Correlations of 25(OH)D level with blood lipid, inflammatory factors and vascular endothelial function in diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and the lipid profile, inflammatory cytokines, and endothelial function in diabetic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 77 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated in our hospital from January 2015 to March 2017 and 73 healthy volunteers were selected. The 25(OH)D, lipids, inflammatory factors, and endothelial function were compared between the two groups. The levels of 25(OH)D in diabetic patients were also compared to detect the levels of serum lipids and inflammatory cytokines in different groups. According to the inflammatory factors, patients with diabetes mellitus were divided into several groups. In addition, 25(OH)D, endothelial function indicators [nitrogen oxide (NO) and von Willebrand factor (vWF)], serum lipids [triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC)], high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and inflammatory factor tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were compared among different groups. RESULTS: Compared with normal group, the 25(OH)D, NO, and HDL in the diabetic group were significantly lower than those in the normal group (p<0.05). Other lipids and inflammatory factors in the former were significantly higher than those in the normal group. Patients have lower HDL in those with less amount of 25(OH)D. Other blood lipid components such as TC and TG, LDL, and inflammatory factors significantly increased gradually as the 25(OH)D grows (p<0.05). For patients with more inflammatory cytokines, levels of 25(OH)D, NO, vWF, and ET-1 were significantly lower than those with normal inflammatory cytokines. Correlation analysis revealed that 25(OH)D was positively correlated with HDL and NO, but negatively correlated with TG, TC, TNF-α, and vWF. CONCLUSIONS: In diabetic patients, the level of 25(OH)D is decreased and the inflammatory factors are increased. In patients with proper supplementation of 25(OH)D, the inflammation can be reduced and endothelial function can be improved.

Safety evaluation of daidzein in laying hens: Effects on laying performance, hatchability, egg quality, clinical blood parameters, and organ development.

Daidzein has become increasingly popular as a dietary supplement, particularly for postpeak-estrus animals, as a safe and natural alternative estrogen-like compound. However, there is little available safety data of daidzein in laying hens. A study was conducted to examine if high-dose daidzein affected the safety of hens, including mortality, laying performance, egg quality, hematological parameters, clinical chemical parameters, organ development parameters, and hatchability. A total of 2,448 42-wk-old Rugao laying hens were randomly assigned to 4 groups with 6 replicates of 102 birds each (612 laying hens per group). After a 2-wk acclimation period, the birds were fed diets supplemented with 0, 10, 100, or 200 mg/kg of daidzein for 12 wk. The hatchability of setting eggs increased linearly with increasing dietary daidzein supplementation (P = 0.034), while the hatchability of fertile eggs also tended to increase linearly (P = 0.069). The red cell distribution width (RCDW) and coefficient variation of RCDW showed an increasing and then decreasing quadratic response to increasing dietary daidzein supplementation (P = 0.001 and 0.002, respectively). No statistically significant changes were observed in mortality, laying performance, egg quality, clinical chemistry parameters, or organ development parameters (P > 0.05). The magnitude of these hematological changes was such that they were considered to be of no toxicological significance. Therefore, a nominal daidzein concentration of 200 mg/kg is not expected to cause adverse effects following daily administration to laying hens for 84 d.

Estrogenic effects of flavonoid components in Xiaoyao powder.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the estrogenic effects and mechanisms of three flavonoid components in Xiaoyao powder: quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin. The drugs were used to treat estrogen receptor (ER)-positive human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, and proliferation was measured using the MTT method. The expression of proteins and mRNA of the ER subtype were measured using western blotting and real time polymerase chain reaction. The quercetin (10(-2) µM, 10(-3) µM), kaempferol (100 µM, 10(-2) µM), and isorhamnetin (10(-3) µM) promoted the proliferation of MCF-7 cells, and the expression of ERα and ERß proteins and mRNA were all increased significantly (P < 0.05). These effects were reversed by treatment with 0.1 µM estrogen antagonist ICI182780. Three flavonoid components in Xiaoyao powder increased the expression of proteins and mRNA of ERα and ERß and promoted the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. These estrogenic effects were mediated by the ER.

