OBJECTIVETo explore the possible mechanism of total flavonoids of Litsea coreana (TFLC) on reducing blood glucose level in rat with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODSMale SD rats of T2DM allocated in two groups were treated with 400 mg/kg TFLC or metformin respectively via gastrogavage for 6 weeks. Blood routine biochemical indices in rats were measured; pathology of rats' liver was examined with HE stain under transmission electron microscopy; levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver homogenate were determined, and the expression of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) in liver was detected using RT-PCR at the terminal of the experiment.

RESULTSBiochemical measuring showed that the glucose tolerance of rats after treatment was markedly improved in both groups. Meantime, levels of fast blood glucose (FBG), glycohemoglobin (HbA1c), fast blood insulin (FINS), free fatty acid (FFA), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), as well as MDA level in liver were decreased, while levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) in blood and SOD in liver were significantly increased in both groups after treatment, showing insignificant difference between two treatment groups. Light microscopic examination showed markedly fatty degeneration of liver, and electron microscopic examination found mitochondria swelling and endoplasmic reticulum breakage in liver of T2DM rats, but these changes were ameliorated to some extent after treatment. The elevated PTP1B expression in liver of T2DM rats was decreased in the TFLC treated group, but unchanged in the metformin treated group.

CONCLUSIONTFLC can significantly decrease the blood levels of glucose and lipid and ameliorate oxidation stress in liver; its mechanism of action in improving insulin resistance might be related with its suppression on PTP1B expression in rat's liver to enhance the insulin signaling pathway.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Litsea ; chemistry ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The study reports the detection of neuroprotective effect of 10 kinds of coumarin derivatives and explores their possible mechanism. MTT method was used to screen the neuroprotective effect of 10 coumarin derivatives on neurotoxic agents (Aβ25-35 and rotenone) or OGD (oxygen-glucose deprivation). A compound with better protective effect was obtained. Then the effect of this compound on neurotoxic agents on PC12 was detected by the morphological observation. Furthermore, the effect of compound 3 on microglia with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammation was detected. And the inflammatory factor was tested. Finally, direct free radical scavenging ability was detected. Compound 3 was found to be the best compound through three neurons toxic models. Not only compound 3 ameliorated cell viability reduced by three neurons toxic models, but also significantly inhibited the production of inflammatory factor (TNF-α and IL-1β). And its free radical scavenging ability is very good, especially the effect on superoxide anion, which is comparable with vitamin C. The significant scavenging effect of compound 3 on superoxide anion might be the mechanism of the neuroprotection. Compound 3 as a potential neural cell protective agent merits further investigation.
Animals ; Coumarins ; chemistry ; Free Radical Scavengers ; chemistry ; Inflammation ; Microglia ; drug effects ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Neuroprotective Agents ; chemistry ; PC12 Cells ; Rats

