[Effect of fucoxanthin on insulin resistance in obese mice induced by high fat diet].

The aim of this paper was to study the effect and mechanism of fucoxanthin on insulin resistance of obese mice induced by high-fat diet. Fifty C57 BL/6 J male mice were randomly divided into control group and high-fat diet group. The insulin resistance model was induced with high-fat diet for 12 weeks, and model mice were randomly divided into model group, fucoxanthin-0.2% group, fucoxanthin-0.4% group and metformin group. After dietary treatment for 6 weeks, the body weight and epididymal fat weight in each group were measured. Fasting blood glucose(FBG), fasting insulin(FINS), total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), low-density lipoprotein(LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein(HDL-C) were measured, and insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR) was calcula-ted. The pathological morphology in liver was observed by hematoxylin eosin staining, and the expressions of some key proteins in insulin receptor substrate 1(IRS-1)/posphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3 K)/serine-threonine kinase(Akt) and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-γ(PPARγ)/sterol regulatory element binding protein-1(SREBP-1)/fatty acid synthetase(FAS) pathways in liver were detected by Western blot. According to the findings, compared with the model group, levels of body weight, epididymal fat weight, FBG, FINS, TC, TG, LDL-C and HOMA-IR, as well as protein expressions of PPARγ, SREBP-1 and FAS in liver were significantly reduced(P<0.05 or P<0.01), while level of HDL-C and protein expressions of p-IRS-1, IRS-1, PI3 K and p-Akt in liver were signi-ficantly increased after treatment with fucoxanthin(P<0.05 or P<0.01). And the pathological changes of liver tissue in fucoxanthin-treated mice were also improved obviously. The results showed that fucoxanthin could improve obesity, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, and alleviate insulin resistance in obese mice, and its mechanism is possibly related to the regulation of IRS-1/PI3 K/Akt and PPARγ/SREBP-1/FAS pathways.

Folic Acid Supplementation and the Association between Maternal Airborne Particulate Matter Exposure and Preterm Delivery: A National Birth Cohort Study in China.

BACKGROUND: Potential modification of the association between maternal particulate matter (PM) exposure and preterm delivery (PTD) by folic acid (FA) supplementation has not been studied. OBJECTIVE: We examined whether FA supplementation could reduce the risk of PTD associated with maternal exposure to PM in ambient air during pregnancy. METHOD: In a cohort study covering 30 of the 31 provinces of mainland China in 2014, 1,229,556 primiparas of Han ethnicity were followed until labor. We collected information on their FA supplementation and pregnancy outcomes and estimated each participant's exposure to PM with diameters of ≤10µm (PM10), 2.5µm (PM2.5), and 1µm (PM1) using satellite remote-sensing based models. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to examine interactions between FA supplementation and PM exposures, after controlling for individual characteristics. RESULTS: Participants who initiated FA ≥3 months prior to pregnancy (38.1%) had a 23% [hazard ratio (HR)=0.77 (95% CI: 0.76, 0.78)] lower risk of PTD than women who did not use preconception FA. Participants with PM concentrations in the highest quartile had a higher risk of PTD [HR=1.29 (95% CI: 1.26, 1.32) for PM1, 1.52 (95% CI: 1.46, 1.58) for PM2.5, and 1.22 (95% CI: 1.17, 1.27) for PM10] than those with exposures in the lowest PM quartiles. Estimated associations with a 10-µg/m3 increase in PM1 and PM2.5 were significantly lower among women who initiated FA ≥3 months prior to pregnancy [HR=1.09 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.10) for both exposures] than among women who did not use preconception FA [HR=1.12 (95% CI: 1.11, 1.13) for both exposures; pinteraction<0.001]. The corresponding association was also significantly lower for a 10-µg/m3 increase in PM10 [HR=1.03 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.03) for FA ≥3 months before pregnancy vs. 1.04 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.04) for no preconception FA; pinteraction<0.001]. CONCLUSION: Our findings require confirmation in other populations, but they suggest that initiating FA supplementation ≥3 months prior to pregnancy may lessen the risk of PTD associated with PM exposure during pregnancy among primiparas of Han ethnicity. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6386.

Salvianolic Acid B Ameliorates Hyperglycemia and Dyslipidemia in db/db Mice through the AMPK Pathway.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Salvianolic acid B (Sal B), a major polyphenolic compound of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, has been shown to possess potential antidiabetic activities. However, the action mechanism of SalB in type 2 diabetes has not been investigated extensively. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of Sal B on diabetes-related metabolic changes in a spontaneous model of type 2 diabetes, as well as its potential molecular mechanism. METHODS: Male C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice were orally treated with Sal B (50 and 100 mg/kg) or metformin (positive drug, 300 mg/kg) for 6 weeks. RESULTS: Both doses of Sal B significantly decreased fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, triglyceride and free fatty acid levels, reduced hepatic gluconeogenic gene expression and improved insulin intolerance in db/db mice. High dose Sal B also significantly improved glucose intolerance, increased hepatic glycolytic gene expression and muscle glycogen content, and ameliorated histopathological alterations of pancreas, similar to metformin. Sal B treatment resulted in increased phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) protein expression in skeletal muscle and liver, increased glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and glycogen synthase protein expressions in skeletal muscle, and increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and phosphorylated acetyl CoA carboxylase (p-ACC) protein expressions in liver. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that Sal B displays beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes at least in part via modulation of the AMPK pathway.

