Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) reduces intestinal fatty acid uptake and chylomicron formation in HFD-fed mice associated with the inhibition of DHHC7-mediated CD36 palmitoylation and the downstream ERK pathway.

The anti-obesity effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been well elucidated, but whether CLA affects fat deposition by regulating intestinal dietary fat absorption remains largely unknown. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of CLA on intestinal fatty acid uptake and chylomicron formation and explore the possible underlying mechanisms. We found that CLA supplementation reduced the intestinal fat absorption in HFD (high fat diet)-fed mice accompanied by the decreased serum TG level, increased fecal lipids and decreased intestinal expression of ApoB48 and MTTP. Correspondingly, c9, t11-CLA, but not t10, c12-CLA induced the reduction of fatty acid uptake and TG content in PA (palmitic acid)-treated MODE-K cells. In the mechanism of fatty acid uptake, c9, t11-CLA inhibited the binding of CD36 with palmitoyltransferase DHHC7, thus leading to the decreases of CD36 palmitoylation level and localization on the cell membrane of the PA-treated MODE-K cells. In the mechanism of chylomicron formation, c9, t11-CLA inhibited the formation of the CD36/FYN/LYN complex and the activation of the ERK pathway in the PA-treated MODE-K cells. In in vivo verification, CLA supplementation reduced the DHHC7-mediated total and cell membrane CD36 palmitoylation and suppressed the formation of the CD36/FYN/LYN complex and the activation of the ERK pathway in the jejunum of HFD-fed mice. Altogether, these data showed that CLA reduced intestinal fatty acid uptake and chylomicron formation in HFD-fed mice associated with the inhibition of DHHC7-mediated CD36 palmitoylation and the downstream ERK pathway.

Effect of 4 weeks vs 8 weeks of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis in China: protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Knee osteoarthritis represents the prevalent and incapacitating disease. Acupuncture, a widely used clinical treatment for knee osteoarthritis, has been shown to ameliorate pain and enhance joint function in affected individuals. However, there is a lack of evidence comparing different courses of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis. In this trial, we will assess the effect of 4 weeks vs 8 weeks of acupuncture in patients with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The protocol is a pragmatic, parallel, two-arm randomised controlled trial, with the data analyst and assessor being blinded. 148 eligible patients with knee osteoarthritis will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive 4-week or 8-week acupuncture. Electroacupuncture will be administered three times per week for 4 or 8 weeks, respectively. Patients with knee osteoarthritis in both groups will be followed up to 26 weeks. The primary outcome is the response rate at week 26, and secondary outcomes include knee joint pain, knee joint function, knee joint stiffness, quality of life, patient global assessment, the Osteoarthritis Research Society International response rate and rescue medicine. A cost-effectiveness analysis will be carried out over 26 weeks. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The protocol has been approved by the Medical Ethical Committee of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (2023BZYL0506). The study findings will be disseminated through presentation in a medical journal. Additionally, we plan to present them at selected conferences and scientific meetings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR2300073383; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=199310).

Browning of Mammary Fat Suppresses Pubertal Mammary Gland Development of Mice via Elevation of Serum Phosphatidylcholine and Inhibition of PI3K/Akt Pathway.

Mammary fat plays a profound role in the postnatal development of mammary glands. However, the specific types (white, brown, or beige) of adipocytes in mammary fat and their potential regulatory effects on modulating mammary gland development remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of the browning of mammary fat on pubertal mammary gland development and explore the underlying mechanisms. Thus, the mammary gland development and the serum lipid profile were evaluated in mice treated with CL316243, a ß3-adrenoceptor agonist, to induce mammary fat browning. In addition, the proliferation of HC11 cells co-cultured with brown adipocytes or treated with the altered serum lipid metabolite was determined. Our results showed that the browning of mammary fat by injection of CL316243 suppressed the pubertal development of mice mammary glands, accompanied by the significant elevation of serum dioleoylphosphocholine (DOPC). In addition, the proliferation of HC11 was repressed when co-cultured with brown adipocytes or treated with DOPC. Furthermore, DOPC suppressed the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway, while the DOPC-inhibited HC11 proliferation was reversed by SC79, an Akt activator, suggesting the involvement of the PI3K/Akt pathway in the DOPC-inhibited proliferation of HC11. Together, the browning of mammary fat suppressed the development of the pubertal mammary gland, which was associated with the elevated serum DOPC and the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Application of Herbaceous Medications for Inflammatory Bowel Disease as a Complementary and Alternative Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Conventional medicine for the treatment of IBD is prevailingly composed of sulfadiazine, 5-aminosalicylic acid, glucocorticoid, and immunosuppressants, which have the merits of alleviating intestine inflammation, but long-term use of these drugs may cause toxic side effects; additionally, these drugs may be expensive. In the pursuit of novel and more economic therapies, patients may increasingly look at complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Recently, CAM is increasingly favored by the general public on account of its safety, low toxicity, and effectiveness. As a branch of CAM, herbal plants and their extracts have a significant effect on the treatment of IBD. Treatment of IBD with herbaceous plants has been reported, but specific mechanisms and effects have not yet been elaborated. METHODS: English abstracts were identified in PubMed and Science Direct by multiple search terms, such as "herbal," "CAM," "IBD," "ulcerative colitis," "abdominal pain," and so on. Full-length articles were selected for review. RESULTS: Herbaceous plants and their extracts have been shown to be effective against IBD in many studies, and herbaceous plants may be effective in treating symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, mucus, and bloody stools. CONCLUSIONS: Herbal medications could be used as a complementary and alternative treatment for IBD, but they require more rigorous scientific testing.

[Multiglycosides of Tripterygium wilfordii increase sperm apoptosis in male rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of multiglycosides of Tripterygium wilfordii (GTW) on sperm apoptosis in male rats and its possible mechanisms. METHODS: Sixteen male SD rats were equally assigned to two groups to receive GTW and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) intragastrically, both at 20 mg/(kg x d) for 6 weeks. Then the epididymal sperm was collected for the measurement of the apoptosis rate, sperm membrane lipid fluidity and the contents of NO, MDA and SOD by flow cytometry and spectrophotometric determination. RESULTS: After 6 weeks of medication, the GTW group showed a significant increase in sperm apoptosis and contents of NO and MDA (P < 0.01) and a remarkable decrease in sperm membrane lipid fluidity (P < 0.05) and SOD content (P < 0.01) as compared with the CMC control group. CONCLUSION: GTW can damage sperm membrane lipid peroxidation and sperm membrane structure, increase sperm apoptosis, and reduce sperm membrane lipid fluidity.