Effects of food-derived oligopeptide iron chelates on liver injury and gut microbiota homeostasis in iron-deficiency anemia female rats: a pilot study.

Iron deficiency (ID) is the biggest cause of anemia. This pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of food-derived oligopeptide iron chelates on ameliorating liver injury and restoring gut microbiota homeostasis in iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) female rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats at 21 days old were selected and randomly divided into a control group (N = 4) and an ID model group (N = 16). The ID model group was fed an iron-deficient diet containing 4 mg kg-1 iron for 28 days to generate the IDA rat model and then randomly subdivided into four groups (N = 4 for each group): ID group, ferrous sulfate group, marine fish oligopeptide iron chelate (MCOP-Fe) group, and whey protein oligopeptide iron chelate (WPP-Fe) group. Iron supplements were given to rats in the three intervention groups once per day via intragastric administration for three weeks. After iron supplementation, the hemoglobin levels in the three intervention groups were significantly improved, with the MCOP-Fe and WPP-Fe groups returning to normal. The ALT and AST levels in the ID group increased significantly, while levels in all intervention groups decreased to normal levels. Liver glutathione in the WPP-Fe group was increased, while the activity of superoxide dismutase also tended to be higher. In addition, 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that IDA resulted in changes to intestinal microbiota. After intervention, the WPP-Fe group showed increased alpha diversity of intestinal microbes. Therefore, MCOP-Fe and WPP-Fe may improve the iron status of IDA female rats as well as ameliorate liver damage, with WPP-Fe showing a greater potential in improving gut microbiota imbalance.

Effects of lactoprotein iron chelates on iron deficiency anaemia in rats / 预防医学

Objective@#To investigate the effects of lactoprotein iron chelates on rats with iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), so as to provide insights into developing and utilizing novel iron supplements.@*Methods@#Seventy weaning female SPF-graded rats of the SD strain were randomly divided into the control group (A), model group (B), ferrous sulfate group (C), lactoferrin group (D), lactoferrin iron chelate group (E), Casein oligopeptide iron chelate group (F) and whey protein oligopeptide iron chelate group (G), with 10 rats in each group. The rats in group A were fed with normal diet, and the others were fed with poor iron diet for IDA modeling. The corresponding interventions were given by intragastric administration once a day. The iron ion concentrations of group C, E, F and G were 2.0 mg/kg, and the protein and oligopeptide concentrations of group D, E, F and G were 2 000 mg/kg. Body weight and hemoglobin of rats were measured weekly during 21-day intervention. At the end, peripheral blood samples were collected, and blood routine, iron metabolism and liver function indicators were determined. @*Results@#After the intervention, among blood routine indicators, the rats in group C, E, F and G showed elevated hemoglobin, red blood cell, mean corpuscular volume and hematocrit, and decreased free protoporphyrin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration when compared with the rats in group B (all P<0.05); among iron metabolism indicators, the rats in group C, E and G showed elevated serum ferritin, the rats in group C, E, F and G showed elevated serum iron, the rats in group C, D, E, F and G showed decreased unsaturated iron binding capacity and total iron binding capacity when compared with the rats in group B (all P<0.05); among liver function indicators, the rats in group E and G showed decreased alanine transaminase when compared with the rats in group B (both P<0.05). @*Conclusions@#Lactoprotein alone could not completely improve IDA in rats compared with traditional iron supplement (ferrous sulfate). Lactoprotein iron chelate, especially whey protein oligopeptide iron chelate, could significantly improve IDA, iron reserve and liver function damage in rats.

