[Effect of diosgenin on mTOR/FASN/HIF-1α/VEGFA expression in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease].

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of diosgenin on mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR), fatty acid synthase(FASN), hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α), and vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA) expression in liver tissues of rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) and explore the mechanism of diosgenin on lipogenesis and inflammation in NAFLD. Forty male SD rats were divided into a normal group(n=8) fed on the normal diet and an experimental group(n=32) fed on the high-fat diet(HFD) for the induction of the NAFLD model. After modeling, the rats in the experimental group were randomly divided into an HFD group, a low-dose diosgenin group(150 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), a high-dose diosgenin group(300 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and a simvastatin group(4 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), with eight rats in each group. The drugs were continuously given by gavage for eight weeks. The levels of triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol(TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), alanine transaminase(ALT), and aspartate transaminase(AST) in the serum were detected by the biochemical method. The content of TG and TC in the liver was detected by the enzyme method. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to measure interleukin 1ß(IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α) in the serum. Lipid accumulation in the liver was detected by oil red O staining. Pathological changes of liver tissues were detected by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The mRNA and protein expression levels of mTOR, FASN, HIF-1α, and VEGFA in the liver of rats were detected by real-time fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and Western blot, respectively. Compared with the normal group, the HFD group showed elevated body weight and levels of TG, TC, LDL-C, ALT, AST, IL-1ß, and TNF-α(P<0.01), increased lipid accumulation in the liver(P<0.01), obvious liver steatosis, up-regulated mRNA expression levels of mTOR, FASN, HIF-1α, and VEGFA(P<0.01), and increased protein expression levels of p-mTOR, FASN, HIF-1α, and VEGFA(P<0.01). Compared with the HFD group, the groups with drug treatment showed lowered body weight and levels of TG, TC, LDL-C, ALT, AST, IL-1ß, and TNF-α(P<0.05, P<0.01), reduced lipid accumulation in the liver(P<0.01), improved liver steatosis, decreased mRNA expression levels of mTOR, FASN, HIF-1α, and VEGFA(P<0.05, P<0.01), and declining protein expression levels of p-mTOR, FASN, HIF-1α, and VEGFA(P<0.01). The therapeutic effect of the high-dose diosgenin group was superior to that of the low-dose diosgenin group and the simvastatin group. Diosgenin may reduce liver lipid synthesis and inflammation and potentiate by down-regulating the mTOR, FASN, HIF-1α, and VEGFA expression, playing an active role in preventing and treating NAFLD.

[Study on identification of different producing areas of Gastrodia elata using multivariable selection and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy of near infrared spectroscopy].

The efficacy and quality of Gastrodia elata from different producing areas are significant difference. The identification of producing area is helpful for the scientific and reasonable usage of medicinal material. Application near infrared spectroscopy( NIR) together with variance spectra,principal component analysis( PCA),interval partial least squares( i PLS) and genetic algorithm( GA),the characteristic spectra of G. elata from inside and outside of Yunnan province( except Zhaotong) and Zhaotong were extracted,and the pattern recognition models of i PLS-DA and GA-SVM were built,and the suitability of the models were also validated. The results showed that the prediction accuracy of i PLS-DA model was 96. 15%,the values of R2,RMSECV and RMSEP were 0. 893,0. 224 and0. 321,respectively. The prediction accuracy of GA-SVM model was 100% and RMSECV was 0. 719 4. Both methods could identify G. elata from different producing area preferably. Further,two-dimensional spectroscopy analysis was conducted for the characteristic spectra extracted by i PLS and GA. The results showed that the differential spectra of G. elata from outside and inside Yunnan were mainly located in the absorption areas of the stretch,bending and double frequency of C-H,C-N,O-H and N-H bonds of polysaccharides,aromatic hydrocarbon,amides and starch. The differential spectra of G. elata from outside Yunnan and Zhaotong were mainly located in the absorption areas of the stretch,bending and double frequency of C-H,O-H and N-H bonds of vegetable protein,aromatic hydrocarbon,polysaccharides,and alcohols. The differential spectra of G. elata from inside Yunnan and Zhaotong were mainly located in the absorption areas of the stretch,bending,transformation and double frequency of CHO,N-H,C-H,O-H and HOH bonds of lignin,aromatic hydrocarbon,alcohols,polysaccharides and aliphatics. Effective recognition of different producing areas and exploration the difference of component of G. elata could be conducted through NIR combined with multivariable selection and two-dimensional spectroscopy,which provided the basis for the reasonable development and efficient utilization of G. elata.