Objective To investigate the efficacy and clinical effectiveness of the steroid therapy with the all body and local application on hyperthyroid Graves ophthalmopathy.Methods A total of 57 patients (106 eyes)suffering from hyperthyroid Graves ophthalmopathy who hospitalized in the Department of Ophthalmology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from Mar 2008 to Oct 2011 were enrolled in the study.Of the 57 patients,there were 21 males and 36 females,aged 18 to 57(average 37.28 ± 11.63).The clinical course was from 1 month to 5 years(average 29.63 ± 15.36 months).Based on the patient's age,sex and condition,the 57 patients were randomly divided into steroid pulse therapy with all body group(group SPT,29 patients,54 eyes)and peribulbar injection of long-term steraid group(group PI,28 patients,52 eyes).The patients in group SPT were treated with 0.5-l.0 g methylprednisolone by intravenous infusion daily for 3 days,and then stopped for 7 days,the treatment was repeated once.But the total application dose of methylprednisolone was not overruned 5.0-20.0 g.After that,the patients were treated with oral prednisone 40 mg/d.The dose of prednisone was reduced gradually to 5 mg/d.The total course of group SPT was 3 months.The patients in the group PI were treated with triamcinolone acetonide in periorbital injection of 20 mg once every two weeks for 3 months.After one month treated,all patients were visited.The patients' body weights of two groups were measured before the treatment and after one month treated.The ocular signs of the patients including visual acuity,diplopia,intraocular pressure,exophthalmos and horizontal visual palpebral fissure width were observed before and after the treatment.Results In the group SPT,the average body weight [(62.83 ± 7.23)kg]after the treatment was higher than that before the treatment[(57.03 ±7.13)kg],and also higher than that of the group PI[(59.89 ± 10.67)kg,t =25.25,2.08,all P＜ 0.05]after the treatment.In the group SPT,the average intraocular pressures before and after the treatment were (13.46 ± 1.78)and (13.69 ± 1.41)mm Hg(1 nm Hg =0.133 kPa),respectively.In the group PI,the average intraocular pressures before and after the treatment were (13.52 ± 2.19) and (13.77 ± 2.03)mm Hg,respectively.There was no significant differences before and after the treatment in both gr0ups(P＞ 0.05).In the group SPT and PI,the average exophthalmos after the treatment[(18.63 ± 2.22) and (14.85 ± 2.61)mm]were lower than those before the treatment[(20.78 ± 2.24) and (20.60 ± 2.81)mm,t =9.97,29.68,all P＜ 0.05],respectively.After the treatment,the average exophthalmos in the group PI was significantly lower than that of the group SPT(t =7.79,P＜ 0.05).In the groups SPT and PI,the average averagepalpebral fissure width after the treatment[(15.00 ± 1.80) and (11.65 ± 2.45)mm]were lower than those before the treatment[(17.22 ± 1.89) and (17.44 ± 2.37)mm,t =22.74,91.24,all P ＜ 0.05].After treatment of the group PI,the average exophthalmos was significantly lower than that of the group SPT(t =8.01,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Compared with the steroid pulse therapy with all body,the peribullbar application of long-term hormone for hyperthyroid Graves ophthalmopathy is more effective,with lcss side effects and worthy of promotion.

Objective To investigate the expression of phosphatase and tension homolog (PTEN) in adipose tissue of KKAy diabetic mice, a mouse model of type 2 diabetes.
Methods KKAy diabetic mice were fed with high fat diet for 4 weeks. After blood glucose met the criteria of diabetes (over 16.7 mmol/L), mice were randomly divided into 3 groups:a control group (without any treatment), a rosiglitazone group (treated with rosiglitazone 12.5 mg/kg·d once per day), and a metformin group (treated with metformin 3 g/kg·d twice daily). After 4 weeks, we then determined the expression of PTEN and phosphoserine 473-Akt (pS473-Akt) in the epididymal adipose tissue with Western blots. The mice in each group were further divided into the insulin (-) subgroup and insulin (+) subgroup, which were intraperitoneally injected with saline and insulin (5 mU/g body weight), respectively.
Results The expression of PTEN was elevated in the epididymal adipose tissue obtained from KKAy diabetic mice compared with that from the C57BL/6J mice (P<0.001). In accordance with the enhanced expression of PTEN, the level of pS473-Akt stimulated by insulin was decreased in the adipose tissue of KKAy mice compared to the C57BL/6J mice (P<0.001). Treatment with the insulin-sensitizing agents, rosiglitazone and metformin did not inhibit the elevated expression of PTEN in adipose tissue of KKAy diabetic mice.
Conclusion PTEN may play an important role in the development of insulin resistance in adipose tissue of type 2 diabetes mice model.

Objective To explore the effects of stimulating vagus nerve with pulse current on peripheral blood CD4+T lymphocyte of rats with collagen induced arthritis and its mechanism.Methods To duplicate model rats of experimental arthritis(EA)by intradermal injection of Ⅱtype collagen,divide the rats into 2 groups:vagus nerve stimulation(VNS)group and sham operated group.Rats in VNS group were stimulated at the left cervical vagus nerves for 30 minutes a day with constant square wave,pulse current with intra train of 16 Hz,pulse duration of 1.0 ms,train duration of 10 s,interstimulus interval of 1.5 min and intensities of 3.0 mA.Then flow cytometry and immunofluorescence methods were used to detect the activation of CD4+T lymphocytes(expressing CD71)and the expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors alpha 7(nAChR?7)and choline acetyltransferase(ChAT)in peripheral blood CD4+T lymphocytes.Results In VNS group,the expression of nAChR?7 and ChAT were significantly raised in CD4+ T cells at 1st weekend(Pa

Chromogranin A ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Duodenal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Ganglioneuroma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurofibroma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Paraganglioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism

AIMTo study the chemical constituents in the mycelia of Hypomyces sp..