Health effects of subchronic intake of high-dose Dendrobium officinale in rats / 预防医学

Objective@#To assess the effects of subchronic intake of high-dose Dendrobium officinale on body weight, food intake, food utilization, and blood biochemical parameters in rats, so as to provide insights into assessment of edible safety of D. officinale.@*Methods@#Eighty SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into the low-, medium- and high-dose groups and the control group, of 10 male and 10 female rats in each group. Rats in the low-, medium- and high-dose groups were administered with D. officinale feeds at doses of 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 g/kg body weight, respectively, while animals in the control group were given basic diet for successive 13 weeks. The rat body weight, food intake, food utilization, and blood biochemical parameters were compared between groups.@*Results@#Normal diet and activity was seen in all rats, and no abnormal syndromes, signs or deaths were found during the study. There were no significant differences in rat body weight, food intake, total weight gain, total food intake, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea nitrogen, creatinine, triacylglycerol, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, albumin/globulin ratio or blood glucose among four groups (P>0.05). The food utilization 7 weeks post-administration [(8.71%±0.78%) vs. (10.54%±1.37%), P<0.05] and the total food utilization [(18.00%±0.41%) vs. (19.51%±1.21%), P<0.05] were significantly lower in male rats in the high-dose group than in the control group.@*Conclusion@#Subchronic intake of high-dose D. officinale shows no toxicity in rats, and reduced food utilization may be associated with the health function of D. officinale in male rats.

Food-derived bioactive oligopeptide iron complexes ameliorate iron deficiency anemia and offspring development in pregnant rats.

This study aimed to investigate anemia treatment and other potential effects of two food-derived bioactive oligopeptide iron complexes on pregnant rats with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and their offspring. Rats with IDA were established with a low iron diet and then mated. There were one control group and seven randomly assigned groups of pregnant rats with IDA: Control group [Control, 40 ppm ferrous sulfate (FeSO4)]; IDA model group (ID, 4 ppm FeSO4), three high-iron groups (H-FeSO4, 400 ppm FeSO4; MCOP-Fe, 400 ppm marine fish oligopeptide iron complex; WCOP-Fe, 400 ppm whey protein oligopeptide iron complex) and three low-iron groups (L-FeSO4, 40 ppm FeSO4; MOP-Fe, 40 ppm marine fish oligopeptide iron complex; WOP-Fe, 40 ppm whey protein oligopeptide iron complex). Rats in each group were fed the corresponding special diet during pregnancy until the day of delivery. After different doses of iron supplement, serum hemoglobin, iron, and ferritin levels in rats with IDA were significantly increased to normal levels (P < 0.05). Serum iron levels were significantly lower in two food-derived bioactive oligopeptide low-iron complex groups than in the low FeSO4 group (P<0.05). Liver malondialdehyde levels were significantly increased in the three high-iron groups compared with the other five groups (P < 0.05), and hemosiderin deposition was observed in liver tissue, indicating that the iron dose was overloaded and aggravated the peroxidative damage in pregnant rats. Liver inflammation was reduced in the three low-iron groups. Tumor necrosis factor α secretion was significantly decreased in all groups with supplemented oligopeptide (P < 0.05), with the concentration of tumor necrosis factor α declining to normal levels in the two whey protein oligopeptide iron complex groups. In the marine fish oligopeptide iron complex groups, body length, tail length, and weight of offspring were significantly increased (P < 0.05) and reached normal levels. Therefore, food-derived bioactive oligopeptide (derived from marine fish skin and milk) iron complexes may be an effective type of iron supplement for pregnancy to improve anemia, as well as reduce the side effects of iron overload, and improve the growth and nutritional status of offspring.

Skin damage caused by sunlight ultraviolet in mice / 预防医学

Objective @#To study the damage effect of sunlight ultraviolet exposure on skin.@*Methods @#No exposure group, low exposure group and high exposure group were set up with 10 mice in each. The exposure doses of sunlight ultraviolet were 0, 10 J/cm2 and 20 J/cm2, respectively. The skin of mice was irradiated by a sunlight ultraviolet simulator for 5 days a week, 13 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the skin appearance of mice was examined; the skin moisture, oil content, texture density, hydroxyproline ( HYP ), hyaluronic acid (HA), malondialdehyde ( MDA ), glutathione ( GSH ) and superoxide dismutase ( SOD ) activities were detected; and the skin tissue morphology, collagen fiber morphology and elastic fiber morphology were observed. @*Results @#The skin appearance of mice in the no exposure group was normal; in the low exposure group, only one mouse had mild skin desquamation; in the high exposure group, the skin was loose and wrinkled, dry and desquamated, local thickening and erythema formation. Compared with the no exposure group, the contents of skin moisture, HYP, HA and SOD activity were lower, texture density, MDA content, morphological scores of skin tissue, collagen fiber tissue and elastic fiber tissue were higher in the high exposure group ( all P<0.05 ). Compared with the low exposure group, the HA content and SOD activity were lower, the skin texture density, MDA content, and histomorphological scores of skin tissue and collagen fibers were higher in the high exposure group ( all P<0.05 ).@*Conclusion @#Exposure to 20 J/cm2 sunlight ultraviolet can significantly lead to abnormal skin appearance and function in mice.

