ABSTRACT
trans-Resveratrol (t-RVT), a naturally occurring polyphenol found in Polygonum cuspidatum, grape, and red wine, has been reported to have anti- inflammatory, cardioprotective, and cancer chemopreventive properties. However antidiabetic effect of t-RVT has not yet been reported. In this study, we show that t-RVT increases glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), uncovering an antidiabetic potential of t-RVT for the first time. AMPK plays a central role in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, and hence it is considered a novel therapeutic target for metabolic syndrome such as type 2 diabetes. t-RVT significantly induced glucose uptake in C2C12 cells, via AMPK activation, but not a phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI-3 kinase) signal pathway. The induced glucose uptake was attenuated by pretreatment with a pharmacological inhibitor for AMPK, indicating that the effect of t-RVT primarily depends on AMPK activation. However, in the presence of insulin, t-RVT also potentiated the effect of insulin on glucose uptake via AMPK activation, which led to further activation of PI-3 kinase/Akt signal pathway.
Subject(s)
Animals , Mice , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/metabolism , AMP-Activated Protein Kinases , Biological Transport/drug effects , Cell Line , Enzyme Activation/drug effects , Glucose/metabolism , Insulin/metabolism , Models, Biological , Multienzyme Complexes/metabolism , Muscle Fibers, Skeletal/drug effects , Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism , Stilbenes/pharmacologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To investigate the role of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in moxibustion-induced immunomodulation, the effects of chemical sympathectomy on moxibustion-induced changes in splenic NK cell cytotoxicity, T and B cell proliferation were studied in Sprague-Dawley male rats. METHODS: Chemical sympathectomy was achieved with intraperitoneal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine 50 mg/kg/day for 3 successive days. Direct moxibustion (6-minute interval, 9 moxa ball, each of which weighing 0.007 g and burning for 40 seconds) was applied on unilateral anterior tibial muscle region where Zusanli (ST36) acupoint is located, once a day for 7 successive days. NK cell cytotoxicity was measured by 4hr-51Cr release assay. Mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation was analyzed by [3H]-thymidine incorporation assay. RESULTS: NK cell cytotoxicity was suppressed by moxibustion, more in sympathectomized rats than in vehicle-treated rats. T cell proliferation induced by concanavalin A was not affected by moxibustion. B cell proliferation induced by lipopolysaccharide showed no significant change in vehicle- treated rats, but an increase in sympathectomized rats by moxibustion. Sympathectomy alone induced augmentation of NK cell cytotoxicity and suppression of T cell proliferation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that SNS has no direct relation with moxibution-induced immunomodulation but has an important role in the mechanism to keep the homeostasis of immune system by tonically inhibiting excessive changes of various immune components.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Male , Rats , Acupuncture Points , B-Lymphocytes , Burns , Cell Proliferation , Concanavalin A , Homeostasis , Immune System , Immunomodulation , Injections, Intraperitoneal , Killer Cells, Natural , Lymphocytes , Moxibustion , Muscle, Skeletal , Oxidopamine , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Spleen , Sympathectomy , Sympathectomy, Chemical , Sympathetic Nervous System , T-LymphocytesABSTRACT
To investigate the temporal progression of atherogenesis on the aorta and involvement of the monocyte-macrophage system in the liver and spleen, we fed 74 rabbits with high fat (14 or 7 gm+ACU-) and cholesterol (2 and 1+ACU-) diets for 4 to over 24 weeks. Using both light and electron microscopies, we found that the bro-fatty areas on the luminal surface of aortas was spread over along the eding time dependently. The fat deposits also in the liver and spleen worsened pending on the time of feeding the atherogenic diets. Not only nocyte-derived foam cells, but also parenchymatous cells in the liver and leen involved become fat-laden cells. According to these results, we propose at there are three stages: 1) the primary seeding, 2) the intermediate turing and 3) the advanced periods. These periods may play very important les in designing the management and treatment of atherosclerotic patients.
Subject(s)
Female , Male , Rabbits , Animals , Aorta/pathology , Aorta , Aortic Diseases , Aortic Diseases/etiology , Arteriosclerosis , Arteriosclerosis/etiology , Cholesterol, Dietary/toxicity , Dietary Fats , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Fatty Liver , Fatty Liver/etiology , Liver/pathology , Liver , Microscopy, Electron , Spleen/pathology , Spleen , Splenic Diseases , Splenic Diseases/etiology , Time FactorsABSTRACT
To investigate the temporal progression of atherogenesis on the aorta and involvement of the monocyte-macrophage system in the liver and spleen, we fed 74 rabbits with high fat (14 or 7 gm+ACU-) and cholesterol (2 and 1+ACU-) diets for 4 to over 24 weeks. Using both light and electron microscopies, we found that the bro-fatty areas on the luminal surface of aortas was spread over along the eding time dependently. The fat deposits also in the liver and spleen worsened pending on the time of feeding the atherogenic diets. Not only nocyte-derived foam cells, but also parenchymatous cells in the liver and leen involved become fat-laden cells. According to these results, we propose at there are three stages: 1) the primary seeding, 2) the intermediate turing and 3) the advanced periods. These periods may play very important les in designing the management and treatment of atherosclerotic patients.
Subject(s)
Female , Male , Rabbits , Animals , Aorta/pathology , Aorta , Aortic Diseases , Aortic Diseases/etiology , Arteriosclerosis , Arteriosclerosis/etiology , Cholesterol, Dietary/toxicity , Dietary Fats , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Fatty Liver , Fatty Liver/etiology , Liver/pathology , Liver , Microscopy, Electron , Spleen/pathology , Spleen , Splenic Diseases , Splenic Diseases/etiology , Time FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture on the sphincter of Oddi (SO) motility in humans and to correlate the manometric findings with plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) levels. METHODS: Eleven patients (M: F= 5: 6) who had various kinds of biliary disorders were enrolled. SO motility was monitored with a conventional low-compliant continously perfused technique using ERCP (n=9) or percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscope (n=2). After baseline monitoring for phasic wave contractions of SO, electroacupuncture was applied at a specific acupoint, GB 34, in these 11 patients. A nonspecific acupoint 5 cm away from GB 34 was selected as a control. Manometric parameters of SO were also checked in 6 subjects during stimulation of the control acupoint. CCK plasma levels were measured during the time course of electroacupuncture stimulation. RESULTS: All the manometric parameters including the basal pressure of SO, amplitude, frequency and duration of phasic wave contraction of SO were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) during electroacupuncture stimulation. The inhibition of SO contractility was accompanied by increased CCK plasma levels. After removal of electroacupuncture stimulation, restoration of amplitude and duration to basal condition were noted. A tendency towards the return of SO contractility was also observed in basal pressure and frequency. Stimulation of the control acupoint, however, did not affect the SO contractility and plasma CCK levels. CONCLUSIONS: Electroacupuncture stimulation of acupoint GB 34 showed reversible inhibition of SO contraction in humans. We speculate that the response of SO to electroacupuncture stimulation may be mediated by some neurohormonal mechanisms including CCK release.
Subject(s)
Humans , Acupuncture Points , Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde , Cholecystokinin , Electroacupuncture , Plasma , Sphincter of OddiABSTRACT
No abstract available.
ABSTRACT
Lithium remains the most widely used therapeutic agent for bipolar affective disorder, particularly mania. Although many investigators have studied the effects of lithium on abnormalities in monoamine neurotransmitter as a pathophysiological basis of affective disorder, the action mechanism of lithium ion remains still unknown. To explore the action mechanism of lithium in the brain, we examined the effects of lithium on the extrasynaptosomal concentrations of catecholamines and their metabolites. Synaptosomes were prepared from the rat forebrains and assays of catecholamines and metabolites were made using HPLC with an electrochemical detector. Lithium of 1mM decreased the extrasynaptosomal concentrations of NE from the control group of 3.07+/-1.19 to the treated group of 0.00+/-0.00 (ng/ml of synaptosomal suspension) but not that of DHPG. It can be suggested that lithium increases synaptosomal uptake of NE. Increased intraneuronal uptake of NE would decrease neurotransmission and extraneuronal metabolism of NE. Because increased brain NE metabolism and neurotransmission have been suggested as important components in the pathophysiology of bipolar affective disorder, especially mania, lithium-induced increase of intraneuronal NE uptake can be suspected as an action mechanism of therapeutic effect of lithium in manic patient, possibly in bipolar affective disorder.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Rats , Bipolar Disorder , Brain , Catecholamines , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Lithium , Metabolism , Mood Disorders , Neurotransmitter Agents , Norepinephrine , Prosencephalon , Research Personnel , Synaptic Transmission , SynaptosomesABSTRACT
There were many studies to investigate the pathogenesis and prevention of infection in artificial joint replacement due to the difficulty in management of infected arthroplasty in spite of using large amounts of antibiotics. Biomaterials play a major role in the development of infection because of the way the body responds to their chemical and physical characteristics. Exopolysaccharide glycocalyx or biofilm(slime) which is produced by organisms adhered to the biomaterials has been detected and regarded as an important factor in pathogenesis. The production of slime on the biomaterials in turn makes the pathogens resistant to the antibiotics and therefore they survive. The objects of this study are to evaluate which materials are more susceptible to the adherence by Staphylococcus epidermidis, to evaluate the amount of antibiotics needed to kill the S. epidermidis adhered to the biomaterials(Polymethymethacrylate, Titanium-6Aluminum-4Vanadium alloy, Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene), and to evaluate the timing of administration of the antibiotics(cephradine, gentamicin) and potadine for prevention of postoperative infection. The results are as follows. 1. The materials in order of greatest adherence due to the number of organisms colonized are poly- methylmethacrylate(PMMA), ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene(UHMWPE), and titanium alloy(Ti-6A1-4V alloy) being the least adherent. 2. With the production of biofilm the S. epidermidis becomes resistant to even that of 4 times the minimum bactericidal concentration(MBC) of antibiotics. 3. For prevention of postoperative infection, the prophylactic administration of cephradine if effective when used within 4 hours after contamination and the gentamicin and potadine are effective when used within 8 hours after the contamination with S. epidermidis.
Subject(s)
Alloys , Anti-Bacterial Agents , Arthroplasty , Biocompatible Materials , Biofilms , Cephradine , Colon , Gentamicins , Glycocalyx , Joints , Molecular Weight , Staphylococcus epidermidis , TitaniumABSTRACT
All clinical studies reported in the literature have indicated that non-operative treatment is the treatment of choice for the diaphyseal fractures of the clavicle. It has also been suggested by some that open reduction may contribute the development of nonunion. From 1985 to 1989, 23 of 133 diaphyseal fractures of the clavicle were treated by open reduction and internal fixation with the intramedullary pinning with or without cerclage wiring, or prebent plate and screw fixation with supplementary iliac bone graft in each instance. All fractures healed without any complication such as the infection, pin migration, other fixation failure, neurovascular accident, and pseudarthrosis. Based on our experience and review of the literature, we concluded that the indications for open reduction and internal fixation should be: 1. The patient's inability to tolerate prolonged immobilization or recumbency in multiple injury. 2. Widely distracted or displaced fractures in adults. 3. Comminution with one or more large butterfly fragments. 4. Neuro-vascular compromise due to displacement and impingement of the bone fragment. 5. Symptomatic delayed union or nonunion. 6. Refracture. And early operative treatment is safe, reliable and provide excellent results comparable to the conservative treatments.