OBJECTIVETo construct an apparatus for the oxygen uptake measurement of rats exposed to hypobaric hypoxia at different simulated altitude.

METHODSThe capacity of this apparatus was about 0.01 m3. It included animal experimental cabin, reference cabin, altimeter, altitude vertical velocity indicator, pressure difference inductor and oxygen compensator, low scale manometer, soda lime and calcium chloride, small fan, thermometer, circulating water system and vacuum pump. The oxygen uptake of the rats at 6 000 m, 4 000 m and 1 000 m simulated altitude was measured using this apparatus.

RESULTSThe oxygen uptake of the rats at 50 m, 4 000 m and 6 000 m simulated altitude was (24.4 +/- 2.1), (10.8 +/- 2.0) and (8.8 +/- 1.6) ml O2/(kg x min) respectively (average +/- s, n = 10). The oxygen uptake decreased as altitude increased.

CONCLUSIONThis apparatus can be used to measure the oxygen uptake of the rats at different simulated altitude.

Altitude ; Altitude Sickness ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Computer Simulation ; Equipment and Supplies ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Male ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Oxygen Consumption ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIMTo investigate the effects of pumpkin polysaccharides on blood glucose and lipids levels in diabetic rats.

METHODSDiabetic rats induced by alloxan through intraperitoneal injection were randomly divided into three groups, diabetes, xiaoke pill and pumpkin polysaccharides group, according to weight and blood glucose level. And the normal control group was founded at the same time. The normal control group and diabetes group were lavaged with distilled water, other two groups were respectively lavaged with xiaoke pill or pumpkin polysaccharides. Weighed once a week, and analyzed fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, and free fatty acid level in serum after 4 weeks.

RESULTSIn diabetes group, weight and high density lipoprotein level decreased, and fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, and free fatty acid level in serum increased significantly. But, all of the indexes changed oppositely in xiaoke pill group and pumpkin polysaccharides group, and effects of pumpkin polysaccharides were better.

CONCLUSIONPumpkin polysaccharides can increase the weight, decrease the blood glucose and lipids levels in diabetic rats, and have some good effects to diabetes and diabetes complications.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Cucurbita ; chemistry ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of leptin on collagen systhesis in wounded rats.

METHODSThirty male Wistar rats, weight (180 +/- 20)g, were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10) by weight: normal depilation group, wound control group and leptin treatment group and ten rats were included in each group. A full-thickness defect measuring 2 x 2.5 cm was made in the back of rats in wound control group and leptin treatment group. Each wound in rats of leptin treatment group was applied topically with 0.1 ml leptin solution (2.0 microg leptin), daily for 7 days and that of wound control group with equivalent saline solution. All rats were killed and then granulation tissues samples and skin were collected to examine the synthesis of collagen.

RESULTSHydroxyproline content in granulation tissues of in leptin treatment group (33.92 +/- 3.09) mg/g were significantly increased than those in control group (29.55 +/- 3.59 mg/g, P < 0.05). The mRNA expressions of collagen I and III were significantly enhanced in leptin treatment group (0.96 +/- 0.09, 0.09 +/- 0.06) than those in control group (0.80 +/- 0.03, 0.08 +/- 0.03). The levels of type I and III collagen were significantly increased in leptin treatment group than those in control group.

CONCLUSIONLeptin applied topically can accelerate wound healing through enhancing gene expression of type I and III collagen and synthesis of collagen in wound tissue.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Collagen Type I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; genetics ; metabolism ; Leptin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Wound Healing ; drug effects ; Wounds and Injuries ; drug therapy

AIMTo study the effects of genistein on proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts in neonatal rat calvaria cultures.

METHODSOsteoblasts were isolated from neonatal rat calvaria through trypsin and collagenase digestion, and cultured in the presence of different doses of genistein (10(-5) mol/L, 10(-6) mol/L and 10(-7) mol/L). The proliferation and DNA and collagen synthesis of osteoblasts were assayed by MTT method and 3H-TdR and 3H-proline incorporation. The activity of ALP were measured by ALP assay kit.

RESULTSGenistein significantly increased osteoblast 3H-TdR and 3H-proline incorporation and MTT, 10(-6) mol/L genistein increased ALP activity.

CONCLUSIONGenistein increased osteoblast DNA and collagen synthesis in neonatal rat calvaria cultures, and promoted osteoblast proliferation and differentiation.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen ; biosynthesis ; DNA ; biosynthesis ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

AIMTo study effect of soybean isoflavones (SI) on spleen in radiated mice.

METHODS90 male mice were randomly divided into control group, radiated group, radiated plus 0.5% dose SI group. After 2-week feeding, the mice received 4.0 Gy 137Cs gamma-radiation, the cell cycles, cell apoptosis and proliferation on the spleen and the spleen index were observed in radiated after 12 h, 24 h, 1 week and 2 weeks.

RESULTSAfter the mice were radiated, the spleen were significantly atrophy, the rate of the cell apoptosis and the cell cycles of G0-G1 phase in splenocytes were significantly increased (P < 0.01), the cell cycles rate of S phase and the proliferation index were significantly decreased in spleen (P < 0.05). Compared with radiated group, the spleen atrophy and the rate of the cell cycles of G0-G1 phase were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the cell cycles of G2-M phase and the proliferation index were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the mice supplied 0.5% soybean isoflavones.