Effects of 5-HMF on glycolipid metabolism and hepatic function in mice with diabetes and hepatic injury / 预防医学

Objective@#To observe the effect of 5-hudroxymethyl-2-furfural (5-HMF) on glycolipid metabolism and hepatic function in mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hepatic injury. @*Methods@#A low, a medium and a high 5-HMF dose group, a model group, and a control group were designed, with ten female ICR mice in each group. The low, medium and high dose group were given 0.27, 0.80 and 2.67 mg/kgbw 5-HMF, respectively, for 12 weeks; while the model group and the control group were given volume controlled deionized water. The model group and three dose groups were fed with high-fat and high-sugar food (36%), and the intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (60 mg/kgbw) was executed in the 10th and 11th week; the control group were fed with normal food. The body weight, blood glucose, blood lipid, and liver function of mice were determined regularly. The livers were stained by periodic acid Schiff and the changes in pathology were observed. @*Results@#Compared with the control group, the serum levels of glucose (GLU), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly higher in the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the AST level in the low and high 5-HMF dose group, and the LDH level in the low, medium and high 5-HMF dose group, were significantly lower (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the levels of GLU, total cholesterol, LDL-C, triacylglycerol, HDL-C and ALT between the model group and the three dose groups (P>0.05). Moderate to severe vacuolar degeneration was observed in the model group, while mild vacuolar degeneration was observed in the high dose group. Medium or large amount of hepatic glycogen granules were observed in the high dose group and the model group. @*Conclusion@#Under the conditions of this experiment, 5-HMF does not show any obvious function of reducing blood glucose and lipid in the mice with T2DM and liver injury, but show some protective effects on liver function．

Effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides on blood indexes andliver tissue morphology in rats with intrahepatic cholestasis / 预防医学

Objective@#To study the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides ( LBP ) on blood indexes and liver tissue morphology in rats with intrahepatic cholestasis.@*Methods@#Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, and LBP low, medium and high dose group. The rats in the model group and LBP dose groups were given 60 mg/kg alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate ( ANIT ) by gavage every three days of the experiment, and the rats in the control group were given salad oil instead of ANIT. From the third day, the rats in each dose group were given 40, 150 and 600 mg/kg LBP, and the rats in the model group were given distilled water. After four weeks, the blood and urine indexes were measured, and the morphological changes of liver tissue were observed. @*Results@#From the third day of the experiment, the activity of rats in the model group and LBP dose groups decreased, and the color of urine changed to dark yellow. There was no abnormality in the group. In the model group, the levels of serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, total bile acid ( TBA ), alkaline phosphatase ( ALP ), γ-glutamyltransferase(γ-GGT), cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase ( ALT ), aspartate aminotransferase ( AST ), white blood cell ( WBC ), percentage of granulocyte, urinary bilirubin, urinary bile acid, liver mass and liver to body ratio were higher than those in the control group, while red blood cell and percentage of lymphocyte were lower than those in the control group ( all P<0.05 ). Pathological changes of liver tissue were observed. The levels of serum TBA, ALP, γ-GGT, ALT, AST, WBC and liver to body ratio in LBP high dose group were lower than those in the model group ( all P<0.05 ). The infiltration of inflammatory cells, proliferation and expansion of bile duct, degeneration and necrosis of liver cells were alleviated. @*Conclusions@#LBP can improve the blood indexes and pathological changes of liver tissue in rats with intrahepatic cholestasis at the dosage of 600 mg/kg. Inhibition of inflammatory response and reduction of oxidative stress injury may be the mechanism for alleviating cholestatic liver injury.

