Changes in Serum Irisin Levels and Their Significance in Carotid Atherosclerosis Associated with Obesity.

Objective: This study aims to comprehensively examine and assess the changes and significance of irisin levels in individuals with carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) who are concurrently dealing with obesity. Method: A total of 156 CAS patients admitted between March 2020 and March 2022 were categorized into CAS normal weight (C1), CAS overweight (C2), and CAS obesity (C3) groups based on BMI. Simultaneously, 80 healthy adults from the same period comprised the control group (C0). The study conducted a comparative analysis of biochemical indexes, serum irisin levels, and carotid artery ultrasounds across all groups. Correlation analyses and diagnostic assessments for serum irisin in obesity with carotid atherosclerosis were executed using ROC curves. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed in cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), serum homocysteine (Hcy), and irisin levels among all groups (P < .05). Obese CAS patients exhibited higher levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and Hcy, with notably lower levels of HDL-C and irisin compared to other groups (P < .05). Significant variations in carotid artery ultrasound intima-media thickness (IMT) and Crouse scores were also evident among all groups (P < .05). Specifically, IMT and Crouse scores were higher in obese CAS patients compared to other groups (P < .05). Correlation analysis results indicated a significant negative correlation between irisin and TC, TG, LDL-C, Hcy, IMT, and Crouse score (P < .05). Conversely, irisin exhibited a significant positive correlation with HDL-C levels (P < .05). The ROC curve analysis for the diagnostic value of irisin in obesity with CAS revealed an area under the curve of 0.957. Conclusions: Serum irisin levels are significantly reduced in CAS patients, particularly those with overweight and obese. Additionally, irisin levels are closely associated with patients' blood lipids, homocysteine levels, and the severity of atherosclerosis.

Systemic subchronic toxicity and comparison of four selenium nutritional supplements by 90-day oral exposure in Sprague-Dawley rats.

To evaluate and compare the safety of four selenium supplements, namely Se-enriched peptides (SeP), yeast selenium (SeY), L-Se-methylselenocysteine (L-SeMc) and sodium selenite (Na2SeO3), the subchronic toxicity study was designed by 90-day gavage administration in Sprague-Dawley rats. The doses of SeP, SeY, L-SeMc and Na2SeO3 were 0.15, 0.30 and 0.60 mg/kg bw/day, with additional dose of 0.45 mg/kg L-SeMc (All dose calculated as Se). Symptoms like growling, hair loss and significant weight loss were found at 0.60 mg/kg of L-SeMc, but not in other groups. At the dose of 0.60 mg/kg, females in Na2SeO3, SeY and L-SeMc groups showed significant elevations in ALT and/or ALP. Pathologic manifestations such as bile duct hyperplasia and cholestasis were predominantly found in females at 0.6 mg/kg of L-SeMc and SeY groups, and in males at same dose of L-SeMc group showed marked testicular atrophy. 0.60 mg/kg of SeY and Na2SeO3, and 0.30, 0.45, 0.60 mg/kg of L-SeMc induced significant reductions in sperm motility rates, rapid movement and amount. In conclusion, the NOAEL of SeP, SeY, L-SeMc, Na2SeO3 was all 0.30 mg/kg for female, and 0.60, 0.30, 0.15 and 0.30 mg/kg for male respectively. Liver and reproductive organs are possible toxic target organs of hyper selenium.

Tibetan Medicine Shi-Wei-Gan-Ning-San Alleviates Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Chronic Liver Injury by Inhibiting TGF-ß1 in Wistar Rats.

Background: Shi-Wei-Gan-Ning-San (SWGNS) is a classic Tibetan prescription, which has obvious clinical effects in the treatment of viral hepatitis, fatty liver, liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and other liver injuries. However, animal studies and mechanism studies are still lacking. This study aimed to investigate its hepatoprotective efficacy and pharmacological mechanism in animal experiments. Methods: Chronic liver injury was induced by oral administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in Wistar rats for 13 weeks. SWGNS was administered orally to rats at doses of 235, 705, and 1410 mg/kg for 13 weeks. Blood samples were collected for biochemical, ELISA, and radioimmunoassay. Livers were harvested for H&E and immunohistochemical staining. The major constituents of SWGNS were analyzed by HPLC. In vitro experiments were used to explore the protective effect of Crocin on BRL-3A in the environment of H2O2. Results: SWGNS reversed weight loss is induced by CCl4. Serum assays showed that SWGNS reduced CCl4-induced alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, and γ-glutamyltransferase levels and increased the total protein and albumin levels. Histopathological evaluation showed that SWGNS alleviated hepatic steatosis, fibrosis, and inflammation. Furthermore, SWNGS reduced CCl4-induced elevations of TGF-ß1, hyaluronic acid, laminin, and collagen IV in serum and reduced the high expression of α-SMA in tissues. Moreover, Crocin I and II are the main components of SWGNS. Crocin attenuated the damaging effects of H2O2 on BRL-3A. Conclusions: In conclusion, SWGNS alleviated CCl4-induced chronic liver injury by inhibiting the TGF-ß1 pathway. This plays an important role in promoting traditional Tibetan medicine in clinical practice.

[Subchronic toxicity test of songaria cynomorium herb aqueous extract in rat].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the sub-chronic toxicity of songaria cynomorium herb aqueous extract in rat at different oral dose levels. METHODS: The study was conducted according to the protocol of sub-chronic toxicity study in rat in Procedures and Method for Toxicolohical Assessment on Food Safety(GB 15193. 13-2015). Total 80 SPF grade Wistar rats, weighing 60-80 g, were randomized into 4 groups of 10/sex/group based on their body weight. The animals from groups 1 to 4 were orally dosed once daily with songaria cynomorium herb aqueous-soluble extract at 0, 2. 83, 5. 66 and 8. 49 g/kg BW respectively for continuous 90 days. And the dose volume was 13 mL/kg. The clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, food utilization rate, hematology, serum chemistry and histopathology were monitored or tested. RESULTS: No obvious toxic signs were observed and no animals were found dead during the whole study. There were no significant differences between the control and test article groups in the body weight, food consumption, food utilization rate. Although some hematology and serum chemistry parameters in a single dose group changed significantly, their values were still in the normal ranges of our laboratory. Therefore, all the above changes were not considered as adverse effects. However, the prothrombin time(PT) at male middle and high dose group prolonged significantly(P<0. 05). In addition, Compared with that of control, significantly increased testes index was observed in the mid-dose group, while increased spleen index, testes index, epididymis index were observed in high-dose group. no obvious histopathology changes were detected in all test article groups. CONCLUSION: Under the condition of this experiment, the No-observed-adverse-effect-level(NOAEL) was 2. 83 g/kg BW and the lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level(LOAEL) was 5. 66 g/kg BW for songaria cynomorium herb aqueous-soluble extract in the rat sub-chronic toxicity study.