Effects of Yulin Tong Bu formula on modulating gut microbiota and fecal metabolite interactions in mice with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder characterized by hyperandrogenism, ovarian dysfunction and polycystic ovarian morphology. Gut microbiota dysbiosis and metabolite are associated with PCOS clinical parameters. Yulin Tong Bu formula (YLTB), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been recently indicated to be capable of ameliorating polycystic ovary symptoms and correcting abnormal glucose metabolism. However, the therapeutic mechanism of YLTB on PCOS has not been fully elucidated. Methods: A pseudo sterile mouse model was established during this four-day acclimatization phase by giving the animals an antibiotic cocktail to remove the gut microbiota. Here, the therapeutic effects of YLTB on PCOS were investigated using dehydroepiandrosterone plus high-fat diet-induced PCOS mice model. Female prepuberal mice were randomly divided into three groups; namely, the control group, PCOS group and YLTB (38.68 g·kg-1·day-1) group. To test whether this effect is associated with the gut microbiota, we performed 16S rRNA sequencing studies to analyze the fecal microbiota of mice. The relationships among metabolites, gut microbiota, and PCOS phenotypes were further explored by using Spearman correlation analysis. Then, the effect of metabolite ferulic acid was then validated in PCOS mice. Results: Our results showed that YLTB treatment ameliorated PCOS features (ovarian dysfunction, delayed glucose clearance, decreased insulin sensitivity, deregulation of glucolipid metabolism and hormones, etc.) and significantly attenuated PCOS gut microbiota dysbiosis. Spearman correlation analysis showed that metabolites such as ferulic acid and folic acid are negatively correlated with PCOS clinical parameters. The effect of ferulic acid was similar to that of YLTB. In addition, the bacterial species such as Bacteroides dorei and Bacteroides fragilis were found to be positively related to PCOS clinical parameters, using the association study analysis. Conclusion: These results suggest that YLTB treatment systematically regulates the interaction between the gut microbiota and the associated metabolites to ameliorate PCOS, providing a solid theoretical basis for further validation of YLTB effect on human PCOS trials.

Effects of Baduanjin exercise on motor function, balance and gait in Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to systematically evaluate the effects of Baduanjin on motor function, balance and gait in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. STUDY SELECTION: All eligible randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published in the English and Chinese language were included. DATA SOURCES: Ten electronic databases were systematically searched, from inception to 17 March 2022: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, EBSCOhost, OVID, SinoMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data and China Science Journal Database (VIP). REVIEW METHODS: Methodological quality assessment and meta-analysis were performed for the included studies using the Cochrane Review Manager V.5.4 software. RESULTS: Ten RCTs with 804 participants were included. The results revealed the following: (1) Baduanjin significantly improved the motor function of patients with PD, based on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (mean difference, MD -5.37, 95% CI -8.96 to -1.78, p=0.003) and Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity (MD 5.39, 95% CI 2.71 to 8.07, p<0.0001); (2) Baduanjin significantly improved the ability of balance of patients with PD, based on the Berg Balance Scale (MD 4.40, 95% CI 3.08 to 5.73, p<0.00001); (3) Baduanjin significantly improved the gait of patients with PD, based on the 6 min walk distance (MD 21.62, 95% CI 11.14 to 32.10, p<0.0001). After the further subgroup and sensitivity analyses, the heterogeneity was identified to be potentially due to the different degrees of disease severity in patients with PD and the difference in Baduanjin intervention durations. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of this systematic evaluation indicates that Baduanjin might have a positive effect in improving the motor function, balance and gait of patients with PD. However, due to the quantity and clinical heterogeneity limitations of the included studies, this conclusion still warrants more high-quality and multicentre RCTs for further verification.

Dihydromyricetin contributes to weight loss via pro-browning mediated by mitochondrial fission in white adipose.

