Liraglutide inhibits high glucose-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via modulating autophagy and Na / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the mechanism through which liraglutide (LRG) inhibited high glucose (HG)-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Methods Cultured H9c2 were divided into control (CON) group, HG group, low-, middle- and high-dose LRG (LRG-L, LRG-M and LRG-H) groups, LRG-H + autophagy inhibitor trimethyladenine (3-MA) group. The relative cell surface change was assessed phalloidin staining. Membrane bound Na, K

Liraglutide attenuates myocardial inflammation and oxidative stress injury in diabetes rats via modulating AMPK/mTOR autophagy signalling / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the effeets of liraglutide ( LRG) on myocardial injury in type 2 diabetes melli- tus (T2DM) rats and its mechanisms.Methods For¬ty male SD rats were alloeated into eontrol group, T2DM group, LRG group, and LRG + AMPK inhibitor Compound C group (LRG + CC ).Four weeks later blood glucose and blood lipids of T2DM rats were measured.The eardiae function was measured by echo¬cardiography.The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD ) , glutathione ( GSH ) and the malondialdehyde (MDA) eontent were assessed with corresponding rea¬gent kits.Cardiomyoeyte apoptosis was analyzed by TXJNEL staining.The expressions of inflammation, oxi-dative stress, apoptosis, autophagy, and AMPK/ mTOR signaling related proteins were deteeted by Western blot.Results Treatment with LRG alleviated hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, and improved heart function markers in T2DM rats.LRG inhibited inflam¬mation, oxidative stress and apoptosis and restored au- tophagy in T2DM rats by decreasing the expression of IL-6, TNF-a, IL-lp, N0X2, N0X4, cleaved caspase-3, Bax, p-mTOR/mTOR and the MDA con¬tent , and increasing the expression of Bcl-2, Atg5, Beclin-1 , LC3-II/LC3-I, p-AMPK/AMPK and the ac¬tivities of SOD and GSH.However, these effects were largely abolished by the AMPK inhibitor Compound C.Conclusions LRG exerts a protective role against dia¬betes-induced myocardial injury by ameliorating in-flammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis via the AMPK/mTOR autophagy signaling.

Ethics review characteristics of clinical research of acupuncture and moxibustion / 中国针灸

The elements of ethical review related to clinical research of acupuncture and moxibustion is discussed to provide ideas for various institutions to carry out relevant ethical review. It is believed that the ethical review of clinical research of acupuncture and moxibustion needs to focus on the specificity of acupuncture and moxibustion. Starting from the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine, the theory of meridians and acupoints and the theory of syndrome differentiation along meridians, the key contents of ethical review such as intervention methods, grouping design and placebo control should be considered, so as to standardize the clinical research of acupuncture and moxibustion and protect the health and rights and interests of participants.

Etiology and genetic diagnosis of short stature in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the etiology and genetic diagnosis of children with short stature.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed to study the etiological distribution and clinical features of 86 children with short stature.@*RESULTS@#A total of 6 causes were observed in these children, among which idiopathic short stature (ISS, 41%) and growth hormone deficiency (GHD, 29%) were the most common causes, followed by genetic diseases (14%). There were no significant differences in age at the time of diagnosis, body height, body length and weight at birth, body height of parents and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels between the genetic disease group and the ISS/GHD groups (P>0.05). Compared with the ISS group, the genetic disease group had significantly lower deviation from the 3rd percentile for the height of children of the same age and sex (ΔP3) and height standard deviation score (P0.05). The analysis of the clinical manifestations for the genetic disease group showed heterogeneity and phenotypic overlap in children with different genetic diseases.@*CONCLUSIONS@#ISS, GHD and genetic diseases are major causes of short stature in children. For children with severe short stature, genetic testing should be performed to make a definitive diagnosis after GHD has been excluded.

