Effects of dietary leucine supplementation on the hepatic mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism in normal birth weight and intrauterine growth-retarded weanling piglets

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary leucine supplementation on mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism in the liver of normal birth weight (NBW) and intrauterine growth-retarded (IUGR) weanling piglets. MATERIALS/METHODS: A total of sixteen pairs of NBW and IUGR piglets from sixteen sows were selected according to their birth weight. At postnatal day 14, all piglets were weaned and fed either a control diet or a leucine-supplemented diet for 21 d. Thereafter, a 2 × 2 factorial experimental design was used. Each treatment consisted of eight replications with one piglet per replication. RESULTS: Compared with NBW piglets, IUGR piglets had a decreased (P < 0.05) hepatic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content. Also, IUGR piglets exhibited reductions (P < 0.05) in the activities of hepatic mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), citrate synthase (CS), α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (α-KGDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), and complexes I and V, along with decreases (P < 0.05) in the concentration of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the protein expression of hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α). Dietary leucine supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the content of ATP, and the activities of CS, α-KGDH, MDH, and complex V in the liver of piglets. Furthermore, compared to those fed a control diet, piglets given a leucine-supplemented diet exhibited increases (P < 0.05) in the mtDNA content and in the mRNA expressions of sirtuin 1, PGC-1α, nuclear respiratory factor 1, mitochondrial transcription factor A, and ATP synthase, H+ transporting, mitochondrial F1 complex, β polypeptide in liver. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary leucine supplementation may exert beneficial effects on mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism in NBW and IUGR weanling piglets.

[Study on effect of total flavonoids of Oldenlendia difflusa on ulcerative colitis and its immunological mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of total flavonoids of Oldenlendia difflusa (FOD) on NF-kappaB and IL-8, TNF-alpha, IL-10 expressions of ulcerative colitis (UC) model rats, and explore its immunological mechanism of anti-UC. METHOD: Sixty Kunming male mice with the average weight of (20 +/- 2) g were randomly divided into six groups. The control group (cont) was orally administered with distilled water. Whereas the remaining five groups were fed with 4% dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) solution for seven days to induce acute UC, and orally administered with the following drugs: distilled water (for the DSS group), SASP at dose of 500 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) for the DSS + SASP group, FOD at dose of 60 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) for the DSS + FOD-H group, FOD at dose of 40 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) for the DSS + FOD-M group, and FOD at dose of 26.7 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) for the DSS + FOD-L group. During the modeling and drug administration, the mice were scored for DAI. Seven days later, the mice were put to death, and their colonic tissue samples were collected to evaluate colonic mucosal lesions. The NF-kappaB p65, IL-8, TNF-alpha, IL-10 expressions were tested by immunohistochemical staining and ELISA. RESULT: Seven-day feeding with 4% DSS solution could successfully induce acute UC in mice. Compared with the cont group, the DSS group showed significantly higher DAI and colonic mucosal lesions, remarkable increase in NF-kappaB p65, IL-8, TNF-alpha expression in colonic tissues, and notable decrease in IL-10 expression (P < 0.05). FOD could prevent acute UC in mice included by DSS. Seven-day administration of 60 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) or 40 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) FOD could completely or partially resist the above mentioned changes caused by DSS. Compared with the DSS group, the DSS + FOD-H group and the DSS + FOD-M group showed reduction in colonic mucosal lesions, down-regulation in IL-8, TNF-alpha and NF-kappaB p65 expressions and up-regulation in IL-10 expression (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: FOD could significantly resist UC in mice. Its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NF-kappaB p65 activation, the reduction of IL-8 and TNF-alpha expressions and the increase in the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10.

[Absorption and transportation of calycosin in Astragali Radix by using Caco-2 monolayer model].