Study on pigmentation in the livers and kidneys of rats caused by a compound Chinese medicine preparationXIA / 预防医学

Objective@#To explore the cause and type of pigmentation in the livers and kidneys of rats caused by a compound Chinese medicine preparation. @*Methods@#The experiment consist of low, medium, and high dose groups and a control group, the Sprague-Dawley rats in these groups were orally given 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 g/kgbw of a compound Chinese medicine preparation of gardenia and distilled water for 30 days, respectively. The body weight, diet, hematology and histopathology of the rats in each group were observed for changes in pigment metabolism. @*Results@#In the first and second weeks of the experiment, the rats in the low, medium, high dose groups and the control group showed no abnormal symptoms or signs. From the third weekend, the urine of the rats in the high dose group turned thick yellow and green, and the stool color became light. During the experiment, no rats died. There were statistically significant differences in body weights and weight gains among these groups ( P<0.05 ) . There were statistically significant differences in total food utilization, direct bilirubin, r-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, and liver/body ratios among these groups ( P<0.05 ). Gross examination revealed that the livers and kidneys of rats in the high dose group were dull and green. Microscopic examination revealed changes in dark pigment particles in the livers and kidneys of rats in the high dose group. Histochemical staining confirmed that pigments in the livers and kidneys were bile pigments. @*Conclusions@#At a dosage of 4.0 g/kgbw, a compound Chinese medicine preparation of gardenia can lead to bile pigment deposition in the livers and kidneys of rats due to cholestasis.

Neuroprotective effects of flavonoids extracted from licorice on kainate-induced seizure in mice through their antioxidant properties.

A relationship between status epilepticus (SE) and oxidative stress has recently begun to be recognized. To explore whether the flavonoids extracted from licorice (LFs) have any protective effect on kainate (KA)-induced seizure in mice, we treated mice with LFs before and after KA injection. In KA-treated mice, we found that superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity decreased immediately after the onset of seizure at 1 h and then increased at 6 h. It returned to baseline 1 d after seizure and then increased again at 3, 7, and 28 d, while malondialdehyde (MDA) content remained at a high level at 1 h, 6 h, 3 d, 7 d, and 28 d, indicating a more oxidized status related to the presence of more reactive oxygen species (ROS). Treatment with LFs before KA injection reversed the seizure-induced change in SOD activity and MDA content at 1 h, 6 h, 3 d, 7 d, and 28 d. Treatment with LFs after seizure decreased KA-induced SOD activity and MDA content at 7 and 28 d. Also, LF pre- and post-KA treatments decreased seizure-induced neuronal cell death. Subsequently, Morris water maze tests revealed that the escape latency was significantly decreased and the number of target quadrant crossings was markedly increased in the LF-treated groups. Thus, our data indicate that LFs have protective effects on seizure-induced neuronal cell death and cognitive impairment through their anti-oxidative effects.

[Oxidative damage and immunotoxicity effect of people who exposed to electronic waste].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between risk factors and the effects of antioxidation and immune function in adults who exposed to electronic waste( e-waste). METHODS: The exposed group was chosen from the people who lived in the e-waste disposing areas of Zhejiang province. The control group was chosen from people who lived in unpolluted area. Anticoagulation and coagulation peripheral venous blood samples were collected from 40 exposed persons (22 employees, 18 non-employees) and 36 exposed persons respectively. The oxidative, immune, Cd, Pb, Cr, Hg, and PCB indexes were detected. RESULTS: The contents of Cd, total PCB, MDA statistically increased in exposed group comparing with the control group (P < 0.05). The activity of SOD, GSH-Px, the percentage of helper/inducer T lymphocytes (CD4+) and the content of Cr in exposed group were less than those in the controlgroup (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Oxidative damage and immunotoxicity were observed in the group that lived in e-waste disposing areas. These effects were mainly related to the increase of Cd content or Cd and Pb contents in peripheral venous blood.

Distribution of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs and organochlorine residues in children's blood from Zhejiang, China.

Concentrations and congener specific profiles of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs and organochlorine residues were measured in 22 pooled blood samples representing 66 children from both polluted areas (E-waste recycling region) and case control areas in Zhejiang province, China. To our knowledge, this is the first report on these pollutants in the blood of Chinese children. The mean concentrations of [summation operator]PCDD/Fs, [summation operator]PCBs, [summation operator]PBDEs, HCB and pp'-DDE in pooled blood samples from polluted areas (Luqiao) were 206+/-157 pg g(-1) lipid, 40.6+/-7.01 ng g(-1) lipid, 32.1+/-17.5 ng g(-1) lipid, 14.6+/-20.1 ng g(-1) lipid and 108+/-21.8 ng g(-1) lipid, respectively. WHO-TEQ-2005 for PCBs and PCDD/Fs were 11.9+/-4.62 pg g(-1) lipid and 10.3+/-6.39 pg g(-1) lipid, respectively. The results showed that PCBs, PBDEs and organochlorine residues in the E-waste recycling area were significantly (P<0.001) higher than the case control areas. High levels of PCDD/Fs were detected in the case control area (Longyou), where Na-PCP had been widely sprayed to prevent snailborne schistosomiasis. The contamination levels and profiles were compared with those documented in previous publications.

Immunoregulatory effects of ethyl-acetate fraction of extracts from Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et. Gilg on immune functions of ICR mice.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of ethyl-acetate fraction (EAF) of extracts from Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et. Gilg (TDG) on immune functions of ICR mice. METHODS: ICR mice were exposed to different doses of EAF for 15 or 30 days and then their immune functions were analyzed, including ConA-induced splenic lymphocyte transformation, SRBC-induced delayed type hypersensitivity response, serum hemolysin analysis, antibody-producing cells, peritoneal macrophage phagocytized chicken red blood cells, natural killer cell activity, and serum level of cytokines. RESULTS: EAF of extracts from TDG at different doses had various effects on immune functions of ICR mice. As compared with the controls, it increased the mouse spleen lymphocyte transformation induced by ConA, the left-hind voix pedis thickness and the number of plague forming cells (PFCs) at the dose of 1.82 mg/mL, 5.48 mg/mL, and 9.12 mg/mL, respectively; increased the ink clearance ability at the dose of 0.91 mg/mL, 1.82 mg/mL, 5.48 mg/mL, and 9.12 mg/mL, respectively; increased the phagocytosis index of mononuclear-macrophages and production of serum interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) at the dose of 5.48 mg/mL; and could promote the production of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) at the dose of 9.12 mg/mL. CONCLUSION: EAF of extracts from TDG can regulate mouse immune functions in vivo.

Renal protective activity of Hsian-tsao extracts in diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the renal protective activity of Hsian-tsao Mesona procumbens Hemsl. water extracts in diabetic rats. METHODS: Thirty Sprague-dawley female rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10 each), "control group" with intraperitoneal saline injection, "diabetic group" with 60 mg of intraperitoneal streptozotocin injection per kg of body weight and "Hsian-tsao group" with intragastric administration of Hsian-tsao extraction everyday for 4 weeks after intraperitoneal streptozotocin injection. The body weight and blood sugar were measured before and after model induction in the three groups. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) expressions in the kidney were monitored by immunohistochemistry. Kidney ultrastructural changes were also analyzed by using transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Before diabetic model induction, there were no significant differences among the three groups in body weight and blood sugar. Four weeks after the induction of diabetes, the differences became statistically significant. Electron microscopy also revealed disruption of the foot processes of the podocytes and other damages in diabetic group. These damages were significantly less severe in Hsian-tsao group when compared with the diabetic group. TSP-1 expressions in the kidney were significantly increased in both the diabetic group and Hsian-tsao group, but it was relatively lower in Hsian-tsao group than in diabetic group. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that Hsian-tsao treatment in the diabetic rats effectively prevented the pathological alterations in the kidney and decreased the TSP-1 expression. It was suggested that Hsian-tsao had protective effect on the kidneys of the diabetic rats.