Fluctuation of serum C3 levels reflects disease activity and metabolic background in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Background: We focused on the fluctuations of serum C3 levels throughout the clinical course of patients and investigated the relationship between these fluctuations and clinical findings.

Methods: IgA nephropathy patients (n = 122) were enrolled in the present study. Serum C3 and other clinical markers were compared at the time of renal biopsy and at last follow-up (6.

Enhancement of insulin sensitivity in adipocytes by ginger.

Antidiabetic and hypoglycemic drugs have been reported to enhance adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. We previously reported that ginseng (active constituents: ginsenosides) enhanced the differentiation [1]. In this experiment, effect of some ginger group food extracts on the adipocyte differentiation was investigated using cultured mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.