Protective effect of total aralosides of Aralia elata (Miq) Seem (TASAES) against diabetic cardiomyopathy in rats during the early stage, and possible mechanisms

Total aralosides of Aralia elata (Miq) Seem (TASAES) from Chinese traditional herb Longya Aralia chinensis L was found to improve cardiac function. The present study was to determine the protective effects of TASAES on diabetic cardiomyopathy, and the possible mechanisms. Therefore, a single dose of streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes in Wister rats. Diabetic rats were immediately treated with low, medium and high doses of TASAES at 4.9, 9.8 mg/kg and 19.6 mg/kg body weight by gavage, respectively, for eight weeks. Cardiac function was evaluated by in situ hemodynamic measurements, and patch clamp for the L-type Ca2+ channel current (ICa2+-L) and transient outward K+ channel current (Ito). Histopathological changes were observed under light and electron microscope. The expression of pro-fibrotic factor, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was monitored using immunohistochemistry staining. Compared with diabetic group, medium and high doses, but not low dose, of TASAES showed a significant protection against diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction, shown by increased absolute value of left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and maximum rates of pressure development (+/-dp/dt(max)), and enhanced amplitude of ICa2+-L (P < 0.05). Histological staining indicated a significant inhibition of diabetes-caused pathological changes and up-regulation of CTGF expression (P < 0.05). The results suggest that TASAES prevents diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction and pathological damage through up-regulating ICa2+-L in cardiac cells and decreasing CTGF expression.

Study on the association of thyrotropin receptor antibodies with the sensitivity to glucocorticoid therapy in Graves′s ophthalmopathy patients / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To investigate the association of thyrotropin receptor antibodies(TRAb) with the sensitivity to glucocorticoid therapy in Graves′s ophthalmopathy(GO) patients.Methods:Total 37 subjects with active GO were treated with prednisone. According to the relieve degree and clinical activity of their eye symptoms post-steroid treatment, patients were grouped into sensitive group(S) and non-sensitive group(NS). TRAb positive rate and antibody titer of the two groups were compared.Results:In S group( n=28 ), the positive rate and titre of TRAb were 76.53% and (12.54?5.62) U/L, respectively; The positive rate and titre of TRAb post-treatment were 22.18% and (7.82?4.91) U/L, respectively, were significant lower than data prior treatment. In NS group( n=9 ), the positive rate and titre of TRAb prior treatment were 67.24% and (11.07?4.63) U/L, respectively; The positive rate and titre of TRAb post-treatment were 59.74% and (10.81?5.96) U/L, there was no significant difference with data prior treatment. Prior treatment, there was no significant difference of TRAb titres between the two groups. Post-treatment, TRAb titres in NS group were significant higher than in S group.Conclusion:The variations of TRAb level were closely correlated with the sensitivity to glucocorticoid therapy in GO patients. Serum TRAb level can be used as a major index to evaluate therapeutic sensitivity to glucocorticoid therapy in GO.