Quamoclit angulata extract supplementation attenuates hepatic damage via regulation of AMPK/SIRT associated hepatic lipid metabolism in streptozotocin and high fat diet-induced T2DM mice.

Quamoclit angulata (QA) is a species of the Convolvulaceae family and has a regulatory effect on glucose homeostasis. However, the effects of QA on hyperglycemia-induced hepatic damage has not been elucidated. We hypothesized that QA extract (QAE) would alleviate hepatic damage through regulation of hepatic lipid accumulation in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). T2DM was induced by streptozotocin-high-fat diet in C57BL6 male mice for 8 weeks. The diabetic mice were supplemented with QAE at low dose (5 mg/kg) or high dose (HQ, 10 mg/kg) by oral gavage every day for 12 weeks. Histopathological changes in hepatic tissue were examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining, and the protein levels of biomarkers related to AMP-activation kinase (AMPK)/sirtuin-1 (SIRT1)-associated lipid metabolism were measured using Western blotting. QAE supplementation ameliorated plasma insulin and glycated hemoglobin in diabetic mice. Furthermore, QAE decreased hepatic lipid accumulation demonstrated by hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol levels. QAE supplementation induced hepatic AMPK, which activates SIRT1 accompanied by reduced lipogenesis in the HQ group. These changes were partially explained by the amelioration of advanced glycation end product, hepatic oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis in diabetic mice. Altogether, QAE would be a potential nutraceutical to prevent hepatic damage by regulation of AMPK/SIRT1-associated lipid metabolism through oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis in T2DM.

Pygenic Acid A (PA) Sensitizes Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells to Anoikis and Inhibits Metastasis In Vivo.

Metastasis is the main cause of cancer-related deaths. Anoikis is a type of apoptosis caused by cell detachment, and cancer cells become anoikis resistant such that they survive during circulation and can successfully metastasize. Therefore, sensitization of cancer cells to anoikis could prevent metastasis. Here, by screening for anoikis sensitizer using natural compounds, we found that pygenic acid A (PA), a natural compound from Prunella vulgaris, not only induced apoptosis but also sensitized the metastatic triple-negative breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 cells (human) and 4T1 cells (mouse), to anoikis. Apoptosis protein array and immunoblotting analysis revealed that PA downregulated the pro-survival proteins, including cIAP1, cIAP2, and survivin, leading to cell death of both attached and suspended cells. Interestingly, PA decreased the levels of proteins associated with anoikis resistance, including p21, cyclin D1, p-STAT3, and HO-1. Ectopic expression of active STAT3 attenuated PA-induced anoikis sensitivity. Although PA activated ER stress and autophagy, as determined by increases in the levels of characteristic markers, such as IRE1α, p-elF2α, LC3B I, and LC3B II, PA treatment resulted in p62 accumulation, which could be due to PA-induced defects in autophagy flux. PA also decreased metastatic characteristics, such as cell invasion, migration, wound closure, and 3D growth. Finally, lung metastasis of luciferase-labeled 4T1 cells decreased following PA treatment in a syngeneic mouse model when compared with the control. These data suggest that PA sensitizes metastatic breast cancer cells to anoikis via multiple pathways, such as inhibition of pro-survival pathways and activation of ER stress and autophagy, leading to the inhibition of metastasis. These findings suggest that sensitization to anoikis by PA could be used as a new therapeutic strategy to control the metastasis of breast cancer.

Effects of Lespedeza Bicolor Extract on Regulation of AMPK Associated Hepatic Lipid Metabolism in Type 2 Diabetic Mice.

Lespedeza bicolor (LB) is one of the ornamental plants used for the treatment of inflammation caused by oxidative damage. However, its beneficial effects on hyperglycemia-induced hepatic damage and the related molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that Lespedeza bicolor extract (LBE) would attenuate hyperglycemia-induced liver injury in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Diabetes was induced by a low dosage of streptozotocin (STZ) injection (30 mg/kg) with a high fat diet in male C57BL/6J mice. LBE was administered orally at 100 mg/kg or 250 mg/kg for 12 weeks. LBE supplementation regardless of dosage ameliorated plasma levels of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in diabetic mice. Moreover, both LBE supplementations upregulated AMP-activation kinase (AMPK), which may activate sirtuin1 (SIRT) associated pathway accompanied by decreased lipid synthesis at low dose of LBE supplementation. These changes were in part explained by reduced protein levels of oxidative stress (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and catalase), inflammation (nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nitric oxide synthases (iNOS)), and fibrosis (α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and protein kinase C (PKC)) in diabetic liver. Taken together, LBE might be a potential nutraceutical to ameliorate hepatic damage by regulation of AMPK associated pathway via oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis in T2DM.

Evaluation of the hypertension disease management program in Korea.

This study evaluated how the Hypertension Disease Management Program (HDMP) affects patient's blood pressure, knowledge, health behaviors, and use of medical services. Evaluation was performed by 2 measures, which were before and after comparison within the management group (n = 210) and comparison between the management group and control group (n = 1050) in 2005. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure of management group significantly decreased from 137.5 and 86.0 mm Hg to 131.2 and 83.8 mm Hg (P < .001, P < .01), respectively. Dieting, snack control, consumption of low-sodium meals, low-cholesterol meals, and fruits or vegetables, regular checking of blood pressure, and stress management techniques significantly increased after HDMP. However, there was no significant difference in the use of medical service between the disease management group and the control group. This study showed that the HDMP improved lifestyle and reduced blood pressure on the disease management group, but changed neither medical costs nor use of medical services. Long-term evaluation should be performed to determine if the HDMP reduce medical costs and use of medical services.