Dihydromyricetin (DHM) is a natural bioactive flavonoid extracted from Ampelopsis Grossedentata, a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine. It has multiple beneficial pharmacological effects including lowering blood glucose and lipid, as well as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and hepato-protection. In this study, we elucidated its actions on mitochondrial dynamics and browning of white adipose. In the experiments in vivo, six-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were fed with normal diet (ND), high-fat diet (HFD), or HFD with intragastric administration of DHM (250 mg/kg.d-1); in the experiments in vitro, 3T3-L1 and mouse primary preadipocytes were induced and treated with various concentrations of DHM. The mouse metabolic phenotype, lipid accumulation, the browning and mitochondrial dynamics of white adipocytes were examined. It was found that DHM treatment reduced body weight and fat mass, improved glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and cold tolerance in mice with obesity. DHM treatment increased the expressions of classical brown adipocyte markers (UCP-1, PGC-1α, PRDM16) and mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins (DRP1, FIS1, OPA1, MFN2) in adipose tissue. Likewise, DHM treatment induced the differentiation of mature 3T3-L1 cells into brown-like adipocytes and also enhanced the expressions of mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins in vitro. Moreover, the pro-browning effect of DHM can be abrogated by mitochondrial fission inhibitor Mdivi-1. These findings indicate that DHM treatment induces the browning-remodeling of white adipose by enhancing mitochondrial fission and manifests an anti-obesity property via pro-browning mediated by mitochondrial fission, which implies it may play important roles in prevention and therapy of obesity and related diseases.

Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Massage for the Treatment of Restless Leg Syndrome in Hemodialysis Patients: A Meta-Analysis of 5 Randomized Controlled Trials.

Aim: We conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of massage for the treatment of hemodialysis patients with restless leg syndrome (RLS). Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed using the PubMed database, EMBASE database (via OVID), and the Cochrane Library in order to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published before August 31, 2021. After extracted essential data and assessed risk of bias of each eligible study, we calculated the pooled estimate of RLS score and safety after treatment. Statistical analysis was performed by using Review Manager 5.3. Results: Five studies involving 369 hemodialysis patients with RLS were analyzed. The RLS score after treatment [mean difference (MD), -12.01; 95% confidence interval (CI), -14.91 to -9.11] and mean difference of RLS score at the beginning and end of treatment [mean difference (MD), -11.94; 95% confidence interval (CI), -15.45 to -8.43] in a massage group was significantly better than that in route care group. Subgroup analysis suggested that massage with lavender oil also significantly reduced the RLS score after treatment (MD, -14.22; 95% CI, -17.81 to -10.63) and mean difference of RLS score at the beginning and end of treatment (MD, -14.87; 95% CI, -18.29 to -11.45) compared with route care. Meanwhile, massage regime significantly relieved RLS severity compared with route care but did not increase adverse events. Conclusion: Massage may be a preferred treatment modality for hemodialysis patients with RLS because it effectively reduces RLS symptoms, relieves RLS severity, and does not increase the risk of adverse events. However, future study with a larger sample size is warranted due to the fact that only limited number of eligible studies with small sample size are enrolled.

Betaine Supplementation Attenuates S-Adenosylhomocysteine Hydrolase-Deficiency-Accelerated Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice.

S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) is a risk factor of cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis. However, the causal association between SAH and atherosclerosis is still uncertain. In the present study, heterozygous SAH hydrolase (SAHH+/-) knockout mice were bred with apolipoprotein E-deficient mice to produce ApoE-/-/SAHH+/- mice. At 8 weeks of age, these mice were fed on AIN-93G diets added with or without betaine (4 g betaine/100 g diet) for 8 weeks. Compared with ApoE-/-/SAHHWT mice, SAHH deficiency caused an accumulation of plasma SAH concentration and a decrease in S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)/SAH ratio as well as plasma homocysteine levels. Betaine supplementation lowered SAH levels and increased SAM/SAH ratio and homocysteine levels in ApoE-/-/SAHH+/- mice. Furthermore, SAHH deficiency promoted the development of atherosclerosis, which was reduced by betaine supplementation. The atheroprotective effects of betaine on SAHH-deficiency-promoted atherosclerosis were associated with inhibition of NFκB inflammation signaling pathway and inhibition of proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells. In conclusion, our results suggest that betaine supplementation lowered plasma SAH levels and protected against SAHH-deficiency-promoted atherosclerosis through repressing inflammation and proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells.

