Increased serum asprosin is correlated with diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: Asprosin, a newly identified adipokine, is pathologically increased in type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study is to see whether serum asprosin concentrations are linked to diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction (DMED). METHODS: 90 male patients with type 2 diabetes were included. According to the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) score, they were classified into two groups: 45 type 2 diabetes patients without erectile dysfunction (DM group) (IIEF-5 > 21),45 patients with diabetes induced erectile dysfunction (DMED group) (IIEF-5 ≤ 21)0.45 healthy male volunteers with normal blood glucose, IIEF-5 score > 21 points, and age matched with the DMED group were included as the control group. Anthropometric and biochemical variables were determined in all participants. RESULTS: When compared to the controls, T2DM ( Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus)patients had higher serum asprosin levels. The DMED group had significantly higher serum asprosin than the T2DM groups(p < 0.001). After adjusting for multiple variables considered traditional risk factors for ED(erectile dysfunction), Asprosin can still be used as an independent risk factor for ED; The ROC(Receive Operating Characteristic Curve) indicates that asprosin has good sensitivity (97.8%) and specificity (62.2%) in predicting ED, with an area under the curve of 0.843.Correlation analysis shows that asprosin is negatively correlated with SOD(superoxide dismutase ) and positively correlated with MDA (malondialdehyde). CONCLUSION: Serum asprosin concentrations are increased in patients with DMED. Also, asprosin is correlated with oxidative stress indexes (MDA, SOD).

Protective effects of Schisandrin on high glucose-induced changes of RhoA and eNOS activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Schisandrin, derived from the Chinese medicinal herb Schisandra chinensis, has been found to confer protective effects on circulation systems. But the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a high level of glucose on RhoA and eNOS activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) and how Schisandrin plays a role in mediating these effects. To find the optimal treatment time, HUVECs were cultured at a high glucose concentration (30 mM) for different lengths of time (0, 12, 24, and 48 h). Subsequently, the cells were randomized into five groups: a normal group, a high glucose group, and three high glucose groups that were given different doses (5, 10, and 20 µM) of Schisandrin. The cells were pretreated with Schisandrin for 24 h before stimulation with high glucose. The morphology of HUVECs in the various groups was assessed under a light microscope. Immunocytochemical staining was used to detect the level of p-MYPT1 expression. The levels of RhoA activity were determined using the RhoA Activation Assay Biochem Kit. The levels of eNOS activity were examined using a nitrate reduction test. The results showed that in the high glucose group, the activity of RhoA was increased and the activity of eNOS was reduced, thus decreasing the secretion of NO. However, after pretreatment with Schisandrin (10, 20 µM), the activity of RhoA was inhibited and the activity of eNOS increased, which led to an increase in NO production compared with the high glucose group. There was no evident difference between the 5 µM Schisandrin group and the high glucose group. Taken together, these findings indicate that Schisandrin can improve the function of endothelial cells by lowering the activity of RhoA/Rho kinase and raising both the activity of eNOS and the production of NO.

Entrapment and release difference resulting from hydrogen bonding interactions in niosome.

In this study the influence of hydrogen bonding interaction between niosomal membrane and solutes on the drug loading and release was investigated. Salicylic acid (SA) and p-hydroxyl benzoic acid (p-BA) were selected as models. Niosomes were prepared with 1:1 molar ratios of various surfactants and cholesterol by film hydration technique, and the corresponding formulation variables were optimized to achieve the maximum entrapment efficiencies (EE%). The EE% of different formulations followed the trend Span 60>Span 40>Span 20>Span 80. Additionally, it was also found that the EE% of p-BA was much higher than that of SA. This difference may be due to the formation of hydrogen bond between p-BA and niosomal membrane, and the corresponding interaction diagram has been proposed and confirmed indirectly by UV spectroscopy method. The quantitative analysis of hydrogen binding interaction between solutes and niosome has been finished firstly, and the corresponding entrapment equilibrium constant K has been calculated as well. Moreover, in vitro the release of both drugs from niosomes was examined in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), respectively. The results indicated that the release of p-BA in SIF was much slower than that in SGF, and the release rate of SA in SGF is apparently slower than that in SIF. The possible mechanism was given as well.

