Effect of intestinal transit on the formation of cholesterol gallstones in hamsters

BACKGROUND: The effect of 'intestinal transit' has become a new field of interest in the study of the pathogenesis of cholesterol gallstones. This study was undertaken to further test this notion and ascertain the relationship between impaired intestinal transit function and cholesterol gallstones. METHODS: A total of 64 hamsters were divided into 2 groups, experimental and control. Each was subdivided into 4 subgroups for sacrifice at different time. A high-cholesterol diet and a standard diet were fed to each group. The geometric center, which represents the intestinal transit function was calculated. RESULTS: The growth of all hamsters was normal. Cholesterol gallstones were found in 2 hamsters at the end of the 4th week. The geometric center values for the experimental and control groups were 2.3891 +/- 0.3923 vs. 2.7730 +/- 0.5283, at the end of week 3; 1.8148 +/- 0.4312 vs. 3.2294 +/- 1.1613 at week 4; 1.8451 +/- 0.3700 vs. 2.9075 +/- 0.3756 at week 5; and 1.8025 +/- 0.3413 vs. 3.0920 +/- 0.5622 at week 6. CONCLUSION: A high cholesterol diet can significantly reduce the intestinal transit function and facilitate the formation of cholesterol gallstones.

Jianqu,a traditional Chinese medicine,alleviates functional dyspepsia in high-calorie and high-protein diet mice

Background:Jianqu has been used to alleviate symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia,but its specific anti-functional dyspepsia effect is still unclear.Therefore,our study aimed to investigate the impact of Jianqu on functional dyspepsia in mice.Methods:The phytochemical profile of Jianqu was analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS.Subsequently,Kunming mice were fed a high-calorie or high-protein diet(HCHP)for 7 days,and then orally treated with vehicle or Jianqu(1.62 g/kg body weight(b.w.)and 3.25 g/kg b.w.)for 10 days.A carbon powder solution was used to detect the gastric emptying and intestinal transit rate.The pathological changes in stomach and duodenum were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining.The occludin,claudin-1,ZO-1 and CD45 expression was measured by immunocytochemical staining.Importantly,the serum gastrointestinal hormones were detected by ELISA.In addition,the gut microbiota composition was determined using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.The cecal short chain fatty acids were assessed by gas chromatography.Results:In general,17 phytochemical compounds were identified from Jianqu,which significantly improved the gastric emptying rate and intestinal transit rate(p<0.01),increased the body weight and food intake(p<0.0001)in HCHP mice as well.Though HCHP did not cause significant pathological lesions in the gastrointestinal tract,increased the expression of CD45 in the duodenum(p<0.05)was observed.Notably,Jianqu attenuated this abnormal expression of CD45(p<0.05).The levels of serum gastrointestinal hormones were significantly normalized by Jianqu intervention(p<0.05).Moreover,Jianqu increased the relative abundance of Roseburia as well as short chain fatty acids levels in cecum(p<0.05).Conclusion:The present results showed that Jianqu alleviated dyspeptic symptoms in HCHP mice possibly through reducing the duodenal leukocyte infiltration,and regulating the expression of gastrointestinal hormones.These effects may be partly related to the increasing cecal short chain fatty acids levels probably via gut microbial modulation.

Extended Fasting Durations Delayed Gastric Emptying and Colonic Motility in Normal Male Rats

Background: Previous studies on fasting and gastrointestinal motility were reported with information lacking concerning prolonged continuous fasting and gastrointestinal motility. This study investigated the effect of prolonged fasting duration on gastrointestinal motility. Methods: Forty-five (45) male Wistar rats, with body weights between 180 - 200 g were used. They were randomly assigned into three (3) groups. Group1: control (rats fasted for 18 h—common duration of fasting for motility studies), groups 2 and 3 fasted for 48 and 72 h respectively. Five (5) rats per experiment and per group were considered. Blood glucose was determined by glucose oxidase method, gastric emptying was assessed by hydrated carbohydrate meal, intestinal motility by charcoal meal, and colonic motility was assessed using bead test. Data were reported in Mean ± SEM and analyzed with one-way ANOVA. Differences in results were considered significant at p ≤ 0.05. Results: There was no significant change in the blood glucose level (mmol/L) of rats in the 48 h group (2.94 ± 0.35) and 72 h group (3.20 ± 0.32) as compared with the control (3.62 ± 0.19). There was a significant decrease in the rate of gastric emptying (g) in the 72 h group (0.20 ± 0.08) compared with the control (0.64 ± 0.16). The intestinal transit (cm) in the 48 h group (67.54 ± 6.15) and 72 h group (72.10 ± 7.60) increased significantly when compared with the control (42.14 ± 3.14). There was a significant decrease in the colonic motility time (Sec.) in the 48 h group (2707 ± 864.1) and 72 h group (6363 ± 968.1) when compared with the control (263.8 ± 64.26). Conclusion: Extended fasting durations decrease the rate of gastric emptying and colonic motility. It suggests that extended fasting durations could be beneficial in intestinal spasms or where the gut is required to relax.

