Mentha canadensis attenuates adiposity and hepatic steatosis in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES@#Obesity is a major risk factor for metabolic syndrome, a global public health problem. Mentha canadensis (MA), a traditional phytomedicine and dietary herb used for centuries, was the focus of this study to investigate its effects on obesity.MATERIALS/METHODS: Thirty-five male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 2 groups and fed either a normal diet (ND, n = 10) or a high-fat diet (HFD, n = 25) for 4 weeks to induce obesity. After the obesity induction period, the HFD-fed mice were randomly separated into 2 groups: one group continued to be fed HFD (n = 15, HFD group), while the other group was fed HFD with 1.5% (w/w) MA ethanol extract (n = 10, MA group) for 13 weeks. @*RESULTS@#The results showed that body and white adipose tissue (WAT) weights were significantly decreased in the MA-supplemented group compared to the HFD group.Additionally, MA supplementation enhanced energy expenditure, leading to improvements in plasma lipids, cytokines, hepatic steatosis, and fecal lipids. Furthermore, MA supplementation regulated lipid-metabolism-related enzyme activity and gene expression, thereby suppressing lipid accumulation in the WAT and liver. @*CONCLUSIONS@#These findings indicate that MA has the potential to improve diet-induced obesity and its associated complications, including adiposity, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and inflammation.

Effects of galactagogue herbal tea containing Chrysanthemum indicum as the main component on milk production in postpartum rats / 한국영양학회지

Purpose@#Breastfeeding is the optimal method for feeding a newborn. But insufficient breast milk is the major reason why mothers give up breastfeeding. Herbal galactagogues have been used increasingly to treat postpartum hypogalactia. This study examined the effect of an herbal tea containing Chrysanthemum indicum, as the main ingredient, on milk production in lactating rats. @*Methods@#The herbal tea contained C. indicum (27%), Foeniculum vulgare Mill (21%), Pimpinella anisum (18.2%), Carum carvi (16.1%), Urtica dioica (14.7%), and Gardenia jasminoides (3%). Sixteen lactating Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided randomly into 2 groups, the normal control group (NC; n = 8), and the galactagogue herbal tea group (GHT; n = 8) for 7 days. Lactating rats were administered the decoction of an herbal galactagogue mixture by oral gavage or the same amount of distilled water and milk production was assessed by measuring the pups' weights during the suckling period. The blood concentrations of prolactin, cortisol, oxytocin levels and mammary gland tissues were examined to assess the effects of the galactagogue. @*Results@#Milk production was 9.2% higher in the GHT group given the herbal tea than in the NC group and the difference was statistically significant. The cortisol level in the GHT group was 17.2% higher than the NC group. The herbal tea containing C. indicum increased the size of the alveoli epithelium cells and the mammary lobe. @*Conclusion@#The present study revealed the potential of herbal tea containing C. indicum to enhance milk production in postpartum SD rats.

Fimasartan attenuates renal ischemia-reperfusion injury by modulating inflammation-related apoptosis

Fimasartan, a new angiotensin II receptor antagonist, reduces myocyte damage and stabilizes atherosclerotic plaque through its anti-inflammatory effect in animal studies. We investigated the protective effects of pretreatment with fimasartan on ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in a mouse model of ischemic renal damage. C57BL/6 mice were pretreated with or without 5 (IR-F5) or 10 (IR-F10) mg/kg/day fimasartan for 3 days. Renal ischemia was induced by clamping bilateral renal vascular pedicles for 30 min. Histology, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and apoptosis assays were evaluated 24 h after IRI. Compared to the untreated group, blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels were significantly lower in the IR-F10 group. IR-F10 kidneys showed less tubular necrosis and interstitial fibrosis than untreated kidneys. The expression of F4/80, a macrophage infiltration marker, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, decreased in the IR-F10 group. High-dose fimasartan treatment attenuated the upregulation of TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 in ischemic kidneys. Fewer TUNEL positive cells were observed in IR-F10 compared to control mice. Fimasartan caused a significant decrease in caspase-3 activity and the level of Bax, and increased the Bcl-2 level. Fimasartan preserved renal function and tubular architecture from IRI in a mouse ischemic renal injury model. Fimasartan also attenuated upregulation of inflammatory cytokines and decreased apoptosis of renal tubular cells. Our results suggest that fimasartan inhibited the process of tubular injury by preventing apoptosis induced by the inflammatory pathway.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk of bacterial infections after kidney transplantation

