ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE：To study the improvem ent effects of total flavonoids from Morus alba on glycolipid metabolism ， inflammation and oxidative stress in gestational diabetes mellitus （GDM）model rats ，and to investigate the potential mechanism. METHODS：After feeding high fat diet for 8 weeks，female SD rats with FBG ＜6.67 mmol/L were caged with male SD rats . Pregnant female rats were randomly divided into control group ，GDM group ，M. alba total flavonoids low-dose ，medium-dose and high-dose groups （50，100，200 mg/kg），with 10 rats in each group. Except for control group ，other groups were given intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin 25 mg/kg once to induce GDM model. After injection ，rats in each administration group were given corresponding drugs intragastrically ，control group and GDM group were given normal saline 10 mL/kg intragastrically ， once a day ，for consecutive 18 days. The levels of FBG were determined on the 3rd，7th and 18th day of pregnancy （G3d，G7d and G18 d）；the levels of blood lipids （TG，TC，LDL-C，HDL-C）and inflammatory factors （TNF-α，IL -6，IL-8），oxidative stress indicators（MDA，SOD，GSH，CAT）in serum were determined on G 18d. The protein and mRNA expressions of PPARγ and NF-κB， the expression of AMPK mRNA and p-AMPK protein were measured by Real-time-PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS ： Compared with control group ，the levels of FBG （G3d，G7d，G18d），TG，TC，LDL-C，TNF-α，IL-6，IL-8 and MDA ，protein and mRNA expression of NF-κB in GDM group were significantly increased，while the levels of SOD ，GSH and CAT ，the expressions of PPARγ protein and mRNA，AMPK mRNA and p-AMPK fcksjf@126.com protein were significantly decreased （P＜0.01）. Compared with GDM group ，the levels of FBG （G3 d，G7 d，G18 d），TG， huawei99@163.com TC，LDL-C in M. alba total flavonoids medium-dose and high- dose groups and the levels of TNF-α，IL-6，IL-8 and MDA ，protein and mRNA expression of NF-κB in M. alba total flavonoids groups were significantly decreased ；the levels of SOD ，GSH and CAT ，the expressions of PPARγ protein and mRNA， AMPK mRNA and p-AMPK protein were significantly increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS ：Total flavonoids from M. alba can improve the glycolipid metablism ，inflammation and oxidative stress in GDM model rats ，the mechanism of which may be related to the activation of PPARγ pathway.
ABSTRACT
Lysophosphatidylcholines belong to a group of lipid components which have a variety of physiological functions. LPCs are known to be linked to metabolic disorders and cardio-vascular diseases,including diabetes,atherosclerosis and dyslip-idemia.LPCs are actively metabolized in liver,which is closely related with liver diseases and hepatotoxicity.The role of LPCs in liver diseases and hepatotoxicities has been extensively investi-gated recently.This review focuses on lysophosphatidylcholines as a biomarker for liver diseases,such as hepatic carcinoma, cholestasis,cirrhosis,hepatitis,and chemical hepatotoxicities, trying to lay a basis for investigation and therapeutics of liver dis-eases.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy of using procalcitonin (PCT) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) to differentiate sepsis from non-infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We made a prospective study in a general intensive care unit at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Twenty patients with sepsis and 31 patients with non-infectious SIRS were enrolled in this study. Serum concentrations of PCT, IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined within 24 h after clinical onset of sepsis or non-infectious SIRS. Leukocyte count, percentage of neutrophils, and absolute neutrophil count, as well as maximal body temperature were also recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum concentrations of PCT, IL-6, and CRP, as well as maximal body temperature, were significantly higher in septic patients [3.6 (1.8, 27.5) micro g/L, 810 +/- 516 ng/L, 180 +/- 108 g/L, 38.6 +/- 1.2 degrees C] than non-infectious SIRS patients [0.5 (0.2, 1.8) micro g/L, 235 +/- 177 ng/L, 109 +/- 70 g/L, 37.9 +/- 0.9 degrees C]. IL-6 and PCT exhibited the best discriminative power between sepsis and non-infectious SIRS, with sensitivity above 80% and specificity above 70%. A sepsis score with combination of IL-6 and PCT showed the best discriminative power with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.923.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Assessing IL-6 and PCT levels are more reliable ways to differentiate sepsis from non-infectious SIRS, compared with conventional inflammatory parameters.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Calcitonin , Blood , Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide , Diagnosis, Differential , Interleukin-6 , Blood , Protein Precursors , Blood , Sepsis , Blood , Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome , Blood , DiagnosisABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To investigate the relationship between the beta-fibrinogen gene -455A/G polymorphism and plasma fibrinogen level and to determine the influence of the mutation on ischemic stroke.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-one patients (63.5 +/- 10.1 years) with ischemic stroke and 74 elderly control subjects (60.6 +/- 10.8 years) without any thromboembolic events and 98 healthy blood donators as young control (37.5 +/- 13.3 years) were enrolled in this trial. The beta-fibrinogen gene -455A/G polymorphism was analyzed for all subjects by PCR-RFLP with the restrictive enzyme Hae III, while plasma fibrinogen levels were obtained from the prothrombin time (PT) assay. For statistical analysis, the parameters were compared between any two different groups by the unpaired Student's t test and the Chi-square test. Before analysis, log transformations for concentrations of fibrinogen were carried out.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>H2 allele frequency was higher in male ischemic stroke patients than in the elderly control (22.7% vs 7.1%, chi(2) = 5.56, P < 0.02). There was no significant difference between the female groups. In those patients without any thromboembolic events (both elderly and young control groups), the frequency of H2 decreased with age (< or = 40, 21.3%; 41 - 59, 15.4%; and > or = 60, 10.2%). In the male elderly and young control groups, the level of plasma fibrinogen was lower in the H1H1 genotype (287 +/- 96 mg/dl and 234 +/- 58 mg/dl) than in H1H2 and H2H2 (331 +/- 44 mg/dl and 307 +/- 55 mg/dl; t = 2.53 and 9.67, P < 0.05). In the female elderly groups, this tendency was not found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Plasma fibrinogen expression is affected by the beta-fibrinogen gene -455A/G polymorphism, and the H2 allele may be a risk factor for ischemic stroke in Chinese males.</p>