Decision-making Impairments in Primary Angle-closure Glaucoma Patients / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) is a common eye disease and a common cause of blindness. Inappropriate medical decisions severely affect the prognosis. This study investigated decision-making under risk in PACG patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty patients with first acute attack of PACG before surgery and thirty healthy controls were included in the study. Decision-making under risk was evaluated with the game of dice task (GDT). The results of Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and GDT between PACG patients and healthy controls were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Risky decisions in PACG patients were more than those in healthy controls as measured by mean score of GDT (12.47 ± 5.72 vs. 4.33 ± 3.30, P< 0.001). Higher neuroticism score in EPQ was found in PACG patients compared to healthy controls (14.97 ± 3.93 vs. 9.90 ± 4.49, P< 0.001). Neuroticism scores in EPQ were associated with decision-making performance (r = 0.417, P = 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Neuroticism positively correlated with risky decisions. Decision-making might be influenced by neuroticism. Future studies will show whether therapy compliance will be improved by emotional management and psychological intervention in PACG patients.</p>

Protection of chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia against collagen-induced arthritis in rat through increasing apoptosis / 生理学报

The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rat. Fifty male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: CIHH pre-treatment group (Pre-T), pre-control group (Pre-C), CIHH post-treatment group (Post-T), post-control group (Post-C) and blank control group (Con). The rats in Pre-T and Post-T groups were exposed to 28 d of hypobaric hypoxia (simulated 3 000 m altitude, 5 h per day, pO2 = 108.8 mmHg, 14% O2) in a hypobaric chamber before and 12 days after CIA induction, respectively. The rats in Pre-C and Post-C groups were only experienced CIA induction, being control groups for Pre-T and Post-T groups, respectively. The rats in Con group were not given any treatment. The thickness of two-hind paw of rat was measured with spiral micrometer and the degree of arthritis was evaluated by arthritis index (AI). Morphological changes of ankle joint were observed through HE staining. The apoptotic rate in synovial tissue was measured by terminal dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and the apoptotic rate of CD3(+) T lymphocyte in spleen was measured by flow cytometry technique. The protein expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were measured using immunohistochemistry SP method. The results showed that incidence rate of CIA in Pre-T rats was lower than that in Pre-C rats (P < 0.05). AI in Pre-T and Post-T rats were smaller than those in Pre-C and Post-C, respectively (P < 0.05). In Pre-C and Post-C rats, there were hyperplasia of synovial cell, pannus forming, infiltration with inflammatory cell, and destroyed cartilage and bone in ankle joint. On the contrary, pathological changes of ankle joint were alleviated significantly in Pre-T and Post-T rats. Compared with Pre-C and Post-C rats, apoptotic rates of synovial cell and T lymphocyte in Pre-T and Post-T rats were increased (P < 0.05). As to the possible anti-apoptosis mechanism, CIHH, no matter before and after CIA induction, decreased Bcl-2 expression and increased Bax expression in joint synovial cells and spleen T lymphocytes (P < 0.05), respectively. In conclusion, CIHH possesses a protective effect against CIA in rat by enhancing apoptosis of synovial cells and T lymphocytes, which may be related to the inhibition of Bcl-2 protein expression and the promotion of Bax protein expression.

Rosiglitazone reduces fatty acid translocase and increases AMPK in skeletal muscle in aged rats: a possible mechanism to prevent high-fat-induced insulin resistance / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>As an agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ), rosiglitazone can prevent acute fatty acid-induced insulin resistance in rats, however, the precise mechanisms by which rosiglitazone alleviates insulin resistance induced by high-fat diet need to be further investigated.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats aged 23-24 weeks were divided into three groups: (1) aged control group (OC), (2) high-fat diet (HF) group and (3) high-fat diet plus rosiglitazone maleate tablets (HF + Rosi) treatment group (n = 20 in each group). Insulin sensitivity was evaluated by conscious hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique. mRNA levels of fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36), AMP-activated protein kinase α1 (AMPKα1), AMPKα2 and acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) of rat skeletal muscle were determined using real-time PCR, while muscle carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1β) was determined using semi-quantitative PCR. Protein expression levels of FAT/CD36, AMPK phosphorylation (reflecting AMPK activity), P-ACC (inversely related with ACC activity) and muscle CPT-1M in rat skeletal muscles were measured using Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Aged rats fed by diet rich in fat for more than 8 weeks led to significant increases of plasma lipids, skeletal muscle intramuscular triglyceride and long-chain fatty acyl-CoA (LCACoA) compared to aged rats fed by normal chow diet (OC) (P < 0.05), which might correlate with the lower (reduced by 42.4%) whole body insulin sensitivity in HF rats. FAT/CD36 protein concentrations and mRNA levels increased in untreated HF aged rats (P < 0.01) and high-fat diet induced a significant decrease in P-AMPK, P-ACC, CPT-1M protein concentrations and AMPKα2 and CPT-1β mRNA levels in rat skeletal muscles (P < 0.05). No change in AMPKα1 mRNA levels was observed in the HF group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High-fat diet in aged rats results in a lipid accumulation and subsequent insulin resistance, while rosiglitazone can alleviate the insulin resistance by reducing fatty acid uptake as well as enhancing lipometabolism.</p>