Fullerene nanoparticles for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a long-term, recurrent inflammatory bowel disease for which no effective cure is yet available in the clinical setting. Repairing the barrier dysfunction of the colon and reducing intestinal inflammation are considered key objectives to cure UC. Here we demonstrate a novel therapeutic strategy based on a C60 fullerene suspension (C60FS) to treat dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced UC in an animal model. C60FS can repair the barrier dysfunction of UC and effectively promote the healing of ulcers; it also manifests better treatment effects compared with mesalazine enema. C60FS can reduce the numbers of basophils in the blood of UC rats and mast cells in the colorectal tissue, thereby effectively alleviating inflammation. The expression of H1R, H4R, and VEGFR2 receptors in colorectal tissues is inhibited by C60FS, and the levels of histamine and prostaglandin in the rat blood are reduced. This work presents a reliable strategy based on fullerene to cure UC and provides a novel guide for UC treatment.

Saskatoon berry powder reduces hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in high fat-high sucrose diet-induced obese mice.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a common metabolic disorder associated with insulin resistance and lacks a specific treatment. Our previous studies demonstrated that freeze-dried Saskatoon berry powder (SBp) reduced high fat-high sucrose (HFHS) diet-induced hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in mice. The present study examined the effect of SBp and one of its active components, cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), on hepatic steatosis in mice fed with HFHS diet for 10 weeks. HFHS diet significantly increased fasting plasma glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin resistance, inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor-α, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, plasminogen activator inbitor-1), alanine aminotransferase activity, and monocyte adhesion compared to control diet. In the liver, HFHS diet increased steatosis, lipid accumulation, collagen deposition, and the abundance of patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3, CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein, toll-like receptor-4, and macrophage marker. Supplementation with SBp (5%) or C3G in an amount corresponding to that in 5% SBp to HFHS diet had similar effects to reduced fasting plasma glucose, liver steatosis, enzyme activity, lipid, collagen and macrophage deposition, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, monocyte adhesion, markers related to liver steatosis, inflammation, oxidative or endoplasmic reticulum stress in the peripheral circulation and/or liver compared to mice fed with HFHS diet alone. No significant difference in the studied variables was detected between mice treated with HFHS+SBp and C3G diet. The results suggest that SBp or C3G administration attenuates HFHS diet-induced liver steatosis in addition to insulin resistance and chronic inflammation in mice. C3G may contribute to the beneficial effects of SBp.

The mental health of Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome is related to sleep disorders, not disease status.

BACKGROUND: Mental health disorders are highly prevalent in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) cases. The etiology for anxiety/depression in women with PCOS still remains unclear, due to conflicting results. AIM: To examine whether an association exists between the mental health of Chinese women with PCOS and various indicators such as their disease characteristics, biochemistry results and sleep status. METHODS: During July 2018 and January 2020, our study included a total of 433 women diagnosed with PCOS at Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Sleep-related variables were evaluated by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), anxiety and depression values were quantified by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and biochemistry results were collected from the medical records of the patients. RESULTS: 26.6% patients resulted as positive anxiety and 23.6% as positive depression. We found significant associations between anxiety/depression status and sleep conditions of PCOS patients. More specifically, anxiety significantly associated with sleep quality OR (95%CI) = 1.611 (1.147-2.261), sleep disturbance 2.326 (1.468-3.685) and daytime dysfunction 1.457 (1.122-1.891). Similarly, depression significantly associated with sleep quality 1.467 (1.043-2.063), sleep disturbance 1.624 (1.030-2.561) and daytime dysfunction 1.406 (1.077-1.836). There was no association detected between mental health and disease characteristics, as well as reproductive and metabolic indicators in PCOS. LIMITATION: Cross-sectional nature of the data prevents causal associations, selection bias of a hospital-based population. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep-related disorders might be involved in the etiology and development of the anxiety/depression observed in PCOS cases. We propose that management of sleep disorders should be an integral part of the disease management of women with PCOS.

Efficacy of Compound Herbal Medicine Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang for Acute Radiation Enteritis and Its Potential Mechanisms: Evidence from Transcriptome Analysis.

