Low-Molecular-Weight Fish Collagen Peptide (Valine-Glycine-Proline-Hydroxyproline-Glycine-Proline-Alanine-Glycine) Prevents Osteoarthritis Symptoms in Chondrocytes and Monoiodoacetate-Injected Rats.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of low-molecular-weight fish collagen (valine-glycine-proline-hydroxyproline-glycine-proline-alanine-glycine; LMWCP) on H2O2- or LPS-treated primary chondrocytes and monoiodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis rat models. Our findings indicated that LMWCP treatment exhibited protective effects by preventing chondrocyte death and reducing matrix degradation in both H2O2-treated primary chondrocytes and cartilage tissue from MIA-induced osteoarthritis rats. This was achieved by increasing the levels of aggrecan, collagen type I, collagen type II, TIMP-1, and TIMP-3, while simultaneously decreasing catabolic factors such as phosphorylation of Smad, MMP-3, and MMP-13. Additionally, LMWCP treatment effectively suppressed the activation of inflammation and apoptosis pathways in both LPS-treated primary chondrocytes and cartilage tissue from MIA-induced osteoarthritis rats. These results suggest that LMWCP supplementation ameliorates the progression of osteoarthritis through its direct impact on inflammation and apoptosis in chondrocytes.

Protective Effect of Combined Moxibustion and Decoction Therapy on Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats under Nuclear Factor-κB/Transforming Growth Factor-ß1/Smads Signaling Pathway.

it was aimed to discuss the effect of moxibustion (Mox) combined with Bu Fei Qu Yu (BFQY) decoction under the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1)/Smads signaling pathway in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis (PF). The PF rat models were prepared with bleomycin (BLM). They were divided into the normal (Nor) group, the PF model group (BLM puncture perfusion), the Mox group (grain-sized Mox at the back-shu points and Xuxiao points), the BFQY group (intragastrical BFQY decoction), and the Mox combined with BFQY decoction (Mox+BFQY) group. Lung tissue sections were prepared, and the hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Masson staining were performed to observe the inflammatory response and the degree of PF. The contents of hydroxyproline (HYP), glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA), and the expressions of NF-κB p65, TGF-ß1, Smad2, and Smad7 in lung tissues were detected. Compared with those in the Nor group, the inflammatory response score, PF degree score, HYP, GSH, and MDA contents, NF-κB p65, TGF-ß1, and Smad2 expressions were significantly increased in the PF group, but Smad7 expression decreased (P<0.05). The above symptoms were significantly improved in the Mox, BFQY, and Mox+ BFQY groups (P<0.05). The effect was more remarkable in the Mox+BFQY group, and there was no significant difference in each index compared with those in the Nor group (P>0.05). Thus, the combined therapy of Mox and decoction had an effect on PF through the NF-κB/TGF-ß1/Smads pathway.

A standardized aqueous extract of Anoectochilus formosanus ameliorated thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in mice: the role of Kupffer cells.

Anoectochilus formosanus is used in traditional folk medicine as an hepatoprotective agent. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a standardized aqueous extract of A. formosanus (SAEAF) on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis. An in vitro study showed that the inhibitive effect of kinsenoside, a major component of SAEAF, on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion from Kupffer cells might be derived at least partly from downregulation of LPS-receptor Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling. Hepatic fibrosis was produced by TAA (200 mg/kg, i.p.) 3 times per week for 12 weeks. Mice in the three TAA groups were treated daily with distilled water and SAEAF (1.0, 0.2 g/kg) via gastrogavage throughout the experimental period. The mice that received the SAEAF treatment had significantly reduced plasma alanine aminotransferase activity, relative liver weights, and hepatic hydroxyproline contents. A histological examination also confirmed that SAEAF reduced the degree of fibrosis caused by TAA treatment. RT-PCR analysis showed that SAEAF treatment reduced mRNA expression of collagen (alpha1)(I), lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, CD14, TLR4, and TNF receptor 1. An immunohistochemical examination also indicated that SAEAF reduced the number of CD68-positive cells (macrophages). In conclusion, oral administration of SAEAF significantly reduced TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice, probably through inhibition of hepatic Kupffer cell activation.

