Polysaccharide from seeds of Plantago asiatica L. affects lipid metabolism and colon microbiota of mouse.

Polysaccharide from the seeds of Plantago asiatica L. was given via oral administration to mice (0.4 g/kg body weight, 30 days) to observe its effects on mouse nutrient metabolism and colon microbiota. It was found the polysaccharide intake could lower the apparent absorption of lipid. Total triglyceride, cholesterol, and atherogenic index in blood serum with total lipid and cholesterol levels in liver of polysaccharide group mice were all significantly lower than those of the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the effect of the polysaccharide intake on mouse colon bacterial communities was investigated. Mice from the polysaccharide group showed a higher colon bacterial diversity than the control group. Bacteroides sp., Eubacterium sp., butyrate-producing bacteria Butyrivibrio sp., and probiotics Bifidobacterium bifidum , Lactobacillus fermentum , and Lactobacillus reuteri in mouse colon were all increased after polysaccharide intake. These indicated that the intake of polysaccharide from P. asiatica L. could be beneficial for lipid metabolism and colon microbiota.

Microbial short-chain fatty acid production and extracellular enzymes activities during in vitro fermentation of polysaccharides from the seeds of Plantago asiatica L. treated with microwave irradiation.

Effects of microwave irradiation on microbial short-chain fatty acid production and the activites of extracellular enzymes during in vitro fermentation of the polysaccharide from Plantago asiatica L. were investigated in this study. It was found that the apparent viscosity, average molecular weight, and particle size of the polysaccharide decreased after microwave irradiation. Reducing sugar amount increased with molecular weight decrease, suggesting the degradation may derive from glycosidic bond rupture. The polysaccharide surface topography was changed from large flakelike structure to smaller chips. FT-IR showed that microwave irradiation did not alter the primary functional groups in the polysaccharide. However, short-chain fatty acid productions of the polysaccharide during in vitro fermentation significantly increased after microwave irradiation. Activities of microbial extracellular enzymes xylanase, arabinofuranosidase, xylosidase, and glucuronidase in fermentation cultures supplemented with microwave irradiation treated polysaccharide were also generally higher than those of untreated polysaccharide. This showed that microwave irradiation could be a promising degradation method for the production of value-added polysaccharides.

[Expression of uncoupling protein 2 on macrophages and its relation to interleukin-10/interferon ratio in patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the expression of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) and ratio of interleukin-10/interferon-gamma (IL10/IFNgamma) in the macrophages from patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA). METHODS: Twelve women undergoing selective termination of normal early pregnancy (control) and 11 having URSA were included in this study. Magnetic cell sorting (MACS) was used to isolate the macrophages in the decidua, and the expression of UCP2 was detected with flow cytometry. Cytokine (IL10 and IFNgamma) secretion by the macrophages was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot-forming (ELISPOT) cell assay. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the women with URSA showed significantly decreased expression of UCP2 on decidual macrophage (136-/+25 vs 201-/+31, P<0.01), and the expression of UCP2 was positively correlated to the ratio of IL10/IFNgamma(r=0.73, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: UCP2 may play an important role in the regulation of macrophage activity and cytokine secretion to contribute to spontaneous abortion.

[Uncoupling protein 2 combats oxidative damage to human sperm].

OBJECTIVE: Germ cells are much more susceptible to oxidative stress than somatic cells. Accumulating evidence indicates that uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) prevents the apoptosis of multiple types of cells induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) against oxidative damage to human sperm. METHODS: Semen parameters were obtained from 97 semen samples by computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA), and the samples, based on the percentage of grade a + b sperm, allotted to Groups I (n = 25, grade a + b sperm > 50%), II (n = 24, grade a + b sperm 25%-50%), III (n = 24, grade a + b sperm 10-25%) and IV (n = 24, grade a + b sperm < 10%). The expressions of sperm UCP2 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR, and the malonaldehyde (MDA) content in ROS was determined in the sperm suspension. RESULTS: The expressions of UCP2 mRNA in sperm were 1.51 +/- 0.24, 1.28 +/- 0.15, 1.17 +/- 0.20 and 0.69 +/- 0.18, and the MDA contents were (14.66 +/- 2.55), (16.00 +/- 2.09), (17.44 +/- 1.40) and (21.20 +/- 3.50) nmol/10(8) sperm in Groups I, II, III and lV, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between the expression of UCP2 mRNA and the content of MDA (r = -0.633, P < 0.01), the former obviously reduced while the latter remarkably increased in the groups of lower sperm motility (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: UCP2 plays an important protective role against oxidative stress damage to human sperm by diminishing ROS production.

