TSPAN8 is involved in lipid metabolism in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the changes of tetraspanin 8 (TSPAN8) expression levels and its role in lipid metabolism during the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).@*METHODS@#Thirty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal diet group and high-fat diet (HFD) group (n=15), and after feeding for 1, 3, and 6 months, the expression levels of TSPAN8 in the liver tissues of the mice were detected with Western blotting. In a HepG2 cell model of NAFLD induced by free fatty acids (FFA), the effect of TSPAN8 overexpression on lipid accumulation was examined using Oil Red O staining and an automated biochemical analyzer, and the mRNA expressions of the key genes involved in lipid metabolism were detected using qRT-PCR.@*RESULTS@#Western blotting showed that compared with that in mice with normal feeding, the expression of TSPAN8 was significantly decreased in the liver tissues of mice with HFD feeding for 3 and 6 months (P < 0.05). In HepG2 cells, treatment with FFA significantly decreased the expression of TSPAN8 at both the mRNA and protein levels (P < 0.01). TSPAN8 overexpression in FFA-treated cells showed significantly lowered intracellular triglyceride levels (P < 0.001) and obviously reduced mRNA expression of fatty acid transport protein 5 (FATP5) (P < 0.01). The expression of FATP5 was significantly increased in FFA-treated cells as compared with the control cells (P < 0.001).@*CONCLUSION@#TSPAN8 is involved in lipid metabolism in NAFLD, and overexpression of TSPAN8 may inhibit cellular lipid deposition by reducing the expression of FATP5.

Effect of Ginsenoside Rg1 on Lipid Uptake and Oxidation in HepG2 Cells of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1（G-Rg1）in ameliorating lipid uptake and oxidation in HepG2 cells induced by free fatty acids (FFA). Method:HepG2 cells were divided into normal group, model group，low-dose ginsenoside Rg1 group (25 μmol·L-1) and high-dose G-Rg1 group (50 μmol·L-1). HepG2 cells were treated with 1 mmol·L-1 free fatty acid for 24 h to construct the NAFLD cell model, and then treated with 25，50 μmol·L-1 G-Rg1 for 24 h. The effect of G-Rg1 on HepG2 cell activity was determined by cell counting kit-8（CCK-8） assay. The level of triglyceride (TG) was detected by micro method. The accumulation of lipid droplets was observed by oil red O staining. Quantitative real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the alterations of key genes and proteins relating to lipid uptake and metabolism. Result:Compared with the normal group, the intracellular TG level and the absorbance of the oil red O staining in the model group were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, G-Rg1 reduced TG and lipid deposition were significantly reduced (P<0.01).Results of Real-time PCR and Western blot showed that compared with normal group, model group peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors gamma（PPARγ），fatty acid binding protein 1（FABP1），fatty acid transport protein 2/5（FATP2/5）and fatty acid translocase（CD36）expressions increased（P<0.05），whereas peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors α（PPARα），carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1（CPT1）and peroxisomal acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1（ACOX1）expressions decreased（P<0.05）. Compared with the model group, the expressions of PPARγ, FABP1, FATP2, FATP5 and CD36 in the G-Rg1 group were decreased (P<0.05，P<0.01), while the expressions of PPARα, CPT1 and ACOX1 were increased (P<0.05，P<0.01). Conclusion:G-Rg1 can ameliorate lipid deposition in NAFLD cell model by reducing lipid uptake and increasing lipid oxidation.

Study on pelvic injury mechanisms in road traffic fatalities according to Young-Burgess classification / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the pelvic injury mechanisms in road traffic fatalities (RTFs) according to Young-Burgess classification and its practical value in forensic medicine.@*METHODS@#Retrospective study was performed on pelvic X-ray radiographs of adult RTFs outside the automobiles in 128 cases. Pelvic injury mechanisms were investigated according to Young-Burgess classification and then were analyzed statistically combined with the real circumstance.@*RESULTS@#The accuracy of pelvic injury mechanism identification using APC subtype (94.1%) and LC subtype (92.9%) were significantly higher than that without using subtypes (63.6% and 70.7%) (P<0.05). LC subtype was helpful to discriminate the direction of force, for example the rear lateral force, anterior lateral force or continuous anterior lateral force.@*CONCLUSION@#Young-Burgess classification discriminated by various methods of medical imaging may be helpful to study the pelvic injury mechanisms and provide reliable reference for road traffic accidents reconstruction.

Epidemiological research and analysis on the impaired person in road traffic accident in Chengdu area / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze epidemiological characteristics of road traffic accidents that resulted in injuries in Chengdu area, to find out the cause and to provide scientific a base for accident prevention.@*METHODS@#Appraisal data of the injured in road traffic accident from January 2003 to October 2006 were re-examined. Detailed statistics were made which include gender, age, transportation mode, person types, the accident date and day, and location.@*RESULTS@#Six thousand three hundred and sixty four cases involving road traffic accident were analyzed. Among the injured, male to female ratio was 1.84:1, and the age group of 18-50 were the largest proportion (66.34%). Bicyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians made up 80.90% of the injured persons. Different age groups, different genders and those who were injured in different regions varied greatly in terms of transport modes they employed. In terms of injured parts, lower limb injury took up the highest proportion (39.49%), with cranium & cerebrum ranking second (22.77%).@*CONCLUSION@#Different approaches and measures shall be taken in regard to different age groups, different regions, different times and different transport modes, and corresponding policies shall be adopted.