[Investigation and analysis of airborne allergenic pollen in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot City].

Objective: To investigate the species, concentration and seasonal trends of main airborne allergenic pollen in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot City. Methods: The Department of allergy, Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University conducted a cross-sectional study about monitoring the airborne allergenic pollen from August 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022 by the gravitational method in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot City, which include Yuquan District, Xincheng District, Huimin District, Saihan District, Tuoketuo County, Helingeer County, Tumotezuoqi County, Wuchuan County and Qingshuihe County. Daily pollens were counted and identified by optical microscopy, and the data were analyzed. Results: The airborne allergenic pollen was collected every month all year round in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot city. Through the whole year of the total quantity of pollens ranged from 24 850 to 50 154 grains per 1 000 mm2 and two peaks of pollen concentration in air were observed,which happened in spring (from March to May) and in summer and autumn (from July to September). In spring, the main pollens were tree pollens, which principally distributed in Populus pollen (18.29%), Ulmus pollen (8.36%), Pinus pollen (6.20%), Cupressaceae pollen (5.23%), Betulaceae pollen (2.73%), Salix pollen (1.80%) and Quercus pollen (1.16%). In summer and autumn, the main pollens were weed pollens, which mainly included Artemisia pollen (42.73%), Chenopodiaceae pollen or Amaranthaceae pollen (7.46%), Poaceae pollen (2.26%), Humulus pollen or Cannabis pollen (0.60%). Conclusion: There were two peaks of main airborne allergenic pollen in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot City. In the spring peak of pollen, the main airborne pollens were tree pollens. In the summer and autumn peak of pollen, the main airborne pollens were weed pollens. The Artemisia pollen was the most major airborne pollen in this area.

A combination of grape seed-derived procyanidins and gypenosides alleviates insulin resistance in mice and HepG2 cells.

This study investigated the effects of grape seed-derived procyanidins (GSP), gypenosides (GPE), and combination procyanidins/gypenosides on insulin resistance in mice and HepG2 cells. ICR mice were randomly divided into 2 control and 4 treatment groups. The control mice were to receive either normal diet (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD), and the treatment groups were fed high-fat diet with either 80 mg/kg of GSP (GSP80), GPE (GPE80), GSP + GPE (1: 1, GSP40 + GPE40), or 500 mg/kg of metformin for a 6-wk period. All the groups of mice except the normal control were on high-fat diet along with fructose (15%) administered in drinking water throughout the period of treatment. An insulin-resistant HepG2 cell model was developed after 24 h of 5 x 10(-7) mol/L insulin incubation. The treatment of GPE80 could significantly reduce the index of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and increase hepatic glycogen concentration, compared with HFD group (P < 0.05). When GSP and GPE were administered simultaneously, synergic effects were observed in decreasing the HOMA-IR index and serum total cholesterol (TC) level and enhancing glucose tolerance. All treatment groups showed considerable raise of hepatic glucokinase activity (P < 0.05 compared with HFD group). GSP application increased the consumption of extracellular glucose in HepG2 cells. Our data suggest that the combination of GSP and GPE may have functional efficacy in consumers with insulin resistance.