[The relationship between endoplasmic reticulum stress and its particular apoptosis way caspase-12 and apoptosis in renal cortex of diabetic rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) and Caspase-12 and their relationship with apoptosis in renal cortex of diabetic rats. METHODS: Uninephrectomized Wistar rats were used to induce diabetes by intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin (STZ 65 mg/kg). After 8 weeks, the expression and distribution of GRP78, Caspase-12, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were examined by immunohistochemistry. Flow cytometry was used to detect the levels of protein of GRP78 and Caspase-12. Apoptosis was evaluated by means of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated d-UDP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and Flow cytometry. Serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and 24-hour urine protein excretion were checked. RESULTS: Compared with those in normal control group, the numbers of apoptosis and the expression of GRP78, Caspase-12 in glomerular and tubular cells were much higher in the diabetic kidneys at 8 weeks. There was no significant difference between group A and group B. CONCLUSION: Activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress may play an important role in the development of diabetic nephropathy.

Effective removal of Cu (II) ions from aqueous solution by amino-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles.

A novel magnetic nano-adsorbent (MNP-NH(2)) has been developed by the covalent binding of 1,6-hexadiamine on the surface of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles for removal of Cu(2+) ions from aqueous solution. Various factors affecting the uptake behavior such as contact time, temperature, pH, salinity, amount of MNP-NH(2) and initial concentration of Cu(2+) were investigated. The kinetics was evaluated utilizing the Lagergren pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Elovich and intra-particle diffusion models. The equilibrium data were analyzed using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms. The adsorption was relatively fast and the equilibrium was established within 5 min, and its kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order mechanism, evidencing chemical sorption as the rate-limiting step of sorption mechanism. The best interpretation for the equilibrium data was given by Langmuir isotherm, and the maximum adsorption capacities was 25.77 mg g(-1) at pH 6, and 298 K. Thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption process was spontaneous, endothermic and chemical in nature. The successive adsorption-desorption studies indicated that the MNP-NH(2) sorbent kept its adsorption and desorption efficiencies constant over 15 cycles. Importantly, MNP-NH(2) was able to remove 98% of Cu(2+) from polluted river and tap water.

[Free and bound PAHs in a sediment core from nam van artificial lake of Macao].

To study the posts-depositional behaviors of organic pollutants in natural conditions, concentrations and distributions of free and bound PAHs in a sediment core from Nam Van artificial Lake of Macao were investigated. Result indicate that free PAHs are predominated by 4-ring, 6,7-ring, and 5-ring PAHs, with the mass percentages of 28.7% to approximately 40.6%, 17.6% to approximately 29.6%, and 13.2% to approximately 28.2%, respectively, and for bound PAHs, the main components are 4-ring, 3-ring, and 2-ring ones, with mass percentages 42.3% to approximately 55.8%, 20.2% to approximately 35.8%, and 7.8% to approximately 18.8%, respectively, which suggeste that PAHs with low molecular weight are more prone to entering the micro-pores of sediment organic matters. Vertical profile of free PAHs concentrations in sediment core, to some degree, is correlated with the degree of regional economy development and the proceeding of environmental management. The concentrations of bound PAHs in the sediment core are controlled by the total PAHs mass input to the sediments and the structure (especially the polymerization) of sediment organic mater. The sediment burying favors the transformation of free form to bound form for PAH compounds.

[Primarily study of alkylphenols in sediment core from Nam Van artificial lake of Macao].

Alkylphenols, nonylphenols (NPs), octylphenol (OP), are known to have estrogenic effects. In a sediment core from Nam Van artificial lake of Macao, the concentrations of NPs ranged from 2.17 to 5.91 microg/g, with mean value of 3.66 microg/g during the estuarine sedimentary environment from 1970s-1980s and from 0.69 to 3.04 microg/g, with mean value of 2.08 microg/g during lagoon sedimentary environment in 1990s. The concentrations of OP during the initial stages of lagoon environment in the early 1990s were similar to that in the estuarine environment, and ranged from 14.33 to 39.11 ng/g. Subsequently, the concentration of OP was rapidly decreasing from 6.52 to 2.58 ng/g. Sources of APs in the estuarine condition included the urban runoffs from the upstream waters of Pearl River Delta and Macao city, but just from Macao in the lagoon condition. Consequently, concentration of APs in estuary condition was higher than that in lagoon condition. The vertical profile of concentration of APs in the sediment core, to some degree, was correlated with the development degree of regional economy and the proceeding of wastewater treatment. The results also showed that the alkylphenols in overlapping silty layer preferred to transfer downward to filling sandy layer.