METHODSSilica gel column chromatography was employed for the isolation and purification. Chemical and spectral methods were used to determine the structures of the isolated compounds.

RESULTSTwo compounds were isolated and identified as: hypomycin C (I) and hypomycin D (II).

CONCLUSIONCompounds I and II are new compounds.

Chromatography, Gel ; methods ; Fermentation ; Hypocreales ; chemistry ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Mycelium ; chemistry ; Perylene ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Quinones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Objective To analyze clinical diagnosis and management of 5 patients with actinomycete keratitis.Design Retro- spective case series.Participants 5 patients (5 eyes) with actinomycete keratitis.Methods The clinical features and microbiologic da- ta of 5 culture-proven cases of actinomycete keratitis recorded between October 2004 to March 2006 were analyzed.Main Outcome Measures clinical characteristics,isolations identification,drug susceptibility test and treatments.Results All patients were males and farmers.Of the 5 cases presented in this study,4 cases were followed by minor trauma as a predominant risk factor,and were pre- sented by a chronic progressive corneal ulcer with a wreath pattern of infiltrate.The diagnosis of all cases was based on laboratory in- vestigations,by which 4 cases of nocardia and one case of streptomyce were identified.A variable drug sensitivities were presented in nocardia isolates,which including TMP-SMZ,amicasin,gentamicin and fluorine-quinolones.Conclusions Nocardia keratitis is mainly followed by a minor trauma.It is identified predominantly by laboratory investigations.Tropical and systemically sensitive biotic are the initial choice,while debridement and amnionic transplantation could be an effective alternative.

On a model of reperfusion after ischemia in the hind limbs (LIR) of rats, we used aminoguanidine (AG) which inhibits nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and L-arginine (L-Arg), one of the substrates in the process of nitric oxide synthesis, to observe the changes in NO, NOS, malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and wet/dry ratio (W/D) in both skeletal muscles and the lung as well as the changes in phosphatidyl choline (PC) of lung surfactant. The morphologic changes were observed with microscopy. It was observed that the values of NOS, MPO, MDA of the muscle and lung in LIR group increased significantly and the content of PC decreased obviously compared with those of the normal control. Pulmonary observation revealed that after LIR leucocyte assembling and infiltration took place, which was dominated by polymorphocytes with broadened pulmonary interstitial tissue. In LIR+L-Arg group the above changes were reversed, and in LIR+AG group the injuries became more serious. The results obtained suggest that the activity of NOS and the production of NO following ischemia/reperfusion of hind limbs increased significantly, and that the endogenous NO may play a protective role during the early stage of acute lung injury after LIR.
Animals ; Hindlimb ; Lung Diseases ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism

Objective To characterize genotypic resistance within HBV RT region in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with nucleos(t) ide analogue (NA) treatment.Methods Serum samples of 229 CHB patients with NA treatment were obtained.Full-length HBV RT sequences were amplified,sequenced and analyzed,on the following NA resistant (NAr) mutations belonging to different NAr pathways.Results Among 229 HBV isolates,14.41％ (33/229) and 85.59％ (196/229) were genotype B and C,respectively;and the patients with HBV genotype C may be more susceptible to develope resistant mutations than patients with HBV genotype B (x2 =2.95,P ＜ 0.05).NAr mutations were detected in 63 CHB patients.Mutations were not found at rtI169,rtT184,rtA194 or rtS202.RtM204 mutations were detected at the highest frequency among 63 mutants (40/63,63.49％) and found to display 11 combination mutation patterns,in which rtM204I were associated with rtL80I/V and rtL180M,and rtM204V were associated with rtL180M,respectively.Conclusions There are complicated mutation patterns in the HBV RT region for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with nucleos(t) ide analogue (NA) treatment.RtM204V/I mutation was the highest.