Increased oral AUC of baicalin in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats due to the increased activity of intestinal beta-glucuronidase.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of baicalin, a major bioactive component of Scutellariae radix, in diabetic conditions. The 4-week diabetic rats were induced by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin. Plasma concentrations of baicalin were measured following oral (200 mg/kg) or intravenous (12 mg/kg) administration. Everted intestinal transport, intestinal mucosal metabolism of baicalin and intestinal beta-glucuronidase activity were also investigated. It was found that the diabetic condition significantly increased the exposure of baicalin following oral doses (AUC 100.77 +/- 4.16 microg x h/mL in diabetic rats vs. 48.48 +/- 7.94 microg x h/mL in normal rats). In contrast, the diabetic condition significantly decreased the exposure of baicalin following intravenous doses (AUC 11.20 +/- 2.28 microg x h/mL in diabetic rats vs. 18.02 +/- 3.45 microg x h/mL in normal rats). We also found lower apparent permeability coefficients of baicalin in the ileum of diabetic rats (8.43 x 10 (-6) +/- 2.40 x 10 (-6) cm/s in diabetic rats vs. 5.21 x 10 (-5) +/- 1.55 x 10 (-5) cm/s in normal rats). Further studies showed that the diabetic condition enhanced the hydrolysis of baicalin to baicalein in intestinal mucosal, accompanied by an increase of beta-glucuronidase activity. All these results suggested that the higher oral exposure of baicalin in diabetic rats did not result from the decreased hepatic metabolism or increased intestinal absorption of baicalin. The enhancement of intestinal beta-glucuronidase activity may partly account for the higher exposure of baicalin in diabetic rats after oral administration.

[Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) and its application in the determination for the quality of animal feed and products].

Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) has been the most rapidly developing and noticeable spectrographic analytical technique in recent years. The determining principle and progresses of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy are presented briefly. It mainly includes the progresses in pre-processing technique and analyzing model of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Two pre-processing techniques, including differential coefficient-dealt with technique, the signal-smoothing technique, and four analyzing models of near-infrared spectroscopy, including the multiplied lined regression (MLR), principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares (PLS), and artificial nerve network (ANN). The application of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy to the first time. The investigation of reviewed papers shows that the near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy is widely applied in feed analysis and animal products analysis because of its rapidness, non-destruction and non-pollution. The near infrared reflectance spectroscopy has been used to determine the feed common ingredient, such as dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, crude fat and so on, micro-components including amino acid, vitamin, and noxious components, and to determine the physical and chemical properties of animal products which including egg, mutton, beef and pork. Details of the analytical characteristics of feed and animal products described in the reviewed papers are given. New trends and limits to the application of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy in these fields are also discussed.

[Rapid evaluation of beef quality by NIRS technology].

The aim of the present study was to develop a near-infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy rapid method for evaluation of beef quality. Partial least squares (PLS) prediction model for the physic-chemical characteristics such as moisture, fat, protein, pH, color and WBSF in beef was established with good veracity. One hundred fourteen samples from five different parts of beef carcass (tenderloin, ribeye, topside, shin, striploin) were collected from meat packer after 48 h aging. Spectra were obtained by scanning sample from 950 to 1 650 nm and pretreated the model by MSC, SNV and first derivative. Predictive correlation coefficients of physic-chemical parameters in beef were 0.947 2 (moisture), 0.924 5 (fat), 0.934 6 (protein), 0.620 2 (pH), 0.820 3 (L), 0.864 6 (a*), 0.753 0 (b*) and 0.475 9 (WBSF) respectively. Root mean square errors of calibration (RMSEC) were 0.313 3 (moisture), 0.221 0 (fat), 1.243 2 (protein), 0.744 6 (pH), 1.778 3 (L*), 1.394 2 (a*), 1.763 9 (b*) and 1.0743 (WBSF). They were externally validated with additional 30 beef samples. Statistics showed that there was no significant difference between predicted value and those obtained with conventional laboratory methods. The results showed that NIRS is a rapid, effective technique for evaluating beef quality. The predictions for chemical characteristics gave higher accuracy than prediction for physical characteristics.

Berberine suppresses intestinal disaccharidases with beneficial metabolic effects in diabetic states, evidences from in vivo and in vitro study.

Clinical reports have demonstrated that berberine is a potential antidiabetic agent, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate if berberine exerts its hypoglycemic action via inhibiting intestinal disaccharidases using in vivo and in vitro experiments. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats received berberine (100 or 200 mg/kg) orally once daily or acarbose (40 mg/kg) orally twice daily for 5 weeks. Disaccharidase activities and sucrase-isomaltase (SI) complex messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in intestinal regions were assessed. The same treatment was operated in normal rats. Sucrose and maltose loading tests were also documented. In addition, Caco-2 cells were cultured in medium containing berberine or berberine plus chelerythrine. Compound C or H-89 for 5 days, disaccharidase activities, and SI complex mRNA levels were measured. The animal experiments showed that berberine significantly decreased the disaccharidase activities and SI complex mRNA expression both in diabetic rats and normal rats. Berberine can also significantly lower postprandial blood glucose levels induced by sucrose or maltose loading in normal rats. The cellular results showed that berberine may suppress disaccharidase activities and downregulate SI complex mRNA expression in a concentration-dependent manner. Only H-89, an inhibitor of protein kinase A (PKA), may reverse the decrease in disaccharidase activities and SI complex mRNA expression induced by berberine. In conclusion, berberine suppresses disaccharidase activities and SI complex mRNA expression with beneficial metabolic effects in diabetic states. The inhibitory effect, at least partly, involves the PKA-dependent pathway.

[Pith decompression of the femoral head and allograft fibula grafting for treatment of avascular necrosis of femoral head].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of the pith decompression of the femoral head and fibular allograft transplantation in the treatment of early stage avascular necrosis. METHODS: From January 2004 to November 2008, 32 hips of 25 patients with avascular necrosis of femoral head of Ia-IIIb period were treated by the pith decompression of the femoral head and fibular allograft transplantation, hollow lag screw fixation, included 17 males and 8 females, aged from 20 to 55 years old (39.1 years on average). Preoperative pain was from 2 to 14 months (means 5.5 months). All patients were applied on conventional X-ray films, MRI examination, Harris score. RESULTS: The patients were followed up for 12 to 48 months (means 36.4 months). X-ray film showed 21 hips of 18 cases improved,6 hips of 4 cases unchanged, no collapse of articular surface, 3 hips of 2 cases deterioration, 2 hips of 1 case failed. Preoperative Harris score was (77.0 +/- 8.0) and postoperative (90.6 +/- 2.5), there was a significant difference (t = 1.67, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Pith decompression of the femoral head and fibular allograft transplantation in the treatment of early stage avascular necrosis of femoral head has advantage of joint function in bed-ridden after a short time, quick recovery,clinical symptoms improved. Its short-term efficacy is certain but long-term efficacy is still need further observation.