Resveratrol inhibits electrical activity of paraventricular nucleus neurons in rat hypothalamic slices / 生理学报

To study the role of resveratrol in the discharges of neurons in paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in hypothalamic slices, extracellular single-unit discharge recording technique was used. The effects of resveratrol were examined with glass microelectrodes in the rat PVN neurons at resting potential level. The results were as follows: (1) In response to the application of resveratrol (0.05, 0.5, 5.0 μmol/L, n=29) to the superfusate for 2 min, the spontaneous discharge rate (SDR) of neurons in 28/29 (96.6%) hypothalamic slices significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner; (2) Pretreatment with L-glutamate (0.2 mmol/L) led to a marked increase in the SDR in all 8/8 (100%) slices in an epileptiform pattern. The increased discharges were suppressed by the application of resveratrol (5.0 mmol/L) in all 8 slices; (3) In 8 slices, perfusion of the selective L-type calcium channel agonist, Bay K8644 (0.1 μmol/L), induced a significant increase in the discharge rate in 8/8 (100%) slices. Resveratrol (5.0 μmol/L) significantly attenuated the increased SDR in all 8 slices; (4) Pretreatment with the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 50 μmol/L) increased SDR in 7/8 (87.5%) slices, but did not affect the inhibitory effect of resveratrol (5.0 μmol/L). These results suggest that resveratrol inhibits the electrical activity of PVN neurons and exerts neuroprotective actions on central neurons. The inhibitory effect of resveratrol is possibly related to the blockade of L-type calcium channel, but not due to NO release.

Effects of long-term high-saturated and unsaturated fatty acid diets on relaxation and contraction of renal arteries in insulin resistant rats / 生理学报

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of high-saturated and high-unsaturated fatty acid diets on relaxation and contraction of the renal arteries in insulin resistance (IR) rats. Wistar rats were fed normal chow diet (control), high-saturated fatty acid diet or high-unsaturated fatty acid diet for 6 months (n=14 in each group). IR was evaluated by glucose infusion rate (GIR) of hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp. Blood pressure was measured via the tail-cuff method. Body weight (BW), plasma total triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA), insulin, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and nitric oxide metabolite (NO2(-)/NO3(-)) were compared among the three groups. The rats were sacrificed and the renal arterial rings were placed in the physiological tissue baths for measurement of vascular response to various agents. After the arterial rings were constricted with 3 mmol/L noradrenaline (NA), endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation to acetylcholine (ACh) and endothelium-independent vasorelaxation to sodium nitroprusside (NTP) were measured. Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation to ACh was also observed in renal arterial rings incubated with L-arginine (L-Arg), N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) and methylene blue (MB), respectively. Arterial contractility was evaluated from concentration-response curves to 10 nmol/L-100 micromol/L NA. Saturated or unsaturated fatty acids led to moderate rises in blood pressure (P<0.05). It was associated with higher levels of plasma lipids and lower whole body insulin sensitivity (P<0.01). There were no significant differences in BW, FBG, TG, insulin and FFA between saturated and unsaturated fatty acid-fed rats. A decrease in endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation of the renal arteries in saturated and unsaturated fatty acid-fed rats was observed (P<0.01), but there was no marked difference between the two high-fatty acid diet groups. Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation was increased when the arteries were incubated with L-Arg and decreased when incubated with L-NNA and MB in both high-fatty acid diet groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). But no difference was found before and after incubation with L-Arg, L-NNA and MB in the control rats. In the mean time, endothelium-independent maximal vasorelaxation response of renal arteries to NTP and renal arterial contractile responses to cumulative dose of NA were assayed, and there was no difference among the three groups (P>0.05). Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation was negatively correlated with systolic blood pressure and TG, and positively correlated with NO2(-)/NO3(-) and GIR. There was a significantly negative correlation between FFA and NO2(-)/NO3(-). The present study suggests that both high-saturated and unsaturated fatty acid diets result in hypertension associated with significantly decreased endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation, dyslipidemia and IR, and that decreased endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation induced by high fatty acid diets is associated with impaired L-Arg-NO-cGMP pathways.