Acute radiation enteritis (ARE) is a common complication with radiotherapy for pelvic and abdominal malignancy. This research is designed to investigate the efficacy of Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang (TXYF) on ARE and to explore the underlying mechanisms by microarray analysis. The ARE rat model was established by a single abdominal irradiation with a gamma-ray dose of 10 Gy. Next, the ARE rats were treated with distilled water, TXYF, and glutamine by gavage for 7 consecutive days according to the scheduled groups. For each group, the jejunal tissue was taken at 6 h after gastric lavage. The morphology of intestinal tissue was observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain under a light microscope. The height of the villus and the thickness of the whole layer of the TXYF-treated groups were significantly ameliorative than that of the model control group. The transcriptome analysis was produced using the Agilent SurePrint G3 Rat GE V2.0 microarray. A total of 90 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 48 upregulated genes and 42 downregulated genes, were identified by microarray and bioinformatics analysis. Protein-protein interaction (PPI), Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were conducted to explore the possible mechanisms of DEGs taking part in the TXYF-mediated therapeutic process for ARE. In conclusion, we reveal that TXYF has a protective effect on the intestinal tissue of rats with ARE and summarize several DEGs, suggesting the possible mechanisms of TXYF-mediated efficacy for ARE.

[Herbalogical study of Colla Corii Asini(Ejiao)].

Colla Corii Asini(Ejiao)is an important Chinese medicine used in China for thousands of years, and is well known for its famous tonic properties. The herbalogical study was detailed carried out based on the naming, habitat, harvesting, processing, medicinal properties and clinical efficacy. The results showed that the name of Ejiao could be traced back to Shennong's Materia Medica, and various names of Lvpi Jiao, Penfu Jiao and Fuzhi Jiao were recorded in other ancient books. In the many intervening centuries, the main materials of Ejiao had been replaced from cow leather before Tang Dynasty to donkey skin in the middle to late Tang Dynasty. This phenomenon could be probably caused by complicated social factors of various periods and different efficacy of Ejiao made by all kinds of raw materials. Ejiao was merely processed with the simple methods before Tang Dynasty, which subsequently improved avariety of methods to enhance the supplementation action. Most importantly, Ejiao has a wide clinic application along with the development of processing theories and methods, which can be found in various Classics, especially in imperial medical case record in Qing Dynasty.

Relationship between Gut Microbiota and Phosphorus Metabolism in Hemodialysis Patients: A Preliminary Exploration.

BACKGROUND: Hyperphosphatemia is a risk factor associated with mortality in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Gut absorption of phosphate is the major source. Recent studies indicated that the intestinal flora of uremic patients changed a lot compared with the healthy population, and phosphorus is an essential element of bacterial survival and reproduction. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of intestinal microbiota in phosphorus metabolism. METHODS: A prospective self-control study was performed from October 2015 to January 2016. Microbial DNA was isolated from the stools of 20 healthy controls and 21 maintenance hemodialysis patients. Fourteen out of the 21 patients were treated with lanthanum carbonate for 12 weeks. Thus, stools were also collected before and after the treatment. The bacterial composition was analyzed based on 16S ribosomal RNA pyrosequencing. Bioinformatics tools, including sequence alignment, abundance profiling, and taxonomic diversity, were used in microbiome data analyses. Correlations between genera and the serum phosphorus were detected with Pearson's correlation. For visualization of the internal interactions and further measurement of the microbial community, SparCC was used to calculate the Spearman correlation coefficient with the corresponding P value between each two genera. RESULTS: Thirteen genera closely correlated with serum phosphorus and the correlation coefficient was above 0.4 (P < 0.05). We also found that 58 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were significantly different and more decreased OTUs were identified and seven genera (P < 0.05) were obviously reduced after using the phosphate binder. Meanwhile, the microbial richness and diversity presented downward trend in hemodialysis patients compared with healthy controls and more downward trend after phosphorus reduction. The co-occurrence network of genera revealed that the network complexity of hemodialysis patients was significantly higher than that of controls, whereas treatment with lanthanum carbonate reduced the network complexity. CONCLUSIONS: Gut flora related to phosphorus metabolism in hemodialysis patients, and improving intestinal microbiota may regulate the absorption of phosphate in the intestine. The use of phosphate binder lanthanum carbonate leads to a tendency of decreasing microbial diversity and lower network complexity.

Zn, Ni, Mn, Cr, Pb and Cu in soil-tea ecosystem: The concentrations, spatial relationship and potential control.