Expression of ß-defensins in intestines of chickens injected with vitamin D3 and lipopolysaccharide.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin D3 (VD3) on the regulation of chicken intestinal ß-defensin genes under normal and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) conditions. Four treatment groups were used, including a negative control group, VD3-injection group, LPS-injection group, and both VD3-injection and LPS-injection group. At 4, 24, and 48 h post-injection, intestines were collected and RNA was isolated to measure the chicken ß-defensin genes with putative vitamin D responsive elements using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Expressions of all 7 chicken ß-defensin genes was detectable in the intestines. Significant increases in GAL-6, -7 and -9 were found following LPS injection treatment at 4, 24, and 48 h post-injection, respectively, whereas VD3 injection did not affect the expression of any investigated genes under normal conditions. However, the expression of GAL-4, -5, -6, and -10 were synergistically upregulated by VD3 in combination with LPS. These results suggest that VD3 enhances the immune immunity during LPS challenge by inducing the expression of chicken ß-defensin genes when birds are exposed to immune stressors.

Kinesiology tape does not facilitate muscle performance: A deceptive controlled trial.

Kinesiology tape (KinTape) is a therapeutic tape without much understanding of its mechanism. KinTape claims to increase cutaneous stimulation, which facilitates motor unit firing, and consequently improves functional performance; however these, benefits could be due to placebo effects. This study investigated the true effects of KinTape by a deceptive, randomized, and controlled trial. Thirty healthy participants performed isokinetic testing of three taping conditions: true facilitative KinTape, sham KinTape, and no KinTape. The participants were blindfolded during the evaluation. Under the pretense of applying adhesive muscle sensors, KinTape was applied to their quadriceps in the first two conditions. Normalized peak torque, normalized total work, and time to peak torque were measured at two angular speeds (60°/s and 180°/s) and analyzed with one-way repeated measures ANOVA. Participants were successfully deceived and they were ignorant about KinTape. No significant differences were found between normalized peak torque, normalized total work, and time to peak torque at 60°/s or 180°/s (p = 0.31-0.99) between three taping conditions. The results showed that KinTape did not facilitate muscle performance in generating higher peak torque, yielding a greater total work, or inducing an earlier onset of peak torque. These findings suggest that previously reported muscle facilitatory effects using KinTape may be attributed to placebo effects.

ACE-inhibitor suppresses the apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress in renal tubular in experimental diabetic rats.

AIMS: The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of the endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in experimental diabetic nephropathy. The effects of ACE inhibitor on the endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis were also assessed. METHODS: Diabetes was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by injection with streptozotocin at 60 mg/kg i .p. Diabetic rats were then randomly assigned into control (untreated) or treatment of an ACE inhibitor, perindopril, for 24 weeks. Tubulointerstitial injury was assessed by histopathology. Tubule apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay. Endoplasmic reticulum stress associated proteins expression of glucose-regulated protein-78 (GRP78/BiP), phospho-eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2 alpha), phospho-pancreatic ER kinase (PERK) and caspase-12 was assessed by immunohistochemistry and Western blots. RESULTS: There were more TUNEL-positive nuclei in diabetic kidneys than in control kidneys. At 24 weeks, experimental diabetes was associated with a considerable increase in protein expression of GRP78, phospho-eIF2 alpha, phospho-PERK, and caspase-12 in the tubulointestitium. ACE inhibitor not only attenuated the apoptosis but also reduced the overexpression of these endoplasmic reticulum stress associated proteins in tubulointestitium of diabetic rats. CONCLUSIONS: Increased tubular apoptosis in experimental diabetic rats is attenuated by blockade of the renin-angiotensin system with an ACE inhibitor, which might be in an association with reduced endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Acid phosphatase role in chickpea/maize intercropping.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Organic P comprises 30-80 % of the total P in most agricultural soils. It has been proven that chickpea facilitates P uptake from an organic P source by intercropped wheat. In this study, acid phosphatase excreted from chickpea roots is quantified and the contribution of acid phosphatase to the facilitation of P uptake by intercropped maize receiving phytate is examined. METHODS: For the first experiment using hydroponics, maize (Zea mays 'Zhongdan No. 2') and chickpea (Cicer arietinum 'Sona') were grown in either the same or separate containers, and P was supplied as phytate, KH2PO4 at 0.25 mmol P L(-1), or not at all. The second experiment involved soil culture with three types of root separation between the two species: (1) plastic sheet, (2) nylon mesh, and (3) no barrier. Maize plants were grown in one compartment and chickpea in the other. Phosphorus was supplied as phytate, Ca(H2PO4)2 at 50 mg P kg(-1), or no P added. KEY RESULTS: In the hydroponics study, the total P uptake by intercropped maize supplied with phytate was 2.1-fold greater than when it was grown as a monoculture. In the soil experiment, when supplied with phytate, total P uptake by maize with mesh barrier and without root barrier was 2.2 and 1.5 times, respectively, as much as that with solid barrier. In both experiments, roots of both maize and chickpea supplied with phytate and no P secreted more acid phosphatase than those with KH2PO4 or Ca(H2PO4)2. However, average acid phosphatase activity of chickpea roots supplied with phytate was 2-3-fold as much as maize. Soil acid phosphatase activity in the rhizosphere of chickpea was also significantly higher than maize regardless of P sources. CONCLUSIONS: Chickpea can mobilize organic P in both hydroponic and soil cultures, leading to an interspecific facilitation in utilization of organic P in maize/chickpea intercropping.

