[Diosgenin alleviates NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet in rats via mTOR/SREBP-1c/HSP60/MCAD/SCAD signaling pathway].

This study aims to observe the effects of diosgenin on the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c(SREBP-1c), heat shock protein 60(HSP60), medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase(MCAD), and short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase(SCAD) in the liver tissue of the rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) and explore the mechanism of diosgenin in alleviating NAFLD. Forty male SD rats were randomized into five groups: a control group, a model group, low-(150 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) and high-dose(300 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) diosgenin groups, and a simvastatin(4 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) group. The rats in the control group were fed with a normal diet, while those in the other four groups were fed with a high-fat diet. After feeding for 8 weeks, the body weight of rats in the high-fat diet groups increased significantly. After that, the rats were administrated with the corresponding dose of diosgenin or simvastatin by gavage every day for 8 weeks. The levels of triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol(TC), alanine transaminase(ALT), and aspartate transaminase(AST) in the serum were determined by the biochemical method. The levels of TG and TC in the liver were measured by the enzyme method. Oil-red O staining was employed to detect the lipid accumulation, and hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining to detect the pathological changes in the liver tissue. The mRNA and protein levels of mTOR, SREBP-1c, HSP60, MCAD, and SCAD in the liver tissue of rats were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) and Western blot, respectively. Compared with the control group, the model group showed increased body weight, food uptake, liver index, TG, TC, ALT, and AST levels in the serum, TG and TC levels in the liver, lipid deposition in the liver, obvious hepatic steatosis, up-regulated mRNA and protein expression levels of mTOR and SREBP-1c, and down-regulated mRNA and protein expression levels of HSP60, MCAD, and SCAD. Compared with the model group, the rats in each treatment group showed obviously decreased body weight, food uptake, liver index, TG, TC, ALT, and AST levels in the serum, TG and TC levels in the liver, lessened lipid deposition in the liver, ameliorated hepatic steatosis, down-regulated mRNA and protein le-vels of mTOR and SREBP-1c, and up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of HSP60, MCAD, and SCAD. The high-dose diosgenin outperformed the low-dose diosgenin and simvastatin. Diosgenin may prevent and treat NAFLD by inhibiting the expression of mTOR and SREBP-1c and promoting the expression of HSP60, MCAD, and SCAD to reduce lipid synthesis, improving mitochondrial function, and promoting fatty acid ß oxidation in the liver.

[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.

Heterozygous/dispermic complete mole confers a significantly higher risk for post-molar gestational trophoblastic disease.

Hydatidiform moles are classified at the genetic level as androgenetic complete mole and diandric-monogynic partial mole. Conflicting data exist whether heterozygous complete moles are more aggressive clinically than homozygous complete moles. We investigated clinical outcome in a large cohort of hydatidiform moles in Chinese patients with an emphasis on genotypical correlation with post-molar gestational trophoblastic disease. Consecutive products of conceptions undergoing DNA genotyping and p57 immunohistochemistry to rule out molar gestations were included from a 5-year period at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. Patient demographics and clinical follow-up information were obtained. Post-molar gestational trophoblastic disease or gestational trophoblastic neoplasia was determined by the 2002 WHO/FIGO criteria. A total of 1245 products of conceptions were classified based on genotyping results into 219 complete moles, 250 partial moles, and 776 non-molar gestations. Among 219 complete moles, 186 were homozygous/monospermic and 33 were heterozygous/dispermic. Among 250 partial moles, 246 were triploid dispermic, 2 were triploid monospermic, and 2 were tetraploid heterozygous partial moles. Among 776 non-molar gestations, 644 were diploid without chromosomal aneuploidies detectable by STR genotyping and 132 had various genetic abnormalities including 122 cases of various trisomies, 2 triploid digynic-monoandric non-molar gestations, 7 cases of possible chromosomal monosomy or uniparental disomy. Successful follow-up was achieved in 165 complete moles: post-molar gestational trophoblastic disease developed in 11.6% (16/138 cases) of homozygous complete moles and 37.0% (10/27 cases) of heterozygous complete moles. The difference between the two groups was highly significant (p = 0.0009, chi-square). None of the 218 partial moles and 367 non-molar gestations developed post-molar gestational trophoblastic disease. In conclusion, heterozygous/dispermic complete moles are clinically more aggressive with a significantly higher risk for development of post-molar gestational trophoblastic disease compared with homozygous/monospermic complete moles. Therefore, precise genotyping classification of complete moles is important for clinical prognosis and patient management.

Removal of uranium(VI) from aqueous solution using iminodiacetic acid derivative functionalized SBA-15 as adsorbents.

Three different functional SBA-15 were prepared by a post-grafting method using three iminodiacetic acid derivatives of ethylenediaminetriacetic acid (ED3A), diethylenetriaminetetraacetic acid (DT4A), and 1,2-cyclohexylenedinitrilotriacetic acid (CyD3A), which were used as adsorbents for removal of uranium(vi) from aqueous solution. These materials were characterized by FT-IR, NMR, TEM, nitrogen adsorption/desorption experiments, and elemental analysis. The effect of pH, ionic strength, contact time, solid-liquid ratio, initial metal ion concentration, temperature, and coexisting ions on uranium(vi) sorption behaviors of the functionalized SBA-15 was studied. Typical sorption isotherms (Langmuir and Freundlich) were determined for the sorption process, and the maximum sorption capacity was calculated. The influence of functional groups on uranium(vi) sorption was also discussed. As a result, compared with other current U(vi) sorbents (granite, kaolin, attapulgite), SBA-15-1,2-cyclohexylenedinitrilotriacetic acid (SBA-15-CyD3A) possessed good selective sorption properties, which had potential application in separation of uranium(vi).

[Niche characteristics of common microalgae communities in prawn-aquaculture pond in terms of water temperature, salinity, nitrogen, and phosphorus resources].

A 4-factorial (water temperature, salinity, nitrogen, and phosphorus) experiment was designed to study the niche characteristics of four common microalgae communities in prawn-aquaculture pond. The results showed that the niche breadth was the greatest for Cryptomonas erosa in temperature and salinity resources (0.980 and 0.988, respectively) and for Niztzschia closterium in nitrogen and phosphorus resources (0.990), but the smallest for Chlorella pyrenoidosa in all test resources, with an average value of 0.926. As for niche overlap, it was the smallest for C. erosa and C. pyrenoidosa in temperature and salinity resources (0.809 and 0.702, respectively) and for C. erosa and N. closterium in nitrogen and phosphorus resources (0.829), but the greatest for C. pyrenoidosa and Nannichloropsis oculata in temperature, salinity, and nitrogen and phosphorus resources, with the values being 0.986, 0.974 and 0.989, respectively. All of these suggested that in prawn-aquaculture pond, C. erosa could be bred with any other three of the microalgae communities, while N. oculata and C. pyrenoidosa should not be bred together for their obvious competition

Synthesis, infrared and fluorescence spectra of lanthanide complexes with a new amide-based 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivative.

A new amide-based 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivative ligand 2,5-bis[2-(N,N-diethyl-1'-oxopropylamide)phenyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole (L) and its complexes, Ln(NO3)3L (Ln=La, Eu, Gd, Tb, Er), were synthesized. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectra and conductivity. The lanthanide ions were coordinated by O atoms from CO. The fluorescence properties of Eu(NO3)3L and Tb(NO3)3L in the solid state and in different solvents were investigated. Under the excitation of UV light, these complexes exhibit characteristic fluorescence of europium and terbium ions. The solvent factors influencing the fluorescent intensity were discussed.

Genotypes and viremia of hepatitis B and D viruses are associated with outcomes of chronic hepatitis D patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Genotypes and viremia of hepatitis D virus (HDV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) may be associated with outcomes. This study evaluated the impact of viral genotypes and viremia on outcomes of dual HBV and HDV infection. METHODS: Viremia and viral genotypes were analyzed in 194 consecutive chronic hepatitis B patients with HDV superinfection and correlated with outcomes. RESULTS: The numbers of HBV genotype A, B, C, and nonclassified were 4, 57, 23, and 110, respectively. There were 51 genotype I HDV, 74 genotype II HDV, 8 genotype IV HDV, and 61 nonclassified HDV genotype. In a median follow-up of 135 months, 24 progressed to cirrhosis and 41 developed hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients infected with genotype I HDV had a lower remission rate (15.2% vs 40.2%; P = .007) and more adverse outcomes (cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, or mortality) (52.2% vs 25.0%; P= .005) than those with genotype II HDV. Patients infected with genotype C HBV had a lower remission rate (0 vs 32.1%; P = .005) and more adverse outcomes (70.0% vs 33.9%; P = .005) than those with genotype B HBV. The presence of HBV or HDV viremia was associated with lower remission rates compared with those negative for both (26.4% and 24.3% vs 69.2%; P < .001). In multivariate analysis, age, genotype C HBV, and genotype I HDV were independent factors associated with adverse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In chronic HBV and HDV dual infections, older age, genotype I HDV, and genotype C HBV correlated with adverse outcomes.

Terminal group effects on the fluorescence spectra of Eu(III) nitrate complexes with a family of amide-based 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives.

Four ligands 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-bis(N,N-dibenzyl-1'-oxopropylamide) (La) 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-bis(N-methyl-N-benzyl-1'-oxopropylamide) (Lb) 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-bis(N-benzyl-1'-oxopropylamide) (Lc) and 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-bis(N,N-diethyl-1'-oxopropylamide) (Ld), and their lanthanide(III) (La and Eu) complexes were synthesized. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, fluorescence spectroscopy and conductivity. The lanthanide atoms are coordinated by O atoms from C=O, Ar-O -C and N atoms from phen With the difference of the ligands, the fluorescent intensities of the Eu(III) complexes vary regularly in the THF solution. Some factors that influence the fluorescent intensity were discussed.