Isorhamnetin Reduces Glucose Level, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in High-Fat Diet/Streptozotocin Diabetic Mice Model.

Background: Isorhamnetin is a flavonoid that is found in medical plants. Several studies showed that isorhamnetin has anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity effects. This study aims to investigate the anti-diabetic effects of isorhamnetin in a high-fat diet and Streptozotocin-(HFD/STZ)-induced mice model of type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: Mice were fed with HFD followed by two consecutive low doses of STZ (40 mg/kg). HFD/STZ diabetic mice were treated orally with isorhamnetin (10 mg/kg) or (200 mg/kg) metformin for 10 days before sacrificing the mice and collecting plasma and soleus muscle for further analysis. Results: Isorhamnetin reduced the elevated levels of serum glucose compared to the vehicle control group (p < 0.001). Isorhamnetin abrogated the increase in serum insulin in the treated diabetic group compared to the vehicle control mice (p < 0.001). The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was decreased in diabetic mice treated with isorhamnetin compared to the vehicle controls. Fasting glucose level was significantly lower in diabetic mice treated with isorhamnetin during the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) (p < 0.001). The skeletal muscle protein contents of GLUT4 and p-AMPK-α were upregulated following treatment with isorhamnetin (p > 0.01). LDL, triglyceride, and cholesterol were reduced in diabetic mice treated with isorhamnetin compared to vehicle control (p < 0.001). Isorhamnetin reduced MDA, and IL-6 levels (p < 0.001), increased GSH levels (p < 0.001), and reduced GSSG levels (p < 0.05) in diabetic mice compared to vehicle control. Conclusions: Isorhamnetin ameliorates insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Isorhamnetin could represent a promising therapeutic agent to treat T2D.

A time-to-event analysis describing virologic response in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.

The objective of this project was to describe longitudinal change in chronic hepatitis C virologic reponse using time-to-event (TTE) analysis and to identify patient characteristics that determine the dynamics of this change. We compiled demographic, clinical, and genetic data from 715 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients treated with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) alfa-2a and ribavirin. TTE modelling described the time between antiviral treatment initiation and the first observation of undetectable HCV RNA. A lognormal TTE model was selected to describe time to first undetectable HCV RNA. The identified predictors of prolonged time to achieve undetectable HCV RNA include HCV genotype 1, low pre-treatment ALT level, older age, or with elevated baseline haemoglobin level. In conclusion, a cohort of patients with low probability of achieving SVR can be identified. This project identifies patients with a low risk of responding to PEG-IFN alfa-2a and ribavirin combination.