Role of leptin in the regulation of food intake in fasted mice.

Leptin is well acknowledged as an anorexigenic hormone that plays an important role in feeding control. Hypothalamic GABA system plays a significant role in leptin regulation on feeding and metabolism control. However, the pharmacological relationship of leptin and GABA receptor is still obscure. Therefore, we investigated the effect of leptin or combined with baclofen on the food intake in fasted mice. We detected the changes in hypothalamic c-Fos expression, hypothalamic TH, POMC and GAD67 expression, plasma insulin, POMC and GABA levels to demonstrate the mechanisms. We found that leptin inhibit fasting-induced increased food intake and activated hypothalamic neurons. The inhibitory effect on food intake induced by leptin in fasted mice can be reversed by pretreatment with baclofen. Baclofen reversed leptin's inhibition on c-Fos expression of PAMM in fasted mice. Therefore, these results indicate that leptin might inhibit fasting-triggered activation of PVN neurons via presynaptic GABA synaptic functions which might be partially blocked by pharmacological activating GABA-B. Our findings identify the role of leptin in the regulation of food intake.

Composition of Ophiopogon Polysaccharide, Notoginseng Total Saponins and Rhizoma Coptidis Alkaloids Inhibits the Myocardial Apoptosis on Diabetic Atherosclerosis Rabbit / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effects of Composition of Ophiopogon polysaccharide, Notoginseng total saponins and Rhizoma Coptidis alkaloids (CONR) on myocardial apoptosis of diabetic atherosclerosis (DA) rabbits METHODS: Sixty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 6 groups [control group, model group, CONR high-dose group (450 mg/kg), CONR medium-dose group (150 mg/kg), CONR low-dose group (50 mg/kg), and simvastatin group] by using a completely random method, 10 in each group. DA model was established by intravenously injected alloxan combined with high-fat diet and abdominal aortic balloon injury. After mediation for 10 weeks, fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (GHB), glycosylated serum protein (GSP), fructoseamine (FRA), aldose reductase (AR), advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in serum were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method; the expression of receptor of AGEs (RAGE) in myocardial tissue were observed by immunohistochemical method; and p-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma-2 (bcl-2) protein expression in myocardial tissue were measured by Western blotting. The myocardial apoptosis was detected by TdT-mediated dUTPnick-end labeling (TUNEL) method, and apoptosis index (AI) was calculated.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the control group, serum FBG, GHB, GSP, FRA, AR, AGEs and the expression of myocardium RAGE, p-JNK, caspase-3 proteins, as well as apoptosis index (AI) were significantly increased and bcl-2 protein was significantly decreased in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the levels of serum FBG, GHB, GSP, FRA and AR showed a significant decline in CONR high- and medium-dose groups (P<0.01). FBG and GHB showed a significant decline in CONR low-dose group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of serum AGEs and myocardium RAGE, p-JNK and caspase-3 protein as well as AI were significantly decreased and bcl-2 protein was significantly up-regulated in all treatment groups (P<0.01); high-dose CONR had the most significant effect on abovementioned indices compared with other treatment groups (P<0.01). Middle-dose CONR had better effect on serum AGEs compared with the low-dose group (P<0.01); middle-dose CONR and simvastatin groups had better effect on the expression of caspase-3, bcl-2 protein, myocardium apoptosis compared with the CONR low-dose group (P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#CONR may effectively inhibit myocardial apoptosis on DA rabbits by intervening AGEs-RAGE and JNK, caspase-3, and bcl-2 protein expressions.

Effect of caloric restriction on depression.

Recently, most of evidence shows that caloric restriction could induce antidepressant-like effects in animal model of depression. Based on studies of the brain-gut axis, some signal pathways were common between the control of caloric restriction and depression. However, the specific mechanism of the antidepressant-like effects induced by caloric restriction remains unclear. Therefore, in this article, we summarized clinical and experimental studies of caloric restriction on depression. This review may provide a new therapeutic strategy for depression.

Study of therapeutic effects of Alprostadil Injection and Composite Salvia Injection on diabetic foot / 药物评价研究

Objective To study the therapeutic effects of Alprostadil Injection and Composite Salvia Injection on diabetic foot.Methods Selected 210 cases of patients with diabetic foot who were treated in our hospital from January 2012 to December 2016,divided into three groups randomly.The group A was treated with Alprostadil Injection,group B was treated with Composite Salvia Injection,the group C was treated with Alprostadil Injection and Composite Salvia Injection.The clinical therapeutic effects of the three groups were compared,and the levels of blood lipid,urea nitrogen,creatinine,beta-globulin and urinary microalbumin before and after treatment were compared.Results After treatment,the effective rate of the group C was 92.86％ (65/70),significantly higher than that of the group A and B (P ＜ 0.05).After treatment,the levels of TG,TC and LDL-C in the three groups were significantly lower than before treatment (P ＜ 0.05),HDL-C levels were significantly higher than before treatment (P ＜ 0.05),and the group C was more significant (P ＜ 0.05).After treatment,the levels of urea nitrogen,creatinine,beta 2 and urinary microalbumin were significantly decreased in the three groups than before (P ＜ 0.05),and the group C was more significant (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The effect of Alprostadil Injection and Composite Salvia Injection on diabetic foot is better,which is safe and effective.