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There may be an association between vitamin D levels and allograft outcomes in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). However, few studies have been conducted to determine the association between vitamin D levels and post-transplant infections. This study investigated the impact of vitamin D deficiency on the risk of infection after kidney transplantation. METHODS: We measured 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels prior to kidney transplantation. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a serum 25(OH)D level < 20 ng/mL. We examined the incidence of various post-transplant infections during follow-up period. We used Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to determine factors associated with increased risk of post-transplant infections during the follow-up period. RESULTS: A total of 164 KTRs were followed up for a mean of 24.8 ± 10.7 months. Among them, 135 patients (82.3%) had vitamin D deficiency. Patients with vitamin D deficiency had a significantly higher incidence of urinary tract infection (p = 0.027) and any bacterial infection (p = 0.010) compared to those without vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency was not significantly associated with incidence of viral or fungal infections. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that vitamin D deficiency (hazard ratio, 11.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.46 to 84.03; p = 0.020) was independent risk factor for post-transplant bacterial infections. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-transplant vitamin D deficiency was a significant risk factor for bacterial infections after kidney transplantation. Further studies are needed on possible benefits of vitamin D supplementation for preventing post-transplant bacterial infection.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk of bacterial infections after kidney transplantation

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There may be an association between vitamin D levels and allograft outcomes in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). However, few studies have been conducted to determine the association between vitamin D levels and post-transplant infections. This study investigated the impact of vitamin D deficiency on the risk of infection after kidney transplantation. METHODS: We measured 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels prior to kidney transplantation. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a serum 25(OH)D level < 20 ng/mL. We examined the incidence of various post-transplant infections during follow-up period. We used Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to determine factors associated with increased risk of post-transplant infections during the follow-up period. RESULTS: A total of 164 KTRs were followed up for a mean of 24.8 ± 10.7 months. Among them, 135 patients (82.3%) had vitamin D deficiency. Patients with vitamin D deficiency had a significantly higher incidence of urinary tract infection (p = 0.027) and any bacterial infection (p = 0.010) compared to those without vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency was not significantly associated with incidence of viral or fungal infections. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that vitamin D deficiency (hazard ratio, 11.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.46 to 84.03; p = 0.020) was independent risk factor for post-transplant bacterial infections. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-transplant vitamin D deficiency was a significant risk factor for bacterial infections after kidney transplantation. Further studies are needed on possible benefits of vitamin D supplementation for preventing post-transplant bacterial infection.

Differential Tissue-specific and Pathway-specific Anti-obesity Effects of Green Tea and Taeumjowitang, a Traditional Korean Medicine, in Mice

BACKGROUND: Traditional medicines have been leveraged for the treatment and prevention of obesity, one of the fastest growing diseases in the world. However, the exact mechanisms underlying the effects of traditional medicine on obesity are not yet fully understood. METHODS: We produced the transcriptomes of epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT), liver, muscle, and hypothalamus harvested from mice fed a normal diet, high-fat-diet alone, high-fat-diet together with green tea, or a high-fat-diet together with Taeumjowitang, a traditional Korean medicine. RESULTS: We found tissue-specific gene expression patterns as follows: (i) the eWAT transcriptome was more significantly altered by Taeumjowitang than by green tea, (ii) the liver transcriptome was similarly altered by Taeumjowitang and green tea, and (iii) both the muscle and hypothalamus transcriptomes were more significantly altered by green tea than Taeumjowitang. We then applied integrated network analyses, which revealed that functional networks associated with lymphocyte activation were more effectively regulated by Taeumjowitang than by green tea in the eWAT. In contrast, green tea was a more effective regulator of functional networks associated with glucose metabolic processes in the eWAT. CONCLUSIONS: Taeumjowitang and green tea have a differential tissue-specific and pathway-specific therapeutic effect on obesity.

Selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors increase paclitaxel sensitivity in taxane-resistant ovarian cancer by suppressing P-glycoprotein expression / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether selective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors promote paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in taxane-resistant ovarian cancer cells by suppressing MDR1/P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression. METHODS: Taxane-resistant ovarian cancer cells were cultured with paclitaxel alone or combined with a selective COX inhibitors. The expression patterns of MDR1/P-gp and the ability of COX inhibitors to inhibit growth of taxane-resistant ovarian cancer cells were measured. The efficacy of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) supplementation was measured to evaluate the mechanisms involved in suppressing MDR1 gene expression. RESULTS: P-gp was upregulated in taxane-resistant ovarian cancer cells compared to paired paclitaxel-sensitive ovarian cancer cells. An 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay showed that selective COX inhibitors significantly enhanced the cytotoxic effects of paclitaxel in taxane-resistant ovarian cancer cells via a prostaglandin-independent mechanism. These increased apoptotic effects were further verified by measuring an increased percentage of cells in sub-G1 stage using flow cytometry. Selective COX inhibitors suppressed MDR1 and P-gp expression. Moreover, combined treatment with paclitaxel and selective COX inhibitors increased poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage in taxane-resistant ovarian cancer cells. CONCLUSION: Selective COX inhibitors significantly promote paclitaxel-induced cell death in taxane-resistant ovarian cancer cells in a prostaglandin-independent manner. COX inhibitors could be potent therapeutic tools to promote paclitaxel sensitization of taxane-resistant ovarian cancers by suppressing MDR1/P-gp, which is responsible for the efflux of chemotherapeutic agents.

Influence of Food Waste Compost on the Yield and Mineral Content of Ganoderma lucidum, Lentinula edodes, and Pholiota adipose Fruiting Bodies

The objectives of this study were to evaluate applicability of food waste compost (FWC) as a substrate for cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum, Lentinula edodes, and Pholiota adipose, and to determine contents of Ca, Mg, Na, and K in fruiting bodies (FB). FB yield per substrate in FWC-free controls was 53 +/- 4 g/kg for G. lucidum, 270 +/- 90 g/kg for L. edodes, and 1,430 +/- 355 g/kg for P. adipose. Substrates supplemented with FWC showed the highest FB production at FWC content of 10% for G. lucidum (64 +/- 6 g/kg), and 13% for L. edodes (665 +/- 110 g/kg) and P. adipose (2,345 +/- 395 g/kg), which were 1.2~2.5 times higher than the values for the controls. P. adipose contained higher amounts of mineral elements than the other species. Ca, Mg, Na, and K content in FB did not show a significant relation to FWC content.

A Case of Transient Central Diabetes Insipidus after Aorto-Coronary Bypass Operation

Diabetes insipidus (DI) is characterized by excessive urination and thirst. This disease results from inadequate output of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) from the pituitary gland or the absence of the normal response to ADH in the kidney. We present a case of transient central DI in a patient who underwent a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). A 44-yr-old male underwent a CABG operation. An hour after the operation, the patient developed polyuria and was diagnosed with central DI. The patient responded to desmopressin and completely recovered five days after surgery. It is probable that transient cerebral ischemia resulted in the dysfunction of osmotic receptors in the hypothalamus or hypothalamus-pituitary axis during CPB. It is also possible that cardiac standstill altered the left atrial non-osmotic receptor function and suppressed ADH release. Therefore, we suggest that central DI is a possible cause of polyuria after CPB.

A Validation of Dietary Self-Efficacy Questionnaire in Hemodialysis Patients

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to develop a dietary self-efficacy questionnaire and to determine how dietary self-efficacy is related to selected biochemical markers and health-related quality of life in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: Participants included 172 patients who had been participating in a dialysis program for at least 6 months at two teaching hospitals. A questionnaire was used to assess socio-demographic factors, dialysis-related factors, dietary self-efficacy, and kidney disease quality of life (KDQOL). Serum levels of potassium and phosphorus and interdialytic weight gain were also measured. RESULTS: The internal reliability of dietary self-efficacy was 0.944 (Cronbach's alpha). Principal component analysis resulted in two factors, situational self-efficacy of compliance with dietary guidelines and self-efficacy of food choice. The correlation analysis showed a significant association between situational self-efficacy of compliance with dietary guidelines and serum potassium and KIDQOL. The average scores of situational self-efficacy of compliance with dietary guidelines and self-efficacy of food choice in the participants were 3.52+/-0.72 and 3.61+/-0.71 respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the situational self-efficacy of compliance with dietary guidelines was significantly associated with serum potassium level and KDQOL and self-efficacy of food choice was significantly associated with KDQOL. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, the developed dietary self-efficacy questionnaire may be a suitable survey tool for hemodialysis patients, which can play a role in predicting clinical indicators of patient and health-related quality of life. We recommend further research into clarifying whether the positive effects of increased dietary self-efficacy is maintained in long-term dialysis patients.