Flavonoids are a class of important active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine, pharmacological activity and in vivo process is the focus of research in recent years. Calycosin is the main active ingredients of flavonoids in Astragali Radix, recent studies indicate that it has many kinds of pharmacological activity, but the absorption and transport characteristics in vivo is unclear. The experiment using Caco-2 cell model, with apigenin as internal standard substance, using the method for the determination of drug concentration by HPLC, were studied at different concentrations and absorption transport characteristics of respectively adding different types of protein inhibitors. Data were analyzed by Q test, the results show that low, middle, high concentration of P(app)(BL-AP)/ P(app)(AP-BL) = 1.38 < 1.5, respectively adding different types of protein inhibitors, compared with the control group of P(app)(BL-AP)/ P(app)(AP-BL), there were no significant differences. Calycosin absorption may mainly passive transport, also involved in active transport mechanism, the transport may not be affected by the P-protein, MRP2 protein, SGLT protein.

Relation between antibody titer in pregnant women with maternal-fetal ABO blood incompatibility and hemolytic disease of fetuses and newborns / 中华围产医学杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship between IgG antibody titer in pregnant women with maternal-fetal ABO blood incompatibility and hemolytic disease of fetuses and newborns.Methods From January 31 2009 to January 31 2010,1269 singleton pregnant women who were suspected to have maternal fetal ABO blood incompatibility in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Southwest Hospital,Third Military University were collected.Anti-A or anti-B IgG titers of them were detected at 28-30 gestational age,and umbilical cord blood were taken when delivery and hemolytic disease of the newborn serological test were done to diagnose hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN).The relationship between the titers and incidence of fetal or neonatal hemolytic disease was retrospectively analyzed by Kendall tau rank correlation.Results No IgG of anti-A or anti-B in serum were found in 58.4％ (741/1269) pregnant women,while the antibody titer of 5.1％ (65/1269) pregnant women were more than or equal to 1 ∶ 128.When they were tested again at 36 gestational week,the titer of 17 cases increased twice but lower than 1 ∶ 512.No signs of intrauterine hemolysis,such as edema,ascites and pleural effusion,were found.Three hundred and eighty neonates (29.9％,380/1269) were diagnosed as HDN.Among which,12 cases (3.2％,12/380) showed mild anemia and (or) jaundice within 24 hours after delivery.There was positive correlation between incidence of neonatal hemolysis and antibody titer(Tb=-0.293,P＜0.01).The incidence of HDN increased from 85.4％ (35/41) in women with antibody titer of 1 ∶ 128 to 5/5 inwomen with antibody titer at 1 ∶ 512 (x2=108.906,P＜0.01).Among 380 HDN neonates,322 cases were transferred to neonatal intensive care unit for phototherapy based comprehensive therapy,and two underwent exchange transfusion.All patients were cured.Conclusions The intrauterine hemolysis incidence of patients with suspected maternal-fetal ABO blood incompatibility is very low,and no special care is required during pregnancy.Anti-A or anti-B tests during pregnancy is helpful in early diagnosis and management of HDN.

Study on antibacterial active components from Viola yedoensis / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Study on the antibacterial activity of Viola yedoensis and the antibacterial active compounds.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The chemical compositions were isolated by means of solvent extraction, column chromatography on silica gel, sephadex LH-20 and crystallization. The antibacterial activities were tested by Neo-Sensitab disk-diffusion method, nephelometric analysis and plating method.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>One new compound (4) along with three known compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time and were identified as aesculetin (1), 6,7-dimethoxycoumarin (2), scopoletin (3) and 5-methoxy-7-hydroxymethylcoumarin (4), respectively. All the compounds showed antibacterial and antibactericidal activities at varying degree on Streptococcus Aureas, S. agalactiae, S. uberis, S. dysgalactiae, E. coli and Salmonella, of which 1 was most active with 0.031- 0.313 g x L(-1) of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and 0.313 - 0.625 g x L(-1) of minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Viola yedoensis has a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity on animal pathogenic bacteria, and coumarins may be the main antibacterial activity ingredients.</p>