[Effect of Warm Acupuncture on the Levels of Serum Immunoglobulin E, Interleukin-1 ß and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Rats with Allergic Rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of warm acupuncture on behavior and contents of serum immunoglobulin E(IgE), interleukin-1 ß(IL-1 ß) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in allergic rhinitis(AR) rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improving AR. METHODS: Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group, model group, medication group and warm acupuncture group(10 rats/group). The AR model was established by intraperitoneal injection of sensitization and nasal drip. The rats in the medication group were given fluticasone propionate nasal spray, daily for 10 days. Warm acupuncture was applied to "Fengchi"(GB 20), "Yintang"(GV 29), "Yingxiang"(LI 20) for 60 seconds, once daily for 10 days. Behavioral scores were used to evaluate behavioral changes in rats. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the expression levels of serum IgE, IL-1 ß and TNF-α. RESULTS: Behavioral scores of the model group were significantly higher than those of the control group 0, 3, 7 and 10 days after modeling (P<0.05). After treatment, the behavioral scores of medication group and the warm acupuncture group were lower than those of the model group (P<0.05), and the score was more lower in the warm acupuncture group than in the medication group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the levels of serum IgE, IL-1 ß and TNF-α in the model group were all increased (P<0.01), while the levels of serum IgE, IL-1 ß and TNF-α were decreased in the medication and warm acupuncture groups after treatment in comparison with the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the medication group, the levels of serum IgE, IL-1 ß and TNF-α were significantly lower in the warm acupuncture group (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The expression levels of IgE, IL-1 ß and TNF-α were elevated in serum after AR attack. Warm acupuncture can improve the symptoms of AR rats, which may be associated to its effect in inhibiting the expression of serum IgE, IL-1 ß and TNF-α.

[Effect of 18-ß Glycyrrhetinic Acid on the Endoplasmic Reticulum of Nasal Epithelial Cells in Allergic Rhinitis Model Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of 18-ß glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) on the endoplasmic reticulum of nasal epithelial cells in allergic rhinitis (AR) model rats. METHODS: Totally 96 Wistar rats were randomly divided into the blank group, the AR model group, the loratadine group, the GA group, 24 in each group. AR models were established by peritoneally injecting ovalbumin (OVA). Morphological scoring was performed. GA at 21. 6 mg/kg was intragastrically administered to rats in the GA group. Nasal mucosal tissues were taken for electron microscopic examinations at the second, fourth, sixth, and tenth week after drug intervention. RESULTS: The overlapping score was 2.10 ± 0.45 in the blank group, 5.10 ± 0.56 in the loratadine group, 5.10 ± 0.56 in the AR model group, 5.20 ± 0.78 in the GA group, showing statistical difference when compared with the blank group (P < 0.01). Results under transmission electron microscope showed that the number of the endoplasmic reticulum increased in the AR model group, with obvious cystic dilatation, a lot of vacuole formation, and degranulation. A large number of free ribosomes could be seen in cytoplasm. With persistent allergen exposure, changes mentioned above was progressively aggravated in the endoplasmic reticulum of nasal mucosal epithelium in the AR model group. But the dilation of endoplasmic reticulum, vacuole formation, and degranulation were relieved in the GA group, and got close to those of the blank group. CONCLUSION: 18-ß GA could improve the expansion, vacuolization, and degranulation of the endoplasmic reticulum of nasal epithelial cells in AR model rats.

Childhood lead poisoning associated with traditional Chinese medicine: a case report and the subsequent lead source inquiry.

BACKGROUND: Traditional medicines or ethnic remedies, such as Ayurvedic drug of India, have been reported in numerous cases to be one of the main exposure risks for severe lead poisoning. METHODS: We describe the poisoning of 2 young children from a Chinese family in Guangzhou as a result of the use of traditional Chinese medicine instead of baby powder. RESULTS: A 3-y-old boy with blood lead levels (BLLs) of 303 µg/l and his 6-month-old sister with BLLs of 385 µg/l were hospitalized. Laboratory tests showed that the powder, which was purchased in Ganzhou during a family visit, contained a lead concentration of 214,000 mg/kg. A subsequent inspection revealed that the lead contamination was in fact achieved by the addition of Hongdan to talcum. In Ganzhou, it was a popular practice for young children to apply this leaded powder on their skins in order to treat and prevent dermatitis. We sampled 16 Hongdans and observed an average lead content of 817,000 mg/kg that was comprised mainly of lead tetraoxide (Pb(3)O(4)). Lead tetraoxide is also an accessible raw material for paint and battery industries. CONCLUSIONS: The health authority of China should reevaluate the safety of such traditional remedy and weigh its toxicity versus its potential benefits. Clinicians should be aware of this leaded powder when treating a lead poisoning case that shows no explainable cause.