[Study on anticancer activity of Syngnathus in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To study the anticancer activity of Syngnathus in vitro. METHOD: Observing the influence of different extracts from Syngnathus on growth of different cancer cell strains by MTT method. RESULT: It has been found out that the fat-soluble nonsaponified extract from Temminck et Schlegel and the alcoholic extract from Syngnathus acus have cytotoxic activities. The nonsaponified extract from Temminck et Schlegel can inhibit the growth of cancer cell strains KB, Hela, PAA, K562, and Bcap37, and the alcoholic extract from Syngnathus acus can inhibit the growth of cancer cell strin KB, But Bloch shows no apparent anticancer activity. CONCLUSION: Syngnathus has promising prospects as an anticancer Chinese medicine.

Genetic engineering on shikonin biosynthesis: expression of the bacterial ubiA gene in Lithospermum erythrorhizon.

The naphthoquinone pigment shikonin from Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc. (Boraginaceae) was the first plant secondary metabolite produced in industrial scale from plant cell cultures. We have now manipulated the biosynthetic pathway leading to shikonin in L. erythrorhizon by introduction of the bacterial gene ubiA. This gene of Escherichia coli encodes 4-hydroxybenzoate-3-polyprenyltransferase, a membrane-bound enzyme that catalyzes a key step in ubiquinone biosynthesis. Using geranyl diphosphate (GPP) as substrate, it is able to catalyze the formation of 3-geranyl-4-hydroxybenzoate (GBA), a principal step of shikonin biosynthesis. The prokaryotic ubiA gene was fused to two signal sequences for targeting of the resulting peptide to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Constructs with different constitutive promoters were introduced into L. erythrorhizon using Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation. In the resulting hairy root lines, high UbiA enzyme activities could be observed, reaching 133 pkat mg(-1). Expression of ubiA resulted in an accumulation of GBA in an amount exceeding that of the control culture by a factor of 50. However, the ubiA-transformed lines showed only a marginal (average 22%) increase of shikonin production in comparison to the control lines, and there was no significant correlation of UbiA enzyme activity and shikonin accumulation. This suggests that overexpression of ubiA alone is not sufficient to increase shikonin formation, and that further enzymes are involved in the regulation of this pathway.

Geranylhydroquinone 3"-hydroxylase, a cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase from Lithospermum erythrorhizon cell suspension cultures.