Ashi points, Ashi method and pressing reaction / 中国针灸

The nomination of Ashi points was reviewed, and the meaning of Ashi method was discussed in this article. On the base of further study on Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine), the general meaning of palpation at acupoints, meridians and collaterals to the process of acupoint locating were expounded. The concept of pressing reaction was proposed as well. It is held that Ashi points are a category of acupoints without specific names and definite locations. They are a kind of manifestation of reactions of acupoints, meridians and collaterals, which embody their dynamic features. Pressing reaction mainly manifested by sensations of comfort, pain, and moreover, relieving of the primary symptoms. It is the most basic evidence for us to estimate Ashi points.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygenation on the differentiation of implanted human neural stem cells into neurons in vivo / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) on the differentiation of the implanted human neural stem cells (hNSCs) into neurons in neonatal rats following hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HIBD model was prepared by ligation of the left common carotid artery, followed by 8% hypoxia exposure in 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rat pups. Three days later, the rats received implantation of hNSCs into the left cerebral ventricles. Then the survived rats were randomly divided into two groups: transplantation alone and transplantation+HBO (n=8 each). HBO treatment was administered (1.8 ATA, 1 hr once daily for 10 days) in the transplantation+HBO group 1 hr after hNSCs transplantation. Brains were removed 10 days after transplantation. Frozen coronal sections were prepared for immunofluorescence analysis to detect the neural differentiation of the transplanted cells in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Differentiated neurons of implanted cells distributed mainly in the cortex and the hippocampus of the injured side. There was no difference in the number of neurons in the cortex between the two groups, while the number of neurons in the hippocampus significantly increased in the transplantation+HBO group compared with that in the transplantation alone group (231.4+15.1 vs 162.6+5.6; P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>HBO treatment may promote the differentiation of implanted hNSCs into neurons in the hippocampus of neonatal rats following HIBD.</p>

Chemical constituents from root of Actinidia chinensis / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents from the root of Actinidia chinensis.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The roots of A. chinensis were extracted with 95% EtOH. The EtOH extract was suspended in H2O and extracted with petroleum ether, EtOAc and BuOH successively. The compounds were isolated with column chromatography from the EtOAc fraction, and elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis(MS, IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR).</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Seven compounds were isolated from the root of A. chinensis, and the structures were identified as 2alpha-hydroxyoleanolic acid (1), 2alpha-hydroxyursolic acid (2), euscaphic acid (3), 23-hydroxyursolic acid (4), 3beta-O-acetylursolic acid (5), ergosta4, 6, 8, (14), 22-tetraen-3-one (6), beta-steriol (7).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All the compounds were obtained from the root of A. chinensis for the first time.</p>

Evaluation of relationship between early brain response and neurodevelopment in newborns by using near infrared spectroscopy / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between early brain response to extrinsic stimulation and neurodevelopment in preterm infants, assess the brain function of preterm infants in the early stage, and thereby to provide objective evidence for the degree of neurodevelopment in preterm infants and to evaluate prognosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), the brain response to sound stimulation of 90 preterm infants at different gestational age was observed and compared with the result obtained from 20 full term infants. The neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) was performed at corrected age of 40 weeks, and the infants were followed up for 2 years. The effect of gestational age and brain damage on preterm infants, the relation between early brain response in preterm infants and their neurodevelopment was evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the preterm infants responded to different degrees to auditory stimulation after birth. The time to beginning to react and the time to appearance of the peak reaction were attained after auditory stimulation and the time to beginning to resume when the auditory stimulation was stopped was (278 +/- 94) s, (446 +/- 67) s and (199 +/- 52) s, respectively, which were significantly longer than those observed in the full term infants (107 +/- 30) s, (264 +/- 51) s and (131 +/- 46) s, respectively. The maximum reactions of hemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin and regional oxygen saturation in the infants after gestational age 32 weeks was (0.3 +/- 0.3)%, (0.7 +/- 0.5)% and (0.3 +/- 0.3)%, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the full term infants (1.7 +/- 0.7)%, (1.7 +/- 0.8)% and (1.6 +/- 0.7)%, respectively. When the brain response of preterm infants was compared with that in infants without brain damage, the speed of the reaction was slow, the maximum reaction was low. The brain response in preterm infant was correlated with NBNA at corrected age of 40 weeks. It was found during the following-up that abnormal neurodevelopment was associated with poor brain reaction.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>NIRS can be used to evaluate brain response of infants. Preterm infants display brain response to auditory stimulation. Early brain response is correlated with neurodevelopment.</p>