Acupuncture and Moxibustion Inhibited Intestinal Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Patients with Crohn's Disease Induced by TGF-β1/Smad3/Snail Pathway:A Clinical Trial Study

Objective:To explore whether acupuncture combined with moxibustion could inhibit epithelialmesenchymal transition in Crohn’s disease by affecting the transforming growth factorβ1(TGF-β1)/Smad3/Snail pathway.Methods:Sixty-three patients with Crohn’s disease were randomly divided into an observation group(31 cases)receiving moxibustion at 43℃ combined with acupuncture,and a control group(32 cases)receiving moxibustion at 37℃combined with sham acupuncture using a random number table.Patients were treated for12 weeks.Crohn’s Disease Activity Index(CDAI)was used to evaluate disease activity.Hematoxylin-eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy were utilized to observe the morphological and ultrastructural changes.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of transforming growth factorβ1(TGF-β1),TβR1,TβR2,Smad3,Snail,E-cadherin and fibronectin in intestinal mucosal tissues.Results:The decrease of the CDAI score,morphological and ultrastructural changes were more significant in observation group.The expression levels of TGF-β1,TβR2,Smad3,and Snail in the observation group were significantly lower than those before the treatment(P<0.05 or P<0.01).After treatment,the expression levels of TGF-β1,TβR2,and Snail in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(all P<0.05);compared with the control group,the expression of fibronectin in the observation group was significantly decreased,and the expression of E-cadherin was significantly increased(all P<0.05).Conclusions:Moxibustion at 43℃combined with acupuncture may suppress TGF-β1/Smad3/Snail pathway-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition of intestinal epithelial cells in Crohn’s disease patients by inhibiting the expression levels of TGF-β1,TβR2,Smad3,and Snail.(Registration No.ChiCTR-IIR-16007751).

Influence of Musa Sapientum L. on Pharmacokinetic of Metformin in Diabetic Gastroparesis

Objective： To investigate the effect of Musa sapientum L. （MS） bark juice in diabetic gastroparesis and its effect on pharrnacokinetic of metformin （MET）. Methods： Diabetes was induced in rats by administering alloxan （120 mg/kg） saline solution and maintained for 8 week. All the 18 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups （n=6 in each group）： normal control, diabetic control and MS bark juice. Assessment of diabetes was done by glucose oxidase-peroxidase method on the 3rd day of alloxan administration. The effects of MS bark juice （100 mL/kg） on gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, contractility of fundus and pylorus as well as gastdc acid secretion in chronic diabetic rats were observed after 8 weeks of aUoxan administration. The effect of MS bark juice on the pharmacokinetic of orally administered single dose of MET （350 mg/kg） was evaluated on the 57th day of protocol. Any drugs that may reduce the blood glucose level or influence the fibrinolytic system were not used in this study. Results： The MS bark juice significantly reduced the blood glucose level in the diabetic rats （P〈0.01）. There was significant decrease in the pylorus motility and increase in the gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, contractility of fundus, gastric acid secretion in the MS bark juice treated group （P〈0.01）. There was significant decrease in the time at which drug at a maximum concentration, haft life of drug and increase in the maximum concentration of drug in the plasma of MET in MS bark juice treated group as compared to diabetic control group （P〈0.01）. Conclusion： MS bark juice effectively manages diabetic gastroparesis and thereby improves the bioavailabilty of MET when administered with MS bark iuice.

Effect of Cassia nomame on Small Intestine Movement, Diuresis,and Anti-inflammation in Rats

Objective To investigate the preliminary pharmacological screening of Cassia nomame.Methods The effect of aqueous extract from C.nomame on gastrointestinal motor function was investigated by assessing the intestinal transit rate(ITR)of charcoal modeled into gastrointestinal motility dysfunction(GMD)by the administration of dopamine,atropine,or noradrenaline to the rats,respectively.Diuresis was studied in vivo by estimating the urine output.The anti-inflammatory activity was expressed as the percentage of swelling reduction by comparison on the mean thickness of ear swelling in mice.Results The ITR in these GMD animals was significantly retarded compared to that in normal animals.The retardation,however,was significantly inhibited by the ig administration of C.nomame(2 g/kg)for all GMD animals.The results suggested that C.nomame had the potential for development into a prokinetic agent that could prevent or alleviate GMD in patients.C.nomame increased urine output and suppressed significantly ear swelling induced by dirnethyl benzene in mice.Conclusion C.nomame could increase the gastrointestinal contractile activity of rats and has the effects of diuresis and anti-inflammation.