Comparação dos efeitos do TENS e dos exercícios terapêuticos sobre os níveis de hidroxiprolina na urina em síndrome do impacto no ombro / Comparison of the effects of TENS and exercises therapy effects on hydroxyproline levels in urine on shoulder pain

Objetivo: Comparar os efeitos da neuroestimulação elétrica transcutânea (TENS) e cinesiologia aplicada, assim como esta isolada, na excreção urinária em indivíduos com a síndrome do impacto do ombro (SIO). Métodos: Participaram do estudo dois grupos de 35 indivíduos cada, sendo 30 mulheres e 40 homens, com idade entre 45 e 60 anos. O grupo controle realizou a cinesiologia aplicada e o grupo experimental realizou o tratamento TENS associado à cinesiologia aplicada. Para a mensuração da hidroxiprolina na urina foi utilizado o protocolo de colorimetria. A coleta urinária foi feita na 1ª, 5ª e 10ª sessão. O tratamento foi realizado em 10 sessões de 55 minutos. O tratamento estatístico utilizado foi feito através da análise de variância One Way (ANOVA). Resultado: Não houve melhora significativa como indicado por F = 0,662, p > 0,05. Conclusão: Os resultados mostraram não haver interação significativa entre os tipos de tratamento com a excreção urinária de hidroxiprolina. Contudo, os resultados obtidos das variáveis mostraram uma forte tendência à melhora, apresentando um resultado mais efetivo no grupo que utilizou somente a cinesiologia aplicada até a quinta sessão e, posteriormente, com uma tendência mais efetiva no grupo que utilizou a cinesiologia aplicada + TENS. O estudo mostrou, também, um resultado mais eficiente do grupo que utilizou apenas a cinesiologia aplicada como tratamento.

Objective: To compare the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) effects associated to the kinesiology applied, and only the kinesiology applied on the hydroxiproline (HP) excretion on individuals with shoulder pain, during 10 physical therapy sessions with duration of 55 minutes each session for both treatments. Methods: The individuals were divided into two groups of 35 people each, being 30 women and 40 men; aged between 40 and 65 years old. The control group underwent only applied kinesiology and the experimental group applied kinesiology associated to TENS. It was used the colorimetric protocol to measure urinary excretion of HP. Three samples of each variable were carried out on the first, fifth and tenth sessions. The ANOVA test with repeated measures to analyze the HP was used for the statistics. Results: There were no significance as indicated by F = 0.662, p > 0.05. Conclusion: We concluded that the study showed a strong benefit tendency for both groups due to HP decrease levels. As a better result before the 5th session for the group applied kinesiology and after the 5th - 10th session of treatment, for the applied kinesiology + TENS group, although there was no significance based on the statistics. And, also, it showed a better result for the group who practiced only applied kinesiology

A comparative study on several models of experimental renal calcium oxalate stones formation in rats.

In order to compare the effects of several experimental renal calcium oxalate stones formation models in rats and to find a simple and convenient model with significant effect of calcium oxalate crystals deposition in the kidney, several rat models of renal calcium oxalate stones formation were induced by some crystal-inducing drugs (CID) including ethylene glycol (EG), ammonium chloride (AC), vitamin D(3)[1alpha(OH)VitD(3), alfacalcidol], calcium gluconate, ammonium oxalate, gentamicin sulfate, L-hydroxyproline. The rats were fed with drugs given singly or unitedly. At the end of experiment, 24-h urines were collected and the serum creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), the extents of calcium oxalate crystal deposition in the renal tissue, urinary calcium and oxalate excretion were measured. The serum Cr levels in the stone-forming groups were significantly higher than those in the control group except for the group EG+L-hydroxyproline, group calcium gluconate and group oxalate. Blood BUN concentration was significantly higher in rats fed with CID than that in control group except for group EG+L-hydroxyproline and group ammonium oxalate plus calcium gluconate. In the group of rats administered with EG plus Vitamin D(3), the deposition of calcium oxalate crystal in the renal tissue and urinary calcium excretion were significantly greater than other model groups. The effect of the model induced by EG plus AC was similar to that in the group induced by EG plus Vitamin D(3). EG plus Vitamin D(3) or EG plus AC could stably and significantly induced the rat model of renal calcium oxalate stones formation.