CONCLUSIONThe soybean isoflavones could significantly increase spleen radioprotective effect in mice.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Cellular Structures ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Soybeans ; Spleen ; cytology

AIMTo investigate the effects of genistein on bone mineralization in ovariectomized rats.

METHODSForty-seven Wistar rats were randomly allocated into six groups: sham-operated (sham), ovariectomized (ovx), ovariectomized supplied with diethyl stilbestrol (E, 20 microg x kg bw(-1) x d(-1)) or genistein (25, 50, 100 mg x kg bw(-1) x d(-1)). After the rats had been fed for three months, analysis of the bone mineral density, parameters related to mineralization, bone content of Ca, P, Mg, Mn and Zn and serum concentration of parathyroid calcitonin and estrogen was performed.

RESULTSBone mineral density, bone Ca, P, Zn and Mg content and serum estrogen concentration in ovariectomized rats were significantly decreased, but mean osteoid width increased, mineralization lag time and osteoid maturation period prolonged compared with sham animals. After three months supplementation to ovariectomized rats, bone Ca, P and Mg content increased, mean osteoid width decreased, mineralization lag time and osteoid maturation period shortened compared with ovariectomized animals.

CONCLUSIONGenistein promotes bone mineralization by increasing bone Ca, P, Mg and adjusting serum calcitonin to prevent osteoporosis.

Animals ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Bone Resorption ; Calcification, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Female ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; Ovariectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is an increasingly common liver disease worldwide. MAFLD is diagnosed based on the presence of steatosis on images, histological findings, or serum marker levels as well as the presence of at least one of the three metabolic features: overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic risk factors. MAFLD is not only a liver disease but also a factor contributing to or related to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which is the major etiology responsible for morbidity and mortality in patients with MAFLD. Hence, understanding the association between MAFLD and CVD, surveillance and risk stratification of MAFLD in patients with CVD, and assessment of the current status of MAFLD management are urgent requirements for both hepatologists and cardiologists. This Taiwan position statement reviews the literature and provides suggestions regarding the epidemiology, etiology, risk factors, risk stratification, nonpharmacological interventions, and potential drug treatments of MAFLD, focusing on its association with CVD.

Background/Aims: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients who failed antiviral therapy are at increased risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study assessed the potential role of metformin and statins, medications for diabetes mellitus (DM) and hyperlipidemia (HLP), in reducing HCC risk among these patients. Methods: We included CHC patients from the T-COACH study who failed antiviral therapy. We tracked the onset of HCC 1.5 years post-therapy by linking to Taiwan’s cancer registry data from 2003 to 2019. We accounted for death and liver transplantation as competing risks and employed Gray’s cumulative incidence and Cox subdistribution hazards models to analyze HCC development. Results: Out of 2,779 patients, 480 (17.3%) developed HCC post-therapy. DM patients not using metformin had a 51% increased risk of HCC compared to non-DM patients, while HLP patients on statins had a 50% reduced risk compared to those without HLP. The 5-year HCC incidence was significantly higher for metformin non-users (16.5%) versus non-DM patients (11.3%; adjusted sub-distribution hazard ratio [aSHR]=1.51; P=0.007) and metformin users (3.1%; aSHR=1.59; P=0.022). Statin use in HLP patients correlated with a lower HCC risk (3.8%) compared to non-HLP patients (12.5%; aSHR=0.50; P<0.001). Notably, the increased HCC risk associated with non-use of metformin was primarily seen in non-cirrhotic patients, whereas statins decreased HCC risk in both cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients. Conclusions Metformin and statins may have a chemopreventive effect against HCC in CHC patients who failed antiviral therapy. These results support the need for personalized preventive strategies in managing HCC risk.

Background/Aims: Despite the high efficacy of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), approximately 1–3% of hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients fail to achieve a sustained virological response. We conducted a nationwide study to investigate risk factors associated with DAA treatment failure. Machine-learning algorithms have been applied to discriminate subjects who may fail to respond to DAA therapy. Methods: We analyzed the Taiwan HCV Registry Program database to explore predictors of DAA failure in HCV patients. Fifty-five host and virological features were assessed using multivariate logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and artificial neural network. The primary outcome was undetectable HCV RNA at 12 weeks after the end of treatment. Results: The training (n=23,955) and validation (n=10,346) datasets had similar baseline demographics, with an overall DAA failure rate of 1.6% (n=538). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, poor DAA adherence, and higher hemoglobin A1c were significantly associated with virological failure. XGBoost outperformed the other algorithms and logistic regression models, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 1.000 in the training dataset and 0.803 in the validation dataset. The top five predictors of treatment failure were HCV RNA, body mass index, α-fetoprotein, platelets, and FIB-4 index. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the XGBoost model (cutoff value=0.5) were 99.5%, 69.7%, 99.9%, 97.4%, and 99.5%, respectively, for the entire dataset. Conclusions Machine learning algorithms effectively provide risk stratification for DAA failure and additional information on the factors associated with DAA failure.