Huanglian-Renshen-Decoction Maintains Islet β-Cell Identity in T2DM Mice through Regulating GLP-1 and GLP-1R in Both Islet and Intestine.

Objective: To elucidate the effect of Huanglian-Renshen-Decoction (HRD) on ameliorating type 2 diabetes mellitus by maintaining islet β -cell identity through regulating paracrine and endocrine glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)/GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) in both islet and intestine.

Methods: The db/db mice were divided into the model (distilled water), low-dose HRD (LHRD, 3 g/kg), high-dose HRD (HHRD, 6 g/kg), and liraglutide (400 µ g/kg) groups using a random number table, 8 mice in each group. The db/m mice were used as the control group (n=8, distilled water).

Ban-xia-xie-xin-tang ameliorates hepatic steatosis by regulating Cidea and Cidec expression in HFD-fed mice.

Background: Ban-xia-xie-xin-tang (BXXXT) has been applied in treating metabolic diseases, such as nonalcohol fatty liver disease, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of BXXXT in treating diabetes mellitus is unknown.

Purpose: To clarify the underlying molecular mechanism of BXXXT in alleviating hepatic steatosis in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice.

Berberine reduces hepatic ceramide levels to improve insulin resistance in HFD-fed mice by inhibiting HIF-2α.

Several studies have documented the effects of hypoxia and ceramides on lipid and glucose metabolism, resulting in insulin resistance. However, the roles of ceramide in hepatic hypoxia and hepatic insulin resistance remain to be clarified. This study aimed to explore the relationship between hypoxia, ceramide synthesis, and hepatic insulin resistance in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice.

Prognostic significance of low TSH concentration in patients with COVID-19 presenting with non-thyroidal illness syndrome.

Background: Low free triiodothyronine (FT3) levels are related to a poor prognosis deterioration in patients with COVID-19 presenting with non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTI). This study was designed to explore whether free thyroxin (FT4) or thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels affected the mortality of patients with COVID-19 presenting with NTI.

Methods: Patients with COVID-19 complicated with NTI who were treated at our hospital were included in this retrospective study.

Characteristics of Viral Shedding in Respiratory Samples and Specific Antibodies Production in 564 COVID-19 Patients.

Positive nucleic acid (NA) results have been found in recovered and discharged COVID-19 patients, but the proportion is unclear. This study was designed to analyze the recurrent positive rate of NA results after consecutively negative results, and the relationship between the specific antibody production and positive NA rate. According to Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines, data of inpatients in Sino-French New City Branch of Tongