[Treating Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Complicated with Metabolic Syndrome by Benefiting Qi Dissolving Method].

Objective To observe clinical efficacy of Yiqi Huaju Recipe (YHR) combined routine Western medical treatment on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients complicated metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods Totally 96 T2DM patients complicated MetS were assigned to the treatment group (YHR +routine Western drugs) and the control group (placebo +routine Western drugs) according to random digit table, 48 cases in each group. The therapeutic course for all was 12 weeks. Body mass index (BMI) , waistline, waist-hip ratio (WHR) , fasting plasma glucose (FPG) , 2 h postprandial plasma glucose (2 h PPG) , glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbAlc) , homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) , blood lipids, blood pressure, disease transformation of MetS, changes of con- stituent numbers were detected before and after treatment. Results BMI, WHR, waistline obviously decreased in the treatment group after treatment, with statistical difference as compared with the control group (P<0.01 , P <0.05). Post-treatment FPG, 2 h PPG, HbAlc, HOMA-IR, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) , and mean artery pressure (MAP) obviously decreased in the two groups, but more obviously in the treatment group (P <0. 05). Post-treatment total cholesterol (TC) , low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) , and triglycerides (TG) all obviously decreased in the two groups , but TG decreased more obviously in the treatment group (P <0. 05). High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) obviously increased in the treatment group (P <0. 05). Patient numbers of central obesity, uncontrolled hypertension, and uncontrolled diabetes obviously decreased and constituent numbers were obviously reduced in the treatment group after treatment, with better efficacy than those of the control group (P <0. 01 , P <0. 05). Conclusions YHR plus routine Western drugs could further reduce blood glucose, and had comprehensive interventional effects on multiple cardiovascular risk factors such as central obesity, blood lipids, and blood pressure in T2DM patients complicated with MetS. Its mechanism might be possibly correlated with improving insulin resistance and elevating insulin sensitivity of peripheral tissues.

Yiqi Huaju formula, a Chinese herbal medicine, reduces arterial pressure in salt­sensitive hypertension by inhibiting renin­angiotensin system activation.

Hypertension is a chronic disease with a high prevalence, and is associated with a high risk of vascular disease and premature death. Traditional Chinese medicine has been administered to treat hypertension for many years. In the present study, the effects of Yiqi Huaju formula (YQ; a compound used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine) were observed in salt­sensitive hypertension, which was induced by a high­salt and high­fat (HSF) diet and the potential mechanism was investigated. YQ was prepared from five plant extracts and was dissolved in normal sodium chloride prior to use. Male Sprague­Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups, and fed either a normal diet (control), an HSF diet or an HSF diet with YQ. At week eight, blood pressure was measured and 24­h urine samples were collected from all of the rats. The rats were subsequently sacrificed, and their blood was collected for biochemical analyses and kidney tissue samples were dissected for the immunohistochemical assay. YQ was observed to decrease the high arterial pressure and serum total cholesterol level, which had been induced by the HSF diet. It also enhanced the excretion of urinary angiotensinogen, Na+, and decreased the loss of urinary aldosterone, K+ and microalbuminuria. In addition, YQ inhibited the high mRNA expression level of renal renin, angiotensin II (Ang II), and Ang II receptor, type 1 (AT1R), and inhibited the protein expression of renal AT1R and Ang II receptor type 2, which had been induced by the HSF diet. These results indicate that YQ may reduce the arterial pressure in salt­sensitive hypertension via the inhibition of renin­angiotensin system activation.

Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Yiqi Huaju Qingli Formula in metabolic syndrome patients with microalbuminuria: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Microalbuminuria (MAU) is a key component of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and is an early sign of diabetic nephropathy as well. Although routine Western medicine treatments are given to MetS patients to control high blood pressure, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia, some patients still experience progressive renal lesions and it is necessary to modify and improve the treatment strategy for MetS patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of Yiqi Huaju Qingli Herb Formula, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in MetS patients with MAU when it is combined with routine Western medicine treatment. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Sixty patients with MetS were randomized into the Chinese herbal formula group (CHF, Yiqi Huaju Qingli formula treatment in combination with Western medicine) and control group (placebo in combination with Western medicine). All treatments were administered for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Urinary microalbumin (MA), urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), 24-hour total urine protein (24-hTP), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose (2-hPPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), blood lipid profile and blood pressure were observed. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, CHF treatment significantly decreased BMI (P<0.05), WC (P<0.01) and WHR (P<0.01). Both groups had significant decreases in FPG, 2-hPPG, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, MA, and UACR, with CHF treatment showing better effects on these parameters compared with the control treatment (P<0.05). Both treatments significantly reduced the levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triacylglycerol (TAG), and a greater reduction in TAG was observed with CHF treatment (P<0.05). The level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol did not change in the control group after treatment (P>0.05), whereas it significantly increased with CHF treatment (P<0.01). Compared with before the treatment, significant decreases in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial blood pressure were observed in both groups (P<0.01). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Combined treatment of Yiqi Huaju Qingli Formula and Western medicine significantly alleviated MAU, which may correlate with the improvement of insulin sensitivity and glucose and lipid metabolism. TRIAL REGISTRATION IDENTIFIER: This trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with the identifier ChiCTR-TRC-11001633.

Palmitate contributes to insulin resistance through downregulation of the Src-mediated phosphorylation of Akt in C2C12 myotubes.

The mechanisms of free fatty acid (FFA)-induced peripheral insulin resistance remain elusive. This study aimed to investigate the effect of palmitate, a saturated fatty acid, on glucose metabolism in C2C12 myotubes, and to explore the underlying mechanisms. In it, palmitate decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and consumption in a dose-dependent manner, and it reduced the insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt at Thr308 and Ser473, but had no effect on the protein expression of PI3K-p85 or the activity of PI3K. Additionally, it inhibited the insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Src at Tyr416, causing a reduction in the Src-mediated phosphorylation of Akt. Inhibition of Src by PP2 resulted in decreases in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and phosphorylation of Src at Tyr416 and Akt at Thr308 and Ser473. The findings indicate that palmitate contributes to insulin resistance by inhibiting the Src-mediated phosphorylation of Akt in C2C12 myotubes, and this provides insight into the molecular mechanisms of FFA-induced insulin resistance.

Pollen Typhae total flavone improves insulin-induced glucose uptake through the ß-arrestin-2-mediated signaling in C2C12 myotubes.

Defects in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle result from the dysfunction of insulin signaling including the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) pathway and a novel ß-arrestin-2-mediated signaling, which leads to insulin resistance (IR). Pollen Typhae, a Chinese herb, has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine, and has the potential to inhibit the development of IR. We have previously reported that Pollen Typhae total flavone (PTF), the extract from Pollen Typhae, ameliorates high-glucose- and high-insulin-induced impairment of glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, but the mechanisms remain unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of PTF on glucose uptake, and to explore the underlying mechanisms in C2C12 myotubes. PTF improved insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in a dose- and time-dependent manner in C2C12 myotubes, and prevented palmitate-induced IR. Furthermore, PTF enhanced the basal gene expression of Src and Akt2, elevated the protein expression of ß-arrestin-2, Src and Akt, increased the phosphorylation of insulin receptor-ß at Tyr1150/1151 and Akt at Thr308/Ser473 in an insulin-dependent manner, but had no effects on the protein expression of PI3K-p85 or the activity of PI3K. Inhibition of Src but not PI3K restrained PTF-induced phosphorylation of Akt and glucose uptake. Our findings indicate that PTF improves insulin-induced glucose uptake via the ß-arrestin-2-mediated signaling in C2C12 myotubes.