[Ultrasound-guided transvaginal ovarian interstitial laser treatment in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a laser dose-finding study].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and endocrine effectiveness of different laser doses for ultrasound-guided transvaginal ovarian interstitial laser treatment in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: Between January 2005 and July 2007, 56 women with clomifene citrate-resistant PCOS selected from the patients who were referred to Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital with a request for fertility underwent ultrasound-guided transvaginal ovarian interstitial laser treatment. All subjects were randomly divided into four groups of A, B, C and D. In group A, one coagulation point per ovary was done and group B, two points; group C, three points; group D, four to five points. The size of each point was about 10 mm in diameter (the electrical laser was projected persistently for 1-3 min with a power of 3 -5 W). The serum sexual hormone level, ovulation rate and pregnancy rate within six postoperative months were compared among the four groups. RESULTS: (1) The spontaneous ovulation rates of groups A (0) and B (21%) within six postoperative months were significantly lower than groups C (71% ,P <0. 05) and D (79%, P < 0.01). The accumulative pregnancy rates of group C(43%) and D(36%) for six postoperative months were significantly higher than group A (0; P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Although they were also higher than that of group B, no statistical significance was found (P > 0.05). (2) No statistically significant differences were found among four groups when various preoperative hormone values were compared (P > 0. 05). The mean serum luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone level and LH/ follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio was significantly lower postoperatively in groups C [(6.3 +/- 2.6) U/L, (2.2 +/- 0.7) nmol/L, 1.1 +/- 0.3] and D [(5.8 +/- 2.5) U/L, (2.1 +/- 0.4) nmol/L, 1.0 +/- 0.4] than in groupsA [(11.9 +/- 3.1) U/L, (3.9 +/- 1.6) nmol/L, 2.1 +/- 0.5] and B [(10.4 +/- 3.9) U/L, (3.3 +/- 1.1) nmol/L, 2.0 +/- 0.6], respectively (P < 0.05). The mean LH, testosterone level and LH/FSH ratio reduced more obviously in groups C (42%, 39% and 42%) and D (53%, 40% and 58%) than in groups A (4%, 9% and 16%) and B (11%, 6% and 5%; P < 0.05). All above-mentioned parameters between groups C and D had no statistical significant difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: One and two intraovarian laser coagulation points per ovary are associated with poor results. Three points per ovary seem to represent the plateau of effective dose for the ovarian interstitial laser treatment. Increasing the dose above it does not improve the outcome.

[Uncoupling protein-2 expression in granular cells and embryo development in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycle].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the expression of uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) in the granular cell of women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and explore its role in embryo development. METHODS: In this prospective study, the levels of UCP2 and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by the chemiluminescence method in the granular cell of 53 women. RESULTS: Women with low UCP2 level had higher ROS level, suggesting an inverse relationship between them (r=-0.578, P<0.01), and their oocyte development was impaired. Granular cells of elder women exhibited lowered UCP2 expression. CONCLUSION: The granular cells increase UCP2 expression to suppress the elevation of intracellular ROS level through a feedback mechanism and therefore protect the oocytes against oxidative stress.

[Expression of uncoupling protein 2 in periimplantation endometrium and its relationship with infertility].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) mRNA and protein in the endometrium and its changes during periimplantation period in relation to infertility. METHODS: In situ hybridation and Western blotting were used to detect 21 endometrium specimens from normal cycling women during different menstrual phases, 22 secretory endometrium specimens from infertile women and 7 decidual and chorionic villus specimens. RESULTS: UCP2 mRNA and protein were detected in the endometrium and decidua besides, the trophoblast, and UCP2 level in the endometrium increased during pregnancy. Compared with normal women, women with hydrosalpinges had significantly stronger endometrial UCP2 expression in the mid-luteal stage. CONCLUSIONS: UCP2 down-regulates reactive oxygen species and plays a role in the regulation of inflammatory events to prepare for embryo implantation. Strong endometrial UCP2 expression might be an important reason that hydrosalpinges affect embryo implantation.

[Determination of inorganic elements in plantago by ICP-AES].

In this paper, the contents of elements Se, Zn, Mn, Cu, Mg, Fe, Al and Be in the plantago, originating from different places and produced with various methods, were determined by ICP-AES technique. Its recovery ratio obtained by standard addition method ranged between 80.4% and 119.7%, and its RSD was lower than 6%. The results of the determination show that the seeds in plantago are rich in the inorganic elements such as Mg, Fe, Al and Zn essential to human health.

Effect of estradiol and progesterone on calcitonin expression in in vitro cultured human endometrial epithelial cells in the implantation window.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of estradiol and progesterone on the expression of calcitonin in human endometrial epithelial cells cultured in vitro. METHODS: Human endometrial epithelial cells were cultured in vitro in DMEM medium. After the cells were treated respectively with estradiol and progesterone at different concentrations for 24 and 48 h, the fluorescence density of the cells was measured by flow cytometer. RESULTS: Progesterone treatment of the epithelial cells for 24 h produced in a dose-dependent manner significantly higher fluorescence level than that of the control (P<0.01). Small dose of estradiol took little effect on calcitonin expression, but high-concentration estradiol resulted in lowered fluorescence level than the control. CONCLUSION: Progesterone promotes calcitonin expression in cultured human endometrial epithelial cells in a dose-dependent manner, while estradiol tends to inhibit its expression.