Lychee seed saponins improve cognitive function and ameliorate hippocampal neuronal injury in Alzheimer disease rat model induced by Aβ25-35 through AKT/GSK3β pathway / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE Lychee seed, a famous traditional Chinese medicine, recently were reported to improve the learning and memory abilities in mice. However, it is still unclear whether lychee seed saponins (LSS) can improve the cognitive function and associated mechanisms. METHODS In present studies, we established the Alzheimer disease (AD) model by injecting Aβ25-35 into the lateral ventricle of rats. Then the spatial learning and memory abilities of LSS- treated rats were evaluated with the Morris water maze, meanwhile the protein expressions of AKT, GSK3β and Tau in the hippo?campal neuron were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. RESULTS The results showed LSS can improve the cognitive functions of AD rats through shortening the escape latency, increasing the number across the platform, platform quadrant dwell time and the percentage of the total distance run platform quadrant. The protein expression of AKT was significantly up-regulated and that of GSK3β and Tau were decreased remarkably in the hippocampal CA1 area. CONCLUSION Our study is the first to show that LSS significantly improve the cognitive function and prevent hippocampal neuronal injury of the rats with AD by activation of the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway, suggesting LSS may be developed into the nutrient supplement for the treatment of AD.

[The effects of Shadu Cao Mixture on immune functions of immunosuppression mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Shadu Cao Mixture (SDCM, traditional Chinese medicine) on immune functions of immunosuppression mice. METHODS: Fifty BALB/C mice were randomly divided into blank control group, model group, SDCM low-dose, middle-dose and high-dose group. Except the blank control group, other groups were intraperitoneal injected with cyclophosphamide (40 mg/kg) to establish immunosuppression mice model. The blank control group and model group received gavage administration with nonnal saline, while the other groups received gavage administration with different doses of SDCM (10, 20, 40 m/kg for 15 days) respectively. The number of leukocytes and serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in peripheral blood, spleen index, and the function of NK cells were measured. RESULTS: Compared with the model group , SDCM increased the number of leukocytes and serum concentrations of IL-2, TNF-α and IFN-γ in peripheral blood and improved the spleen index and the function of NK cells significantly (P < 0.05-0.01). CONCLUSION: SDCM could remarkably enhance the immune functions of immunosuppression mice induced by cyclophosphamide.

The effects of Shadu Cao Mixture on immune functions of immunosuppression mice / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of Shadu Cao Mixture (SDCM, traditional Chinese medicine) on immune functions of immunosuppression mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty BALB/C mice were randomly divided into blank control group, model group, SDCM low-dose, middle-dose and high-dose group. Except the blank control group, other groups were intraperitoneal injected with cyclophosphamide (40 mg/kg) to establish immunosuppression mice model. The blank control group and model group received gavage administration with nonnal saline, while the other groups received gavage administration with different doses of SDCM (10, 20, 40 m/kg for 15 days) respectively. The number of leukocytes and serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in peripheral blood, spleen index, and the function of NK cells were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the model group , SDCM increased the number of leukocytes and serum concentrations of IL-2, TNF-α and IFN-γ in peripheral blood and improved the spleen index and the function of NK cells significantly (P < 0.05-0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SDCM could remarkably enhance the immune functions of immunosuppression mice induced by cyclophosphamide.</p>

Effects of Chinese Herbal Compounds on Levels of Blood Glucose, Froctosamine and Insulin of Diabetic Rats / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To observe the effects of Chinese herbal compounds (alkaloid of Coptidis Rhizoma 40%, total saponin of panax notoginseng 35%, and polysaccharide of Ophiopogonis Radix 25%) on levels of blood glucose, fructosamine, and insulin of diabetic rats, and explore mechanism of action.Methods Ten rats were randomly chosen as blank control group, and other rats were used to establish diabetic rat models by STZ intraperitoneal injection. Successfully molding rats were randomly divided into Chinese herbal compounds high, medium, low dose groups, metformin group, and model group, 10 rats in each group. Each rat received gavage for continuous 4 weeks. Then rat blood was collected by cutting head and taking caudal vein. FBG was detected by glucose oxidase method;insulin level was detected by radio-immunity double antibody method;fructosamine content was detected by fructosamine method.Results Compared with the blank control group, model group the levels of FBG, froctosamine content increased, while fasting insulin level were lower after 4 weeks'medication. Compared with the model group, the levels of FBG, froctosamine content in Chinese herbal compounds high and medium dose groups and metformin group were lower, while fasting insulin level increased after 4 weeks'medication (P<0.05).Conclusion TCM herbal compounds can increased the basic insulin level by decreasing the contents of FBG and fructosamine.

High intensity focused ultrasound therapy combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the treatment of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty patients with unresectable HCC (TNM stage IV) were randomized into a TACE (T) group and a TACE plus HIFU (T + H) group. Twenty-six patients underwent TACE alone, and 24 HIFU ablation 2 - 3 weeks after TACE. The mean follow-up time for all patients was 8.16 +/- 2.79 months (range 3 to 24 months). The median survival, 6-month-, 1-year survival rates and average survival of patients who died were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and Fisher exact test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median survival time, 6-month and 1-year survival rates were 11.3 months, 80.4 - 85.4% and 42.9% in T + H group, in contrast to 4 months, 13.2% and 0% in T group with significant differences (P < 0.01). The average survival time of patients who died was 10.21 +/- 4.12 months in T + H group, as compared with 4.35 +/- 2.39 months in T group also with significant differences (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High intensity focused ultrasound therapy (HIFU) combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), being better than TACE alone, may become one of the most effective treatments for patients with unresectable HCC.</p>