antiviral activity of MEFs from wild-type mice were more significant than those from RIG-Ⅰ-/-mice.With the absence of RIG-Ⅰ,the antiviral protective role IFN-? plays was significantly weaker than the wild type. Conclusion RIG-Ⅰ gene is a novel mediator of interferon effects on cells.It may participate in the inflammation responses mediated by IFNs through modulating cytokines production.

Objective To observe the change of invasion and migration of the pancreatic carcinoma cell line SW1990 transfeeted with EEF1A2 gene.Methods Pancreatic carcinoma cell line SW1990 was transfected with EEF1A2 by recombinant adenovirus vector.The alteration of motility、invasion and adhesion property of SW1990 was evaluated by wound healing assay,transwell With or without Matrigel basement membrane and adhesion assay.Results Wound healing assay revealed that EEF1A2 enhanced cell motility and transwell assay with Matrigel indicated that the average numbers of transwell cells with EEFlA2 was increased from 23.25±5.23 to 65.42±8.24(P＜0.05).The adhesive rate was substantially increased in EEF1A2 transfected SW1990 cells compared with control cells.Conclusions EEF1A2 gene can promote the migration.invasion and adhesion ability of pancreatic cancer cell in vitro.It is indicated that EEF1A2 may involve in the development of human pancreatic cancer by influencing cell biological characteristics.

To study the chemical constituents of Lysimachia patungensis Hand.-Mazz., silica gel column chromatography, reverse phase ODS column chromatography, MCI and Sephadex LH-20, were used to separate the 95% EtOH extract of the whole plant of Lysimachia patungensis Hand.-Mazz.. The structures of the isolated compounds have been established on the basis of chemical and NMR spectroscopic evidence as well as ESI-MS in some cases. Twelve phenolic compounds were obtained and identified as quercetin-3, 3'-di- O-alpha-L-rhamnoside (1), myricetrin (2), quercitrin (3), rutin (4), 2-hydroxynaringenin-4'-O-glucopyranoside (5), naringenin 7-O-glucopyranoside (6), liquiritin apioside (7), licochalcone B (8), tetrahydroxymethoxy chalcone (9), methyl-p-coumarate (10), 2, 4, 6-trihydroxy acetophenone-2-O-glucopyranoside (11) and vaccihein A (12). Among them, compound 1 is a new compound, and compounds 5, 11 and 12 are isolated from the genus Lysimachia L. for the first time, and the others are isolated from the plant for the first time.

Objective To explore the alteration of brain pain functional areas in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) overlap by rectal balloon volume stimulation and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the differences with IBS alone patients and healthy individuals were compared.Methods A total of 11 IBS alone patients,16 IBS overlapped with FD patients (IBS-FD) and 10 healthy controls were recruited.Sensory thresholds and visual analogue scale (VAS) were recorded during the rectal balloon air injection process. The changes of brain activated areas were analyzed by functional MRI (fMRI) when the rectum was stimulated at the volume of 50,100 and 150 ml.The data were analyzed by least significant difference (LSD) test.Results Under rectal volumetric stimulation,the sensory thresholds of IBS-FD group and IBS alone group were (53.14 ± 16.05) ml and (59.20 ± 20.55) ml and the difference was not statistically significant (LSD test,P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in VAS score between IBS alone group and IBS-FD group (LSD test,P＞0.05).Rectal stimulated under different volume,the results of fMRI indicated the activation of anterior cingulated cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex,postporietal cortex,thalamus and insular cortex in both IBS alone group and IBS-FD group.And there was no significant difference in activated areas and intensity between IBS alone group and IBS-FD group (LSD test,P＞0.05).Conclusions There was no significant difference in activations of brain areas between IBS alone and IBS-FD patients under rectal volumetric stimulation. Under rectal volumetric stimulation,although symptoms overlapped,there was no evidence of the overlap of braingut axis and visceral hypersensitivity between IBS alone and IBS-FD.

Objective To investigate whether expression of XAF1 mediated by edenovirus vector AdS/F35 could induce apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3 and its possible mechanisms.Methods Preconstructed recombinant Ad5/F35-XAF1 virus and negative control Ad5/F35-Null was tranfected into BxPC3:the expression of XAF1 mRNA and protein before and after tranfection was,analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot.The expressions of proteins including Caspase-3,PARP,Caspase-8 and bcl-2 were detected by Western blots.Cell apoptosis was assessed by Annexin-v/PI and TUNEL staining.Results After Ad5/F35-XAF1 tranfection,XAF1 mRNA and protein expression significantly increased,and the difference was statistically significant when compared with control group and Ad5/F35-Null group(P＜0.05).The apoptosis rate was(19.90±3.09)%and(9.29±2.13)%,which was significantly different(P＜0.01)from those in the Ad5/F35-Null group[(6.72±0.7)6%,(2.73±0.51)%]or in the control group[(7.22±1.53)%,(1.56±0.47)%].The expression of Caspase-3,PARP and Caspase-8 significantly increased,but the expression of bcl-2 decreased.Conclusions XAF1 plays a major role in the apoptosis of pancreatic cancer that acts thriugh the activation of death receptor pathway and mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis.