Aim To reveal the main active components and the action mechanisms of Radix astragali on insulin sensitivity improvement, we have investigated the effects of polysaccharide portion and saponin portion of Radix astraga...Aim To reveal the main active components and the action mechanisms of Radix astragali on insulin sensitivity improvement, we have investigated the effects of polysaccharide portion and saponin portion of Radix astragali extracts on blood biochemical indices and related gene expression of dexamethasone-induced SD rats. Methods SD rats （6 per group） received 2 μg/day subcutaneous dexamethasone for 4 weeks plus same dose （10 g material/kg） of polysaccharide or saponin extracts of Radix astragali. Blood samples, kidney tissues and epididymal fat pads were taken at the end of the experiment. Serum triglyceride （TG）, total cholesterol （TC）, low density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDLC）, high density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDLC）, glucose （GLU） and insulin （INS） levels were measured, respectively, mRNA levels of angiotensinogen in kidney, adiponectin and leptin as well as TNF-α in epididymal fats were determined by RT-PCR assay using GAPDH gene as an internal control. Results Both of polysaccharide and saponin extracts of Radix astragali exhibited positive effects in reducing serum triglycerides, glucose, and insulin levels of dexamethasone-induced SD rats. The saponin group showed more improvements on quantitive insulin sensitivity check index （QUICKI） than the polysaccharide group did. Both of the extracts down-regulated kidney angiotensinogen and fat TNF-α mRNA levels while they were simultaneously up-regulating fat adiponectin and leptin mRNA levels. No significant difference was found between actions of the two extracts. Conclusion Both of polysaccharide and saponin extracts of Radix astragali can improve insulin sensitivity. This action might be closely related to down-regulation of angiotensinogen, TNF-α and up-regulation of adiponectin and leptin expression. The results partly explained the improvement of type Ⅱ diabetes and diabetic nephropathy by Radix astragali. The similar actions of the two crude extracts suggest that unknown key active compounds might exist in both and remain to be discovered.展开更多
AIM： To create a rabbit model of pediatric nonalcoholic steatohepatitis （NASH） and to evaluate the role of adiponectin in the process. METHODS： Thirty-two specific pathogen-free male New Zealand rabbits were divid...AIM： To create a rabbit model of pediatric nonalcoholic steatohepatitis （NASH） and to evaluate the role of adiponectin in the process. METHODS： Thirty-two specific pathogen-free male New Zealand rabbits were divided randomly into three groups： （1） the normal control group （n = 10） was fed with standard diet for 12 wk; （2） the model group A （n = 11）; and （3） model group B （n = 11） were fed with a highfat diet （standard diet ＋ 10% lard ＋ 2% cholesterol） for 8 and 12 wk, respectively. Hepatic histological changes were observed and biochemical parameters as well as serum levels of adiponectin, interleukin （IL）-6, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α were measured. RESULTS： Typical histological hepatic lesions of NASH were observed in both model groups described as liver steatosis, liver inflammatory infiltration, cytologic ballooning, perisinusoidal fibrosis and overall fibrosis. Compared with the normal control group, there were significant increases in model groups A and B in weight gain （1097.2 ± 72.3, 1360.5± 107.6 vs 928.0 ±58.1, P 〈 0.05, P 〈 0.01）, liver weight （93.81±6.64, 104.6±4.42 vs 54.4±1.71, P 〈 0.01）, Lg （ALT） （1.9±0.29, 1.84± 0.28 vs 1.60±0.17, P 〈 0.01）, and Lg （TG） （1.03 ±0.24, 1.16 ±0.33 vs 0.00 ±0.16, P 〈 0.01）. Weight gain was much more in model group B than in model group A （1360.5± 107.6 vs 1097.2 ±72.3, P 〈 0.05）. But, there was no significant difference between the two groups concerning the other indexes. Pro-inflammatory cytokines （IL-6 and TNF-α） increased in model group B compared with that of control and model group A （IL-6：1.86±0.21 vs 1.41 ±0.33, 1.38± 0.42, P 〈 0.01; TNF-α： 1.18±0.07 vs 0.66 ±0.08, 0.86 ±0.43, P 〈 0.01, P 〈 0.05）, whereas serum adiponectin and IL-10 decreased in model groups compared with that in the control （adiponectin： A： 21.87±4.84 and B： 21.48 ±4.60 vs 27.36 ±7.29, P 〈 0.05. IL-10： A： 1.72± 0.38 and B： 1.83 ±0.39 vs 2.26±0.24, P 〈 0.01）. Lg （TC） and the degree of liver fatty infiltration was an independent determinant of serum adiponectin level analyzed by stepwise multiple regressions, resulting in 29.4% of variances. CONCLUSION： This rabbit model produces the key features of pediatric NASH and may provide a realistic model for future studies. Adiponectin level partially reflects the severity of liver steatosis, but not the degree of liver inflammation.展开更多
