Studies have shown that targeting xanthine oxidase (XO) can be a feasible treatment for fructose-induced hyperuricemia and hyperglycemia. This study aimed to evaluate the dual regulatory effects and molecular mechanisms of diacylated anthocyanins from purple sweet potato (diacylated AF-PSPs) on hyperglycemia and hyperuricemia induced by a high-fructose/high-fat diet. The body weight, organ index, serum biochemical indexes, and liver antioxidant indexes of mice were measured, and the kidneys were observed in pathological sections. The relative expression levels of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) of fructose metabolism pathway enzymes in kidney were detected by fluorescent real-time quantitative polymerase chain (qPCR) reaction technique, and the expression of renal transporter protein and inflammatory factor pathway protein was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) technique. Results showed that diacylated AF-PSPs alleviated hyperuricemia in mice, and that this effect might be related to the regulation of liver XO activity, lipid accumulation, and relevant renal transporters. Diacylated AF-PSPs reduced body weight and relieved lipid metabolism disorder, liver lipid accumulation, and liver oxidative stress, thereby enhancing insulin utilization and sensitivity, lowering blood sugar, and reducing hyperglycemia in mice. Also, diacylated AF-PSPs restored mRNA levels related to renal fructose metabolism, and reduced kidney injury and inflammation. This study provided experimental evidence for the mechanisms of dual regulation of blood glucose and uric acid (UA) by diacylated AF-PSPs and their utilization as functional foods in the management of metabolic syndrome.
Mice ; Animals ; Hyperuricemia/drug therapy* ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects* ; Anthocyanins/chemistry* ; Ipomoea batatas/chemistry* ; Fructose/adverse effects* ; Hyperglycemia/drug therapy* ; Lipids

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is the most common thyroid dysfunction, and its relationship with blood pressure (BP) has been controversial. The aim of the study was to analyze the association between SCH and newly-diagnosed hypertension. Methods: Based on data from the Thyroid disease, Iodine nutrition and Diabetes Epidemiology (TIDE) study, 49,433 euthyroid individuals and 7,719 SCH patients aged ≥18 years were enrolled. Patients with a history of hypertension or thyroid disease were excluded. SCH was determined by manufacturer reference range. Overall hypertension and stage 1 and 2 hypertension were diagnosed according to the guidelines issued by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association in 2017. Results: The prevalence of overall hypertension (48.7%), including stage 1 (28.9%) and 2 (19.8%) hypertension, increased significantly in SCH patients compared with euthyroid subjects. With elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level, the hypertension prevalence also increased significantly from the euthyroid to different SCH subgroups, which was more profound in females or subjects aged <65 years. The age- and sex-specific regression analysis further demonstrated the same trends in the general population and in the 1:1 propensity matched population. Similarly, several BP components (i.e., systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial BP) were positively associated with TSH elevation, and regression analysis also confirmed that all BP components were closely related with SCH in female subjects aged <65 years. Conclusion The prevalence of hypertension increases for patients with SCH. SCH tends to be associated with hypertension and BP components in females younger than 65 years.

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is the most common thyroid dysfunction, and its relationship with blood pressure (BP) has been controversial. The aim of the study was to analyze the association between SCH and newly-diagnosed hypertension. Methods: Based on data from the Thyroid disease, Iodine nutrition and Diabetes Epidemiology (TIDE) study, 49,433 euthyroid individuals and 7,719 SCH patients aged ≥18 years were enrolled. Patients with a history of hypertension or thyroid disease were excluded. SCH was determined by manufacturer reference range. Overall hypertension and stage 1 and 2 hypertension were diagnosed according to the guidelines issued by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association in 2017. Results: The prevalence of overall hypertension (48.7%), including stage 1 (28.9%) and 2 (19.8%) hypertension, increased significantly in SCH patients compared with euthyroid subjects. With elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level, the hypertension prevalence also increased significantly from the euthyroid to different SCH subgroups, which was more profound in females or subjects aged <65 years. The age- and sex-specific regression analysis further demonstrated the same trends in the general population and in the 1:1 propensity matched population. Similarly, several BP components (i.e., systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial BP) were positively associated with TSH elevation, and regression analysis also confirmed that all BP components were closely related with SCH in female subjects aged <65 years. Conclusion The prevalence of hypertension increases for patients with SCH. SCH tends to be associated with hypertension and BP components in females younger than 65 years.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the role of natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2) on cell proliferation and testosterone secretion in mouse Leydig cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mouse testis of different postnatal stages was isolated to detect the expression C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and its receptor NPR2 by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Leydig cells isolated from mouse testis were cultured and treated with shNPR2 lentiviruses or CNP. And then the cyclic guanosine monophosphate production, testosterone secretion, cell proliferation, cell cycle and cell apoptosis in mouse Leydig cells were analyzed by ELISA, RT-qPCR, Cell Counting Kit-8, and flow cytometry. Moreover, the expression of NPR2, cell cycle, apoptosis proliferation and cell cycle related gene were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot. RESULTS: Knockdown of NPR2 by RNAi resulted in S phase cell cycle arrest, cell apoptosis, and decreased testosterone secretion in mouse Leydig cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides more evidences to better understand the function of CNP/NPR2 pathway in male reproduction, which may help us to treat male infertility.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Count ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Proliferation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Germ Cells ; Guanosine Monophosphate ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Lentivirus ; Leydig Cells ; Male ; Mice ; Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Peptide ; Reproduction ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA Interference ; S Phase ; Testicular Diseases ; Testis ; Testosterone