Excessive accumulation of heavy metals in tea has certain health risk to the consumers. To discuss the spatial relationship between heavy metals in tea leaves and soil in a county scale, 74 samples of tea leaves and corresponding subsoil (15-30 cm) were collected in the tea plantations of Lishui, Nanjing, China. The total Zn, Ni, Mn, Cr, Pb and Cu in both tea leaves and soil samples, as well as pH value in soil were analyzed. The results of regression showed that the Mn and Cr in tea leaves were increased when the Mn and Cr in soil were at high levels, and higher pH decreased Zn, Ni, Mn and Cu contents in tea leaves. Moreover, distance to village and metal industry had negative impacts on the Mn level in soil. It is necessary to control the pH of soil in tea plantations which are close to villages or metal industries, as well as, to search more appropriate areas, where are far away from villages or metal industries, to plant tea should be taken into consideration. In addition, 17.57% of the samples have higher concentration of Pb than the maximum limits was found in tea plantation of Lishui. Heavy metals (Cr) standards regarding leafy vegetables is used for reference in this study, as there are no maximum levels of contaminants (MLC) in tea. It is significant to construct a targeted standard of heavy metals contents that could applicable throughout the world for reduce the health risks to the consumers.

Butyrate from pectin fermentation inhibits intestinal cholesterol absorption and attenuates atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the major products of dietary fiber fermentation by intestinal microflora, exert beneficial effects on pathogenesis of multiple metabolic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine whether SCFAs from fermentation of pectin (PE), a soluble dietary fiber, prevent the development of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE-/-) mice. Male apoE-/- mice (8-week-old) were fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet (HCD; 21% wt/wt fat, 0.15% wt/wt cholesterol) or HCD supplemented with 20% wt/wt PE (HCD+PE) alone or with antibiotics (HCD+PE + A) in drinking water for 12 weeks. Serum lipids and SCFAs concentrations, atherosclerotic lesion area, and intestinal morphology and function were measured. Caco-2 cells were treated with SCFAs to determine whether they affected the expression of genes involved in cholesterol absorption. HCD+PE-treated mice exhibited decreased serum total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and reduced atherosclerotic lesion area compared with HCD mice. These beneficial effects of PE were not observed in the HCD+PE+A group. Incubation of Caco-2 cells with butyrate, but not acetate and propionate, down-regulated the expression of Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 but up-regulated the ATP-binding cassette transporters G5 and G8 (ABCG5 and G8) at the mRNA level. Butyrate treatment also increased transcriptional activity of liver X receptor in Caco-2 cells. Our data suggest that butyrate from PE intestinal fermentation protects mice from the progression of diet-induced atherosclerosis in apoE-/- mice. These findings suggest a novel mechanism by which dietary fiber may prevent the development of atherosclerosis.

Anti-inflammatory effect of external use of escin on cutaneous inflammation: possible involvement of glucocorticoids receptor.

Escin, as an internally applied anti-inflammatory agent, has been widely used in the treatment of inflammation and edema resulting from trauma or operation in the clinic. However, the effect of its external use on cutaneous inflammation and edema remains unexplored. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effects of external use of escin were studied in carrageenan-induced paw edema and histamine-induced capillary permeability in rats, paraxylene-induced ear swelling in mice, and cotton pellet-induced granuloma in rats. Effects of external use of escin gel on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) were determined by ELISA. The anti-inflammatory mechanism was explored by detecting the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) with Western blotting and Real-time PCR analyses, with further exploration of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (P38MAPK) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) expressions. We demonstrated that external use of escin showed significant anti-inflammatory effects on acute and chronic inflammation in different animal models and its anti-inflammatory effects might be related to down-regulation of PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-1ß. The results also showed that escin exerted its anti-inflammatory effects by promoting the expression of GR, with the possible mechanism being inhibition of the expressions of GR-related signaling molecules such as NF-κB and AP-1.