Effect of pretreatments on the metal-ceramic bonding strength of a Pd-Ag alloy.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of surface treatments on the bonding properties between a metal and ceramic. METHODS: Sixty metal specimens were divided equally into four groups of 15 samples each. These groups received different treatments (Gr1: 250µm Al2O3+preoxidation; Gr2: 250µm Al2O3+degassing; Gr3: 120µm Al2O3+preoxidation; Gr4: 120µm Al2O3+degassing). Bond strengths were evaluated using a three-point bending test. The results were analyzed using 2-way ANOVA and Tukey's test. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy were used to observe the microscopic features, elemental compositions and distributions, and diffusion in the specimens. Mechanical profiler was used to measure the roughness of metal surface. RESULTS: The bond strengths of the four groups ranged from 45.00±3.63MPa to 51.61±5.91MPa, with significant differences (P<.05). The specimen that received the pretreatment of 250µm Al2O3 air-particle abrasion+degassing had the highest bond strength. Heating under different oxygen partial pressures caused the final Pd-Ag alloys to have varying degrees of internal oxidation and different quantities of metallic nodules. None of the elements in either the ceramic or the Pd-Ag alloy layer diffused into the other layer. CONCLUSIONS: The metal-ceramic specimen subjected to air-particle abrasion with 250µm Al2O3 and degassed before porcelain firing had significantly higher bond strength than specimens treated differently.

Effects of Tai Chi on the protracted abstinence syndrome: a time trial analysis.

While exercise has been shown to reduce the negative effects of substance withdrawal symptoms, no research has investigated if Tai Chi, a traditional Chinese exercise, has similar effects. Here, we observed the physiological effects of Tai Chi on protracted abstinence syndrome (PAS) in female heroin addicts by comprehensively inspecting their immune system function, complete blood count, hepatic function and renal function. To determine the psychological effects, we used the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and the rating scale of heroin withdrawal symptoms. We recruited 70 heroin-addicted young women beginning to undergo withdrawal and randomly assigned them into two groups: one group received one-hour Tai Chi exercise every two days (Tai Chi group, n = 36) and the other group did not (control group, n = 34). Thirty-three patients finished this six-month trial. Numerous significant physiological differences were observed between all heroin-addicted subjects (n = 70) and age-matched healthy individuals (n = 18), suggesting a deleterious effect of drug addiction. There were improvements for certain physical parameters between the Tai Chi group (n = 17) and the control group (n = 16), although the differences were not statistically significant. We observed a small significant difference in psychological effects near the 60-day mark between the two groups. Taken together, our results suggest that Tai Chi might have a positive effect on PAS, which future studies can confirm by using an expanded sample size, longer trial time, and more sensitive and specific indicators of psychological and physiological health.

[Studies on the chemical constituents of Salvia miltiorrhiz of Lijiang].

OBJECTIVE: To study chemical constituents of Salvia miltiorrhiz of Lijiang. METHODS: The constituents were separated and purified by column chromatography with silica gel. Their structures were identified on the basis of physical and spectral data. RESULTS: Eleven compounds were isolated and identified as: (1) ferlalic acid; (2) O-hydroxybenzoic acid; (3) protocatechualdehyde; (4) beta-3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-lactic acid; (5) ursolic acid; (6) 6,7-dimethoxy-5,4'-dihydroxy-flavonol-3-O-glucoside; (7) carnosol; (8) tanshinone II(A); (9) tanshinone I; (10) 5,6-dehydrosugiol; (11) crypotanshinone.

Benefit of chondroitinase ABC on sensory axon regeneration in a laceration model of spinal cord injury in the rat.

BACKGROUND: Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans are up-regulated in the spinal cord after SCI, creating a molecular barrier inhibitory to axon growth. Chondroitinase ABC degrades CSPGs in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: We studied whether IT ChABC promotes axonal regeneration in a laceration model of SCI. Three groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were used: control and rats treated with low-dose and high-dose IT ChABC. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan breakdown products were measured by 2-B-6 expression, and intact CSPGs by CS-56 expression. Sensory axonal regeneration was traced after CTB injection into the median, ulnar, and sciatic nerves. RESULTS: CS-56 expression was down-regulated and 2-B-6 expression was increased in the groups treated with IT ChABC but not in the control. Laminin and GFAP immunoreactivity was unaltered in the ChABC groups. The number of axons growing into the scar was 3.1 times greater (P < .01) in the high-dose ChABC group and 2.1 times greater (P < .01) in the low-dose group compared with the controls. The length of axonal growth after high- and low-dose ChABC was 9.9 (P < .01) and 8.3 (P < .01) times greater, respectively, than in the control group. Axons extended across the lesion gap and into the distal spinal cord stump in 2 of 8 (low dose) and in 3 of 9 (high dose) rats compared with none in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecal ChABC administration caused a slight decrease in CSPGs in the scar after a laceration SCI with a minimal increase in sensory axonal regeneration into and across the laceration gap.

[Clinical study on effects of tiepi fengdou granule/capsule combined with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in treating lung cancer with Qi-Yin asthenia syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical efficaly and safety of Tiepi Fengdou Granule (TFG) and Capsule (TFC) combined with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in treating lung cancer patients with Qi-Yin asthenia syndrome (QYAS). METHODS: Eighty patients were randomly assigned into 3 groups: the TFG group (32 cases), the TFC group (32 cases) and the Shengmai Capsule control group (16 cases). Changes of symptoms of QYAS, main symptoms of lung cancer, Karnofsky scoring as well as the blood routine test were observed. RESULTS: The total effective rate of symptom improving in the TFG group and the TFC group was 81.2% and 93.3% respectively, showing insignificant difference between the 2 groups (P > 0.05), but both were higher than that in the Shengmai Capsule control group (50.0%, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Additionally, as compared with those before treatment, the neutrophil count increased and the lymphocytes count obviously decreased in the TFC group after treatment (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both dose-forms of the remedies, TFC and TFG, have significant effects in treating lung cancer with QYAS, but with insignificant difference between them.