Objective To explore the efficacy of blood promoter methylation of Sox10 gene in diagnosis of intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND) and to seek a non-invasive genetic diagnosis method based on peripheral blood for diagnosis of IND.Methods Children diagnosed as Hirschsprung disease (HD) or IND from the Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University and the Capital Institute of Pediatrics were enrolled in 2017-2018.The blood and colon specimens were collected from 9 IND,15 HD and 15 controls (the colon trauma cases).The blood promoter methylation of Soxl0 and its expression level in colon were both detected and the correlation between them was analyzed.The diagnostic efficacy of blood promoter methylation of Soxl0 was analyzed by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve.Results The blood promoter methylation level at the 32nd locus of Sox10 was 100％ (90％-100％;95％ CI:91％-98％) in the control,80％ (70％-90％;95％CI:65％-90％) in HD and 60％ (50％-80％;95％ CI:52％-82％) in IND.The expression level of Sox10 in the colon was (1.00 ±0.04) in the control,(2.75 ±0.16) in HD and (3.99 ±0.10) in IND.Western blot showed that the expression of Sox10 protein in the colon of the control group,the HD group and the IND group increased,and the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).The blood promoter methylation level was negatively correlated with its expression level in colon (r =-0.88).ROC curve indicated area under curve (AUC) of Sox10 methylation in diagnosis of HD was 0.818,with a cut-off value of 85％ and low diagnostic sensitivity.The AUC in IND was 0.907,with a cut-off value of 85％,producing a sensitivity of 88.9％ and a specificity of 93.3％ respectively.Conclusion Blood promoter methylation of Sox10 might be used as a non-invasive method for diagnosis of IND.

To investigate the hypolipidemic effects of gypenosides granules and its combination with lipitor, a model of hyperlipidaemia C57BL/6J mice was established by high-fat diet feeding for 4 weeks. The mice were randomly divided into blank group, model group, lipitor group(10 mg/kg of lipitor), low dose group(90 mg/kg of gypenosides granules), medium dose group(120 mg/kg of gypenosides granules), high dose group(180 mg/kg of gypenosides granules)and the combination group(180 mg/kg of gypenosides granules and 10 mg/kg of lipitor). After 4 weeks of continuous administration, the contents of serum lipid indexes, serum ALT, AST and apolipoprotein B(ApoB)were measured. The liver tissues of mice were observed by H&E staining. The expression levels of key factors involved in hepatic cholesterol metabolism were observed by RT-PCR and Western blot methods, such as adenosine triphosphate combined box transporter A1(ABCA1), liver X receptor(LXRα), cholesterol 7 alpha hydroxylase(CYP7A1)and type BΙ scavenger receptor(SR-BΙ). The results revealed that gypenosides granules significantly decreased the mice body weight, total abdominal fat area and the level of serum total cholesterol(TC). The combination group showed a more significant reduction in TC level than the other administration groups. Moreover, gypenosides granules treatment remarkably increased the protein expression of ABCA1 and up-regulated the mRNA expression of ABCA1, CYP7A1 and SR-BI. The above results suggest that gypenosides granules can significantly reduce blood lipid contents, and the combination therapy with lipitor show better the lipid-lowering effect. Meanwhile, gypenosides granules can decrease the level of serum transaminase. Preliminary exploration suggests the lipid-lowering mechanism of gypenosides granules may be involved in cholesterol reversal to regulate the level of TC.