Anti-inflammatory effect of external use of escin on cutaneous inflammation: possible involvement of glucocorticoids receptor / 中国天然药物

Escin, as an internally applied anti-inflammatory agent, has been widely used in the treatment of inflammation and edema resulting from trauma or operation in the clinic. However, the effect of its external use on cutaneous inflammation and edema remains unexplored. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effects of external use of escin were studied in carrageenan-induced paw edema and histamine-induced capillary permeability in rats, paraxylene-induced ear swelling in mice, and cotton pellet-induced granuloma in rats. Effects of external use of escin gel on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were determined by ELISA. The anti-inflammatory mechanism was explored by detecting the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) with Western blotting and Real-time PCR analyses, with further exploration of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (P38MAPK) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) expressions. We demonstrated that external use of escin showed significant anti-inflammatory effects on acute and chronic inflammation in different animal models and its anti-inflammatory effects might be related to down-regulation of PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-1β. The results also showed that escin exerted its anti-inflammatory effects by promoting the expression of GR, with the possible mechanism being inhibition of the expressions of GR-related signaling molecules such as NF-κB and AP-1.

Anti-inflammatory effect of external use of escin on cutaneous inflammation: possible involvement of glucocorticoids receptor / 中国天然药物

Escin, as an internally applied anti-inflammatory agent, has been widely used in the treatment of inflammation and edema resulting from trauma or operation in the clinic. However, the effect of its external use on cutaneous inflammation and edema remains unexplored. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effects of external use of escin were studied in carrageenan-induced paw edema and histamine-induced capillary permeability in rats, paraxylene-induced ear swelling in mice, and cotton pellet-induced granuloma in rats. Effects of external use of escin gel on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were determined by ELISA. The anti-inflammatory mechanism was explored by detecting the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) with Western blotting and Real-time PCR analyses, with further exploration of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (P38MAPK) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) expressions. We demonstrated that external use of escin showed significant anti-inflammatory effects on acute and chronic inflammation in different animal models and its anti-inflammatory effects might be related to down-regulation of PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-1β. The results also showed that escin exerted its anti-inflammatory effects by promoting the expression of GR, with the possible mechanism being inhibition of the expressions of GR-related signaling molecules such as NF-κB and AP-1.

Effects of a traditional Chinese medicine formula and its extraction on muscle fiber characteristics in finishing pigs, porcine cell proliferation and isoforms of myosin heavy chain gene expression in myocytes.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effects of a traditional Chinese medicine formula (TCMF) on muscle fiber characteristics in finishing pigs and the effects of the formula's extract (distilled water, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extraction) on porcine cell proliferation and isoforms of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) gene expression in myocytes. METHODS: In a completely randomized design, ninety pigs were assigned to three diets with five replications per treatment and six pigs per pen. The diets included the basal diet (control group), TCMF1 (basal diet+2.5 g/kg TCMF) and TCMF2 (basal diet+5 g/kg TCMF). The psoas major muscle was obtained from pigs at the end of the experiment. Muscle fiber characteristics in the psoas major muscle were analyzed using myosin ATPase staining. Cell proliferation was measured using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) dye and cytometry. Isoforms of MyHC gene expression were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The final body weight and carcass weight of finishing pigs were increased by TCMF1 (p<0.05), while the psoas major muscle cross-sectional area was increased by TCMF (p<0.05). The cross-sectional area and diameter of psoas major muscle fiber I, IIA, and IIB were increased by TCMF2 (p<0.05). The cross-sectional area and fiber diameter of psoas major muscle fiber IIA and IIB were increased by diet supplementation with TCMF1 (p<0.05). Psoas major muscle fiber IIA and IIB fiber density from the pigs fed the TCMF1 diet and the type IIB fiber density from the pigs fed the TCMF2 diet were lower compared to pigs fed the control diet (p<0.05). Pigs fed TCMF2 had a higher composition of type I fiber and a lower percentage of type IIB fiber in the psoas major muscle (p<0.05). The expression levels of MyHC I, MyHC IIa, and MyHC IIx mRNA increased and the amount of MyHC IIb mRNA decreased in the psoas major muscle from TCMF2, whereas MyHC I and MyHC IIx mRNA increased in the psoas major muscle from TCMF1 (p<0.05). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α and CaN mRNA expression in the psoas major muscle were up-regulated by TCMF (p<0.05). Porcine skeletal muscle satellite cell proliferation was promoted by 4 µg/mL and 20 µg/mL TCMF water extraction (p<0.05). Both 1 µg/mL and 5 µg/mL of TCMF water extraction increased MyHC IIa, MyHC IIb, and MyHC IIx mRNA expression in porcine myocytes (p<0.05), while MyHC I mRNA expression in porcine myocytes was decreased by 5 µg/mL TCMF water extraction (p<0.05). Porcine myocyte MyHC I and MyHC IIx mRNA expression were increased, and MyHC IIa and MyHC IIb mRNA expression were down-regulated by 5 µg/mL TCMF ethyl acetate extraction (p<0.05). MyHC I and MyHC IIa mRNA expression in porcine myocytes were increased, and the MyHC IIb mRNA expression was decreased by 1 µg/mL TCMF ethyl acetate extraction (p<0.05). Four isoforms of MyHC mRNA expression in porcine myocytes were reduced by 5 µg/mL TCMF petroleum ether extraction (p<0.05). MyHC IIa mRNA expression in porcine myocytes increased and MyHC IIb mRNA expression decreased by 1 µg/mL in a TCMF petroleum ether extraction (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicated that TCMF amplified the psoas major muscle cross-sectional area through changing muscle fiber characteristics in finishing pigs. This effect was confirmed as TCMF extraction promoted porcine cell proliferation and affected isoforms of MyHC gene expression in myocytes.