Injection of adenosine into the renal artery activates spontaneous activity of renal afferent nerve fibers / 生理学报

The effects of injection of adenosine into the renal artery on multi- and single-unit spontaneous discharges of renal afferent nerve fibers were investigated in anesthetized rabbits. The results obtained are as follows: (1) injection of 50, 100, and 200 nmol/kg adenosine into the renal artery increased the renal afferent nerve activity (ARNA) in a dose-dependent manner with unchanged arterial pressure; (2) pretreatment with 8-cyclopenthl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX, 160 nmol/kg), an adenosine A1 receptor antagonist, partly abolished the effect of adenosine; and (3) pretreatment with a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME, 0.1 mmol/kg) significantly enhanced the ARNA response to adenosine. The results suggest that injection of adenosine into the renal artery activates ARNA via adenosine receptors in anesthetized rabbits and that nitric oxide may be involved in regulating the activity of renal sensory nerve fibers as an inhibitory neurotransmitter.

Intrarenal artery injection of capsaicin activates spontaneous activity of renal afferent nerve fibers / 生理学报

The effects of intrarenal artery injection of capsaicin on multi- and single-unit spontaneous discharges of renal afferent nerve fibers were investigated in anesthetized rabbits. The results obtained are as follows: (1) intrarenal artery injection of capsaicin (20, 40, and 60 nmol/kg) increased the renal afferent nerve activity (ARNA) in a dose-dependent manner with unchanged arterial pressure; (2) pretreatment with ruthenium red (40 mmol/kg), a capsaicin receptor antagonist, completely abolished the effect of capsaicin; and (3) pretreatment with a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME (N(6)-nitro-L-arginine methylester, 0.1 mmol/kg), significantly enhanced the ARNA response to capsaicin. The results suggest that intrarenal artery injection of capsaicin can activate ARNA via capsaicin receptors in anesthetized rabbits and that nitric oxide may be involved in regulating the activity of renal sensory nerve fibers as an inhibitory neurotransmitter.

Intrarenal artery injection of L-arginine inhibits spontaneous activity of renal afferent nerve fibers / 生理学报

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of intrarenal artery injection of L-arginine on multi- and single-unit spontaneous discharges of renal afferent nerve fibers in anesthetized rabbits. The results obtained are as follows: (1) intrarenal artery injection of L-arginine (0.05, 0.24, and 0.48 mmol/kg) decreased the renal afferent nerve activity (ARNA) in a dose-dependent manner with arterial pressure unchanged; (2) pretreatment with a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME (N6-nitro-L-arginine methylester, 0.11 mmol/kg), completely abolished the effect of L-arginine; and (3) intrarenal artery injection of a nitric oxide donor SIN-1 (3-morpholinosydnonimine, 3.75 micromol/kg) also resulted in an inhibition of ARNA. The results suggest that intrarenal artery injection of NO precursor (L-arginine) and donor (SIN-1) can inhibit ARNA in anesthetized rabbits.