The enteric nervous system consists of a network of neurons,neurotransmitters,proteins and its supporting cells in the lining of the gastrointestinal wall. The embryonic development of ENS originates from neural crest stem cells,which start to proliferate and migrate from the neural crest to the mesoderm along the head and tail,and finally migrate into the mesenchyme and form ENS. DNA methylation plays an important role in cell proliferation or differentiation in the process of embryonic development. DNA methylation is regulated by DNA methylation transferase,and the methylation state of the genes is passed on to the offspring in the process of cell proliferation differentiation. DNA methylation is the most profound and extensive mechanism in epigenet-ics research. Thus,this article is to review the recent advances in the effects of epigenetic regulation on the devel-opment of the enteric nervous system.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and the risk factors in Jingyuan county of Ningxia Autonomous Region.Methods The population proportionate sampling method was applied to enroll a representative sample of 10 639 adults in Jingyuan county and the study was conducted using questionnaires and physical examinations.A total of 10 553 people were included in the analysis after excluding those with missing data.High-resolution ultrasound was used to examine the liver and fasting blood was collected in the morning for measurement of blood glucose,blood lipid,and uric acid.The participants were divided into two groups of those with and without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease;the difference in blood biochemical indexes between fatty liver and non-fatty liver groups was compared,and the logistic regression model was used to explore the risk factors affecting the prevalence of fatty liver.Results The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was 7.60％.The prevalence of thyroid nodules was higher in men than in women (8.60％ vs.6.82％,x2=1 1.772,P=0.001).The prevalence rate of fatty liver increased with age (x2=57.336,P＜0.001),the prevalence rates among ≥18 years-＜29 years,≥30 years-＜39 years,≥40years-＜49 years,≥50 years-＜59 years,≥60 years-＜69 years,and above 70 years were 2.92％,6.50％,8.81％,9.59％,8.08％,and 4.77％ respectively.The detection rate of overweight,obesity,abdominal obesity,impaired fasting glucose,impaired glucose tolerance,diabetes,hypertension,hyperuricemia,and dyslipidemia were higher in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease group than in the normal group (P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease group had a higher risk for overweight,obesity,abdominal obesity,impaired fasting glucose,impaired glucose tolerance,diabetes,hypertension,hyperurcemia,and dyslipidemia (OR=5.41,12.45,2.99,1.85,2.05,3.30,1.41,2.23,and 1.98).Conclusion The incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver in Jingyuan county of Ningxia Autonomous Region was higher.The groups of overweight,obesity,abdominal obesity,impaired fasting glucose,impaired glucose tolerance,diabetes,hypertension,hyperuricemia,and dyslipidemia were high risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Objective To investigate the prevalences of the obesity and hypertension in southern mountain regions of Ningxia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among a representative sample of 10 639 adults using questionnaires, physical examinations, and blood pressure measurement in southern mountain areas with a population proportionate sampling method. Results The prevalences of overweight,obesity,central obesity,high percentage of body fat,and hypertension were 33.53%,10.71%,19.50%,27.69%,and 31.57% respectively, which were 30.31%,9.62%,16.70%,24.90%,and 27.61% after age-adjustment in rural areas of Ningxia,and increased with aging(Ptrend<0.05). The prevalences of overweight,obesity,and hypertension were higher in males than those in females(P<0.05),and that of central obesity was higher in females than in males(P=0.003).The prevalences of hypertension in subjects with overweight, obesity, central obesity, high percentage of body fat were 38. 14%, 53.75%,52.69%,and 48.90%,respectively. Body mass index,waist circumference,and percentage of body fat were positively correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure(P<0.05). The multivariable logistic model revealed that the risk of hypertension in different types of obesity increased about 1.5 times. Conclusion There is high prevalence of obesity and hypertension among the adults in southern mountain areas of Ningxia. The prevalence of hypertension in obesity,central obesity,and high percentage of body fat is closed to or more than half of the population investigated.

Objective To investigate the correlation between iodine nutritional status and thyroid diseases in some areas of Ningxia. Methods The physical examination, questionnaire survey, and measurement of urine iodine, thyroid function, thyroid associated antibodies were performed, with thyroid ultrasonography in Jingyuan County, Xingqing District and Guyuan City, Ningxia Yinchuan City, totally including 2827 adults. Results The median urinary iodine of all subjects was 258. 7(76. 6-1506. 4) μg/L. The average level of urinary iodine in rural areas [203.3(64. 6-1154)μg/L] was lower than that in cities[340. 7(114. 8-1726. 1)μg/L, Z=19. 514, P>0. 01]. The average urinary iodine level was lower in people over 65 years old[234. 2(58. 9-2285. 4) μg/L, x2=6.449, P=0. 040]. Subjects in hypothyroidism group [232. 5(69. 2-1682. 3) μg/L] had the lowest average urinary iodine level, while hyperthyroidism group[331. 9(102. 4-1862) μg/L] turned to be the highest group( x2=15. 432, P>0. 01). Compared with the normal group, TPOAb and TGAb increased group had similar median levels of urinary iodine (P>0. 05). If compared with single nodule, multiple nodules group and the normal group's median levels of urinary iodine also had no significant difference(P>0. 05). Conclusion Iodine excess was found in the studied population in these areas of Ningxia.