N-methylnicotinamide protects against endothelial dysfunction and attenuates atherogenesis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

SCOPE: Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that N-methylnicotinamide (MNA) may exert antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory effects on the endothelium. However, the exact role of MNA in endothelial function remains uncertain. METHODS AND RESULTS: Apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-) ) mice fed with a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet (HCD) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to explore the role of MNA in endothelial function and its underlying mechanism. The endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation to acetylcholine in the aortas of low and high dose MNA-fed apoE(-/-) mice was improved by 24 and 36% (p < 0.05), respectively, compared with high-fat, HCD-fed control. MNA significantly increased nitric oxide/cyclic guanosinemonophosphate levels and decreased asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) concentrations by induction of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH)2 both in aorta and endothelial cells. Neither the activity nor the protein expression of DDAH1 was influenced upon MNA treatment. Then, DDAH2 depletion by RNA interference in HUVECs abolished the protective effect of MNA on endothelial function. Mechanically, this could be attributed to a direct modulation of the methylation level of DDAH2 gene promoter region by MNA. CONCLUSIONS: The present study reveals a novel mechanism through which MNA improves endothelial dysfunction and attenuates atherogenesis via the modulation of ADMA-DDAH axis.

[Efficacy of Chinese Herbs in Multiple Paths for Tubal Factor Infertility Patients and Their Effects on Serum Inflammatory Factors].

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Chinese herbs in multiple paths for tub- al factor infertility (TFI) patients, and to observe their effects on serum inflammatory factor. Methods Totally 100 TFl patients were assigned to the observation group and the control group according to grouping sequence, 50 in each group. All patients received laparoscopy. Patients in the observation group were additionally combined with traditional Chinese herbal treatment program in multiple paths (oral administration of Chinese herbs + retention enema of Chinese herbs + iontophoresis). All treatment lasted for 3 successive months. Scores of Chinese medicine (CM) symptoms, clinical efficacy, pregnancy rate, and levels of interleukin-6 ( IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α ( TNF-α) were compared between the two groups after 6 months of treatment. Results Scores of CM symptoms were significantly lower in the two groups after treatment ( P <0. 05). They were lower in the observation group than in the control group (P <0. 05). Serum levels of TNF-a and IL-6 were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group, with statistical difference (P <0. 05). The effective rate was 96. 0% (48/50) in the observation group and 82. 0% (41/50) in the control group, with statistical difference (x² =5. 005, P <0. 05). After one year of postoperative follow-up, the intrauterine pregnancy rate was 58. 0% (29/50) in the observation group and 34. 0% (17/50) in the control group, with statistical difference (x² =5.797, P <0. 05). The ectopic gestation occurred in one patient of the control group, and none in the observation group, with no statistical difference in the ectopic gestation rate between the two groups (x² =1. 010, P >0. 05). Conclusion Chinese herbs in multiple paths for treating TFI could significantly improve clinical symptoms, reduce expressions of serum inflammatory factors, and elevate efficacy and pregnancy rate, which showed superiority when compared with laparoscopy alone.