Berberine enhances antidiabetic effects and attenuates untoward effects of canagliflozin in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice / 中国天然药物

The present study aimed at determining whether berberine can enhance the antidiabetic effects and alleviate the adverse effects of canagliflozin in diabetes mellitus. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were introduced, and the combined effects of berberine and canagliflozin on glucose metabolism and kidney functions were investigated. Our results showed that berberine combined with canagliflozin (BC) increased reduction of fasting and postprandial blood glucose, diet, and water intake compared with berberine or canagliflozin alone. Interestingly, BC showed greater decrease in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels and lower total urine glucose excretion than canagliflozin alone. In addition, BC showed increased phosphorylated 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (pAMPK) expression and decreased tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) levels in kidneys, compared with berberine or canagliflozin alone. These results indicated that BC was a stronger antidiabetic than berberine or canagliflozin alone with less negative side effects on the kidneys in the diabetic mice. The antidiabetic effect was likely to be mediated by synergically promoting the expression of pAMPK and reducing the expression of TNFα in kidneys. The present study represented the first report that canagliflozin combined with berberine was a promising treatment for diabetes mellitus. The exact underlying mechanisms of action should be investigated in future studies.

Alveolar echinococcosis: correlation of imaging type with PNM stage and diameter of lesions / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Although the computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of alveolar echinococcosis (AE) have been well documented, the consecutive imaging changes of this disease in each PNM stage (parasite lesion, neighboring organ invasion, metastases) were not described accurately. The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between imaging type and PNM stage and diameter of AE lesions, and to explore the development features of this disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 87 patients with AE were examined using CT and MRI before medical management. Imaging features including the maximum diameter, calcification pattern, and imaging type of lesion were retrospectively assessed. The correlation of imaging type with PNM stage, diameter and calcification pattern was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Lesions (n=111) in 87 patients were divided into three types based on imaging characteristics; solid type (33.3%, 37/111, a solid lesion without liquid necrosis or only small patches of necrosis), mixed type (41.4%, 46/111, solid component surrounding large and/or irregular liquid necrosis area), and pseudo-cystic type (25.2%, 28/111, large cyst without visible solid component). Lesion calcification in the alveolar echinococcosis was categorized into three patterns; mild calcification (45.1%, 50/111, i.e. inconspicuous calcification or punctuate scattered calcification), moderate calcification (46.8%, 52/111, coastline calcification located at the periphery of the lesion, with or without the central dot-calcification) and abundant calcification (8.1%, 9/111, large calcified deposits). Significant differences were found between pseudo-cystic type and other two types in PNM stage, maximum diameter and calcification (P <0.05), but there was no significant difference between solid type and mixed type in those mentioned aspects (P >0.05). No correlation was observed between calcification patterns and maximum diameter (P >0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Solid and mixed type lesions showed some similarities during the course of the disease and accounted for the major form of advanced AE. Pseudo-cystic type represented neither earlier nor advanced stage of AE, but a special presentation during AE development.</p>

Determination of 1, 3-O-dicaffeoylglycerides from leaves of pineapple by HPLC / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a HPLC method for a new compound 1,3-O-dicaffeoylglycerides determination.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The separation was performed in a Kromasil C18 column (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm) with a mobile phase of 0.1% H3PO4: Acetontrile = 75 : 25 (v/v). The flow rate was 1.0 ml x min(-)1 and the temperature of column was 30 degrees C.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>A satisfactory separation between 1, 3-O-dicaffeoylglycerides and impurity was obtained. The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range from 0.051 6 microg to 0.516 microg, r = 0.999 9. The average recoveries was 97.1% (RSD 1.3%). The content of 1,3-O-dicaffeoylglycerides in pineapple leaves from three different batches were 0.033%, 0.034% and 0.031% respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method has good selectivity, high recovery and reproducibility, and can be used for the analysis of 1,3-O-dicaffeoylglycerides in pineapple leaves and their quality control.</p>