Transcriptome analysis reveals the efficacy of ginsenoside-Rg1 in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

AIMS: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver disease and lacks for safe and effective drug to therapy completely. Ginsenoside-Rg1 is one of the main components of ginseng and has been proved to counteract a variety of diseases. However, there is currently a lack of sufficient evidence to support the efficacy of ginsenoside-Rg1 in the treatment of NAFLD. Our aim was to investigate whether Ginsenoside-Rg1 is a potential drug for NAFLD. MAIN METHODS: NAFLD model in rats was established by giving a high-fat diet (HFD), ginsenoside-Rg1 was intragastrically administered 100 mg/kg/d for 8 weeks in NAFLD rat. Serum biochemical indices were measured. Liver tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and oil red O. Total RNA was extracted from liver and was used for high throughput sequencing to identify the changes of transcriptome. The relevant hub genes were verified by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot. KEY FINDINGS: Serum biochemical analysis indicated that ginsenoside-Rg1 improved liver function. Additionally, the staining of HE and oil red O indicated ginsenoside-Rg1 could remit pathology process of NAFLD. The transcriptome changes also support this result and reveals Atf3 and Acox2 were key genes. SIGNIFICANCE: Taken together, these results suggest that the efficiency of ginsenoside-Rg1 against NAFLD and confirmed that ginsenoside-Rg1 is a potential effective drug in treatment of NAFLD.

[Effect of acupuncture at Renying (ST 9) on blood pressure in patients with ischemic stroke complicated with essential hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture at Renying (ST 9) on morning blood pressure, daytime peak blood pressure and 24-hour blood pressure load in patients with ischemic stroke complicated with essential hypertension. METHODS: A total of 80 patients (3 cases dropped off) were randomized into an observation group (39 cases) and a control group (38 cases). Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture and nifedipine were given in the control group. On the basis of treatment in the control group, acupuncture at Renying (ST 9) was applied in the observation group, once a day, 6 times a week for 4 weeks. The changes of morning blood pressure, daytime peak blood pressure and blood pressure load were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, morning blood pressure, daytime peak blood pressure and blood pressure load after treatment were reduced in the two groups (all P<0.05). The change of morning systolic pressure in the observation group was not significant as compared with that in the control group (P>0.05); the changes of morning diastolic pressure, daytime peak blood pressure and blood pressure load in the observation group were larger than those in the control group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: On the basis of Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture and nifedipine, acupuncture at Renying (ST 9) can effectively reduce morning blood pressure, daytime peak blood pressure and blood pressure load in patients with ischemic stroke complicated with essential hypertension.

[Effect of " Huoxue Sanfeng acupuncture" auxiliary therapy on morning blood pressure and blood pressure load in elderly patients with stroke complicated with hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of "Huoxue Sanfeng acupuncture" auxiliary therapy on neurological function, blood pressure load and morning blood pressure in elderly patients with stroke complicated with hypertension, on the basis of "Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture" combined with nifedipine. METHODS: Seventy patients with stroke complicated with hypertension were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 35 cases in each group. "Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture" and conventional nifedipine controlled release tablets were given in the control group. Regarding regaining consciousness with acupuncture, the main acupoint is Shuigou (GV 26), combined with Neiguan (PC 6) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), retaining needle for 20 min, additionally, the quick needling technique was applied to Shangjiquan (Extra), Chize (LU 5) and Weizhong (BL 40) of the affected side, nifedipine controlled release tablets were orally administered 30 mg once a day for a total of 6 weeks. The "Huoxue Sanfeng acupuncture" was added on the basis treatment in the observation group, the acupuncture was applied at Renying (ST 9) as the main acupoint, combined with Quchi (LI 11), Hegu (LI 4), Zusanli (ST 36) and Taichong (LR 3). The strict manipulation quantitative acupuncture was used and the needle was retained for 20 min. Both acupuncture methods were performed once a day, 5 times a week, and continued treatment at intervals of 2 days, 10 times for one course, and a total of 3 courses were needed. The morning blood pressure and 24 h blood pressure load were measured before and after treatment. The National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) score and the Barthel index (BI) classification were observed before and after treatment. RESULTS: The systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly lower than those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0.01), and the systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (both P<0.01). There was no significant difference between the difference of systolic blood pressure before and after treatment in the two groups (P>0.05), and the difference of the diastolic blood pressure before and after treatment in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). The systolic and diastolic pressures load in the two groups were lower than those before treatment (all P<0.01), and the systolic and diastolic pressures load in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (both P<0.05), the difference of systolic and diastolic pressure load before and after treatment in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (both P<0.05). After treatment, the NIHSS scores in the two groups were lower than those before treatment (both P<0.01). The NIHSS scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The difference of NIHSS scores before and after treatment in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). After treatment, the BI grading was better than that before treatment in the two groups (both P<0.05), and the BI grading in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: On the basis of "Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture" combined with nifedipine controlled release tablets in the treatment of elderly patients with stroke complicated with hypertension, "Huoxue Sanfeng acupuncture" can further improve the function of nerve and limbs, effectively reduce the morning blood pressure level of elderly patients, especially diastolic blood pressure, and significantly improve systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure load.

Impaired mitochondrial biogenesis due to dysfunctional adiponectin-AMPK-PGC-1α signaling contributing to increased vulnerability in diabetic heart.

Impaired mitochondrial biogenesis causes skeletal muscle damage in diabetes. However, whether and how mitochondrial biogenesis is impaired in the diabetic heart remains largely unknown. Whether adiponectin (APN), a potent cardioprotective molecule, regulates cardiac mitochondrial function has also not been previously investigated. In this study, electron microscopy revealed significant mitochondrial disorders in ob/ob cardiomyocytes, including mitochondrial swelling and cristae disorientation and breakage. Moreover, mitochondrial biogenesis of ob/ob cardiomyocytes is significantly impaired, as evidenced by reduced Ppargc-1a/Nrf-1/Tfam mRNA levels, mitochondrial DNA content, ATP content, citrate synthase activity, complexes I/III/V activity, AMPK phosphorylation, and increased PGC-1α acetylation. Since APN is an upstream activator of AMPK and APN plasma levels are significantly reduced in ob/ob mice, we further tested the hypothesis that reduced APN in ob/ob mice is causatively related to mitochondrial biogenesis impairment. One week of APN treatment of ob/ob mice activated AMPK, reduced PGC-1α acetylation, increased mitochondrial biogenesis, and attenuated mitochondrial disorders. In contrast, knocking out APN inhibited AMPK-PGC-1α signaling and impaired both mitochondrial biogenesis and function. The ob/ob mice exhibited lower survival rates and exacerbated myocardial injury after MI, when compared to controls. APN supplementation improved mitochondrial biogenesis and attenuated MI injury, an effect that was almost completely abrogated by the AMPK inhibitor compound C. In high glucose/high fat treated neonatal rat ventricular myocytes, siRNA-mediated knockdown of PGC-1α blocked gAd-enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis and function and attenuated protection against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury. In conclusion, hypoadiponectinemia impaired AMPK-PGC-1α signaling, resulting in dysfunctional mitochondrial biogenesis that constitutes a novel mechanism for rendering diabetic hearts more vulnerable to enhanced MI injury.