Ginseng Total Saponin Improves Podocyte Hyperpermeability Induced by High Glucose and Advanced Glycosylation Endproducts

Early diabetic nephropathy is characterized by glomerular hyperpermeability as a result of impaired glomerular filtration structure caused by hyperglycemia, glycated proteins or irreversible advanced glycosylation endproducts (AGE). To investigate the effect of ginseng total saponin (GTS) on the pathologic changes of podocyte ZO (zonula occludens)-1 protein and podocyte permeability induced by diabetic conditions, we cultured mouse podocytes under: 1) normal glucose (5 mM, = control); 2) high glucose (HG, 30 mM); 3) AGE-added; or 4) HG plus AGE-added conditions and treated with GTS. HG and AGE increased the dextran filtration of monolayered podocytes at early stage (2-8 hr) in permeability assay. In confocal imaging, ZO-1 colocalized with actin filaments and beta-catenin at cell contact areas, forming intercellular filtration gaps. However, these diabetic conditions suppressed ZO-1 immunostainings and disrupted the linearity of ZO-1. In Western blotting, diabetic conditions also decreased cellular ZO-1 protein levels at 6 hr and 24 hr. GTS improved such quantitative and qualitative changes. These findings imply that HG and AGE have an influence on the redistribution and amount of ZO-1 protein of podocytes thereby causing hyperpermeability at early stage, which can be reversed by GTS.

Sustained Low-Efficiency Dialysis as an Alternative Therapy to Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Kidney Injury / 대한신장학회지

PURPOSE: Although continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is commonly used as a renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury, it has some disadvantages such as inconvenience, intensive labor, expensiveness and high bleeding risk. Recent studies have shown that sustained-low efficiency dialysis (SLED) can overcome these shortages of CRRT and also has the advantages of CRRT. We prospectively compared the efficiency, safety, cost and convenience between SLED and CRRT, and evaluated whether SLED could be a complementary substitute to traditional CRRT. METHODS: Forty-six critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) from 2003 to 2005 were treated with SLED (n=25) and CRRT (n=21). The modality was tended to be selected randomly and based largely on availability of equipments and not on the clinical status of patients. Mann-Whitney rank-sum test, Fisher's exact test and chi-square test were used for statistics, and data were described as median value, range from 25th to 75th. RESULTS: The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score at the point of ICU admission was 27 for SLED (range 17-32, 25-75th percentile) and 26 for CRRT group (range 19-31) (p=NS). There were no significant differences between the two groups in mean arterial blood pressure when measured pre-dialysis (83 for SLED vs. 85 for CRRT; p=NS), mid-dialysis (90 vs. 84; p=NS) and at the end of treatment (88 vs. 80; p=NS). Incidences of hypotension also did not differ between the two groups (p=NS). Ultrafiltration volume per treatment day was similar in two treatment modalities (2,000 mL for SLED vs. 2,400 mL for CRRT; p=NS). Heparin was used to thirty-one patients (SLED: 18 patients, CRRT: 13 patients). The dosage of heparin tended to be lower in SLED (2,900 unit per day for SLED vs. 6,000 unit per day for in CRRT, p=0.065). Total clotting number was 4 for SLED and 11 for CRRT (p=NS). There was also no significant difference in hospital mortality between the two groups (56% for SLED vs. 42.9% for CRRT; p=NS). SLED was superior to CRRT in the aspect of cost and convenience. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that SLED can be used as a useful substitute to traditional CRRT in critically ill patients with AKI.