[Chicory extract's influence on gut bacteria of abdominal obesity rat].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy mechanisme of chicory extract interventing abdominal obesity rat from the aspect of gut bacteria. METHOD: Male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, namely the normal group, model group, large and small dose group of chicory and the fenofibrate group. Normal group was given deionized water, the other group was given fructose water and give the medical treatment of chicory and fenofibrate. Assay triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL by biochemical methods and measure body weight and abdominal circumference and microscopicly observe the count changes of gut bacteria through real-time PCR method. RESULT: Compared with normal group, the triglyceride level and abdominal circumference were significantly higher (P < 0.05), weight and high-density lipoprotein increased but no significant changes and E. coli, lactobacillus increased significantly. Compared with model group, chicory extract large and small dose group and the fenofibrate group can significantly reduce triglyceride levels (P < 0.05), reduce the number of E. coli and Lactobacillus and increase the number of bifidobacteria. The fenofibrate group can significantly reduce total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein levels. CONCLUSION: The chicory's treatment effect on abdominal obesity is significant. The efficacy mechanisme intervention abdominal obesity may be related to the reduction of the number of lactic acid bacteria and E. coli and the increase of bifidobacteria.

Platelet-derived growth factor-ß expression in rabbit models of cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), one of the serious types of stroke incurred by bleeding into the space surrounding the brain, occurs when brains are deprived of oxygen by various factors, particularly an interruption to the blood supply or a ruptured aneurysm. Cerebral vasospasm (CVS) is one of the most common complications of SAH. It has been proposed that platelet­derived growth factor (PDGF) is involved in CVS. The aim of the present study was to analyze expression of PDGF in rabbit models of CVS. Post-SAH CVS rabbit models were created using endovascular puncture and employed to analyze the expression patterns of PDGF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry. The results indicated that the creation of the rabbit model of CVS induced using endovascular puncture was successful and demonstrated the double phase changes observed in human CVS. The acute stage started at 12 h post-SAH with narrowing of the vascular lumen diameter. This narrowing appeared again on the seventh day in delayed CVS alongside increased thickness of vessel walls. PDGF-ß expression was observed in vascular smooth muscle cells of the rabbit models. PDGF-ß was expressed as early as 3 h post-SAH, it was evident after 1 day and reached a peak in 7 days, suggesting that PDGF-ß is involved in the early stages of CVS. In the current study, it was confirmed that PDGF-ß expression was present in the rabbit models of CVS, which may aid the elucidation of the pathogenesis of CVS, and also provide useful information for diagnosis and treatment of CVS.