Geranylhydroquinone 3"-hydroxylase, which is likely to be involved in shikonin and dihydroechinofuran biosynthesis, was identified in cell suspension cultures of Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc. (Boraginaceae). The enzyme hydroxylates the isoprenoid side chain of geranylhydroquinone (GHQ), a known precursor of shikonin. Proton/proton correlation spectroscopic and proton/proton long-range correlation spectroscopic studies confirmed that hydroxylation takes place specifically at position 3", i.e. at the methyl group involved in the cyclization reaction. The enzyme is membrane-bound and was found in the microsomal fraction. It requires NADPH and molecular oxygen as cofactors, and is inhibited by cytochrome P-450 inhibitors such as cytochrome c and CO. The inhibitory effect of CO is reversed by illumination. These data suggest that the enzyme is a cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase. The optimum pH of GHQ 3"-hydroxylase is 7.4, and the apparent K(m) value for GHQ is 1.5 microM. The reaction velocity obtained with 3-geranyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid was more than 100 times lower than that obtained with geranylhydroquinone.

[Effect of puerarin on plasma endothelin, renin activity and angiotensin II in patients with acute myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of endothelin (ET), renin activity (RA) and angiotensin II (AT-II) before and after puerarin treatment in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Forty-three patients with AMI were divided into two groups, and were given puerarin and glucose-insulin-kalium (GIK) treatment respectively. Plasma ET, RA and AT-II were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) before and after treatment in different phases. RESULTS: It showed that plasma ET and RA, AT-II levels in AMI were higher than those in control group (P < 0.01). ET level was conversely correlated with RA and AT-II (P < 0.01). After treatment with puerarin, plasma levels of ET, RA and AT-II were recovered to normal in 3 days, but these data recovered to nearly normal until 7-14 days in group with GIK treatment. CONCLUSION: Puerarin might play an important role in regulating the imbalance of ET, RA and AT-II of patients with AMI.

[Effect of qiangji jianli capsule on metabolism of acetylcholine receptor].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the action mechanism of Qiangji Jianli Capsule (QJJLC) treating myasthenia gravis. METHODS: Internal receptor permeation and degradation test were performed. RESULTS: Volume of receptor permeation in the group with QJJLC at 96 hours was 902.50 +/- 37.48 cpm/mg, while that of control group 738.45 +/- 35.41 cpm/mg. Half-life of receptor degradation in treatment group was 52 hours and that of control 38 hours. Their difference was very significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: QJJLC could accelerate permeation of N-aectylcholine receptor to surface of diaphragm cell membrane and decelerate receptor degradation. It could also increase accumulative amounts of functional receptor in unit time and keep dynamic equilibrium of receptor metabolism in pathologic condition.

[Comprehensive treatment for diabetes limb gangrene].

Anisodamine was used to improve general circulation and the microcirculation of affected limbs. Measures like local debridement, dressing change, and control of diabetes were applied in 351 patients with diabetic limb gangrene. Of the 351 patients, 301 (85.7%) were cured, 27(7.7%) were improved, 7(2.0%) failed, 6(1.7%) had limb amputated, and 10(2.9%) died. In the treatment, the nail-fold microcirculation was markedly improved. Doppler scan showed increased width and bloodflow of the vessels of the affected limbs. The criteria for the classification and diagnosis of diabetes limb gangrene are suggested.

[Reduction of genotoxic damage in oral mucosa with myasthenia gravis by traditional Chinese medicine].

Micronucleated exfoliated cell (MEC) of oral mucosa of 40 patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and 54 normal controls were observed by means of micronucleus test. The frequency of MEC of two groups were 9.56/1000 and 2.55/1000 respectively, and their difference was remarkably significant (P < 0.001). 22 cases were treated by TCM Qiang Ji Jian Li Capsule. The frequency of MEC after treatment fell from 14.38/1000 to 6.00/1000. The difference was significant (P < 0.002). The frequency of Spleen-asthenia group higher than that of non-Spleen-asthenia (P < 0.05). The results revealed that. The patients with MG had genotoxic damage. (2) The constitution with the Spleen-asthenia and the genotoxic damage was related. (3) Qiang Ji Jian Li Capsule of invigorating the Spleen and benefiting Qi could reduce the genotoxic damage.