Objective:To observe the difference of the effect of low-frequency electroacupuncture(EA)on blood lipids between male and female patients with simple obesity due to damp induced by spleen deficiency.Methods:Eighty pat...Objective:To observe the difference of the effect of low-frequency electroacupuncture(EA)on blood lipids between male and female patients with simple obesity due to damp induced by spleen deficiency.Methods:Eighty patients with simple obesity were recruited,including 37 males and 43 females,to receive low-frequency EA by selecting Yinlingquan(SP 10),Sanyinjiao(SP 6),Zusanli(ST 36),Fenglong(ST 40),Quchi(LI 11),Tianshu(ST 25),Zhongwan(CV 12),Shuifen(CV 9),Qihai(CV 6)and Guanyuan(CV 4),with needles retained for 30 min.The treatment was given once a day,10 sessions as a treatment course,for 2 courses in total.The contents of body fat percentage(F%),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),high-density lipoprotein(HDL),low-density lipoprotein(LDL),blood glucose(Glu)and adiponectin(ADPN)in serum were observed to see the changes,and the two groups were compared and analyzed.Results:After the treatment,F%,and serum contents of TC,TG,LDL,Glu and ADPN dropped significantly in the two groups(P〈0.05 or P〈0.01)and the serum content of HDL increased significantly in male group(P〈0.05).The decrease of F%in female group was more significant than that in male group(P〈0.01);the decrease of ADPN in male group was more significant than that in female group(P〈0.05).Conclusion:EA can regulate the disordered blood lipids in male and female patients with simple obesity,with certain differences between genders.The decrease of subcutaneous fat content is more significant in females than that in males,while the decrease of ADPN is more significant in males.展开更多
文摘Aim To reveal the main active components and the action mechanisms of Radix astragali on insulin sensitivity improvement, we have investigated the effects of polysaccharide portion and saponin portion of Radix astragali extracts on blood biochemical indices and related gene expression of dexamethasone-induced SD rats. Methods SD rats （6 per group） received 2 μg/day subcutaneous dexamethasone for 4 weeks plus same dose （10 g material/kg） of polysaccharide or saponin extracts of Radix astragali. Blood samples, kidney tissues and epididymal fat pads were taken at the end of the experiment. Serum triglyceride （TG）, total cholesterol （TC）, low density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDLC）, high density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDLC）, glucose （GLU） and insulin （INS） levels were measured, respectively, mRNA levels of angiotensinogen in kidney, adiponectin and leptin as well as TNF-α in epididymal fats were determined by RT-PCR assay using GAPDH gene as an internal control. Results Both of polysaccharide and saponin extracts of Radix astragali exhibited positive effects in reducing serum triglycerides, glucose, and insulin levels of dexamethasone-induced SD rats. The saponin group showed more improvements on quantitive insulin sensitivity check index （QUICKI） than the polysaccharide group did. Both of the extracts down-regulated kidney angiotensinogen and fat TNF-α mRNA levels while they were simultaneously up-regulating fat adiponectin and leptin mRNA levels. No significant difference was found between actions of the two extracts. Conclusion Both of polysaccharide and saponin extracts of Radix astragali can improve insulin sensitivity. This action might be closely related to down-regulation of angiotensinogen, TNF-α and up-regulation of adiponectin and leptin expression. The results partly explained the improvement of type Ⅱ diabetes and diabetic nephropathy by Radix astragali. The similar actions of the two crude extracts suggest that unknown key active compounds might exist in both and remain to be discovered.
基金Supported by The funds for programs of Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science, No.Y2080047Major Programs of Zhejiang Provincial Medical and Health Science and Technology & Chinese Ministry of Health, No.WKJ2008-2-026Special Major Programs of Zhejiang Provincial Science and Technology, No. 2008c03002-1
文摘AIM： To create a rabbit model of pediatric nonalcoholic steatohepatitis （NASH） and to evaluate the role of adiponectin in the process. METHODS： Thirty-two specific pathogen-free male New Zealand rabbits were divided randomly into three groups： （1） the normal control group （n = 10） was fed with standard diet for 12 wk; （2） the model group A （n = 11）; and （3） model group B （n = 11） were fed with a highfat diet （standard diet ＋ 10% lard ＋ 2% cholesterol） for 8 and 12 wk, respectively. Hepatic histological changes were observed and biochemical parameters as well as serum levels of adiponectin, interleukin （IL）-6, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α were measured. RESULTS： Typical histological hepatic lesions of NASH were observed in both model groups described as liver steatosis, liver inflammatory infiltration, cytologic ballooning, perisinusoidal fibrosis and overall fibrosis. Compared with the normal control group, there were significant increases in model groups A and B in weight gain （1097.2 ± 72.3, 1360.5± 107.6 vs 928.0 ±58.1, P 〈 0.05, P 〈 0.01）, liver weight （93.81±6.64, 104.6±4.42 vs 54.4±1.71, P 〈 0.01）, Lg （ALT） （1.9±0.29, 1.84± 0.28 vs 1.60±0.17, P 〈 0.01）, and Lg （TG） （1.03 ±0.24, 1.16 ±0.33 vs 0.00 ±0.16, P 〈 0.01）. Weight gain was much more in model group B than in model group A （1360.5± 107.6 vs 1097.2 ±72.3, P 〈 0.05）. But, there was no significant difference between the two groups concerning the other indexes. Pro-inflammatory cytokines （IL-6 and TNF-α） increased in model group B compared with that of control and model group A （IL-6：1.86±0.21 vs 1.41 ±0.33, 1.38± 0.42, P 〈 0.01; TNF-α： 1.18±0.07 vs 0.66 ±0.08, 0.86 ±0.43, P 〈 0.01, P 〈 0.05）, whereas serum adiponectin and IL-10 decreased in model groups compared with that in the control （adiponectin： A： 21.87±4.84 and B： 21.48 ±4.60 vs 27.36 ±7.29, P 〈 0.05. IL-10： A： 1.72± 0.38 and B： 1.83 ±0.39 vs 2.26±0.24, P 〈 0.01）. Lg （TC） and the degree of liver fatty infiltration was an independent determinant of serum adiponectin level analyzed by stepwise multiple regressions, resulting in 29.4% of variances. CONCLUSION： This rabbit model produces the key features of pediatric NASH and may provide a realistic model for future studies. Adiponectin level partially reflects the severity of liver steatosis, but not the degree of liver inflammation.
文摘Objective:To observe the difference of the effect of low-frequency electroacupuncture(EA)on blood lipids between male and female patients with simple obesity due to damp induced by spleen deficiency.Methods:Eighty patients with simple obesity were recruited,including 37 males and 43 females,to receive low-frequency EA by selecting Yinlingquan(SP 10),Sanyinjiao(SP 6),Zusanli(ST 36),Fenglong(ST 40),Quchi(LI 11),Tianshu(ST 25),Zhongwan(CV 12),Shuifen(CV 9),Qihai(CV 6)and Guanyuan(CV 4),with needles retained for 30 min.The treatment was given once a day,10 sessions as a treatment course,for 2 courses in total.The contents of body fat percentage(F%),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),high-density lipoprotein(HDL),low-density lipoprotein(LDL),blood glucose(Glu)and adiponectin(ADPN)in serum were observed to see the changes,and the two groups were compared and analyzed.Results:After the treatment,F%,and serum contents of TC,TG,LDL,Glu and ADPN dropped significantly in the two groups(P〈0.05 or P〈0.01)and the serum content of HDL increased significantly in male group(P〈0.05).The decrease of F%in female group was more significant than that in male group(P〈0.01);the decrease of ADPN in male group was more significant than that in female group(P〈0.05).Conclusion:EA can regulate the disordered blood lipids in male and female patients with simple obesity,with certain differences between genders.The decrease of subcutaneous fat content is more significant in females than that in males,while the decrease of ADPN is more significant in males.
