Angiogenesis and Hepatic Fibrosis: Western and Chinese Medicine Therapies on the Road.

Hepatic fibrosis is a common feature of almost all chronic liver diseases. Formation of new vessels (angiogenesis) is a process strictly related to the progressive fibrogenesis which leads to cirrhosis and liver cancer. This review mainly concerns the relationship between angiogenesis and hepatic fibrosis, by considering the mechanism of angiogenesis, cells in angiogenesis, anti-angiogenic and Chinese medicine therapies.

[Research progress in obesity-induced low fertility in males].

The prevalence of obesity in men of reproductive age is globally increasing. Obesity alters the ratio of testosterone to estradiol and the homeostasis of leptin and other hormone levels by interfering with the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. In addition, it may change epigenetic modifications and intergenerational transmission, which would affect the health of the offspring. Both of the pathways reduce male fertility, which may be associated with the obesity-induced change in the levels of some hormones and consequently the alteration of epigenetic modifications. This review focuses on the adverse effects of obesity on male fertility by influencing endocrine hormones and epigenetic modifications, and further discusses the effects of endocrine hormones on male fertility by epigenetic modification, aiming to provide some basic data for the prevention and treatment of obesity-related male fertility in clinical practice.

Sang-qi Granula Reduces Blood Pressure and Myocardial Fibrosis by Suppressing Inflammatory Responses Associated with the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors and Nuclear Factor κ B Protein in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Aim. Sang-qi Granula (SQ) is a compound prepared from Chinese herbs and is currently used for treatment of hypertension in China. Given its protective effects on cardial function in decreasing blood pressure, we investigated the mechanism of protective effects of SQ on myocardium. Methods. 16 male normal Wistar-Kyoto rats and 16 spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR) were employed without medical treatment. 16 SHR were employed with SQ treatment. Rats in each group were sacrificed at two time points (8-week treatment and 16-week treatment). Blood pressure (BP), and heart weight/body weight (HW/BW) were measured. The expression of myeloperoxidase (MCP-1), ICAM-1, TNF- α , and CD68-positive cells was assessed. The interstitial collagen volume fraction (CVF), perivascular collagen volume area (PVCA), and the expression of TGF- ß , Smad-3, PPAR α , γ , and NF- κ B (P65 and P50) were observed. Results. SQ significantly inhibited the elevation of the blood pressure and HW/BW of SHR. Next, SQ prevented myocardial fibrosis. Finally, a proinflammatory mediator associated with NF- κ B (TNF- α , ICAM-1, MCP-1, CD68), TGF- ß , and Smad-3 related to collagen deposition, which is upregulated in SHR group, was significantly suppressed by SQ. Expression of NF- κ B was decreased in SHQ+SQ group compared to PPAR α , and γ expression was increased by SQ. Conclusion. Treatment with SQ ameliorates cardial fibrosis induced by hypertension by attenuating the upregulation of ICAM-1, TNF- α , MCP-1, TGF- ß , Smad-3, P65, and P50 expression and improving PPAR α and PPAR γ expression level. The results suggest that SQ may be an option for preventing cardial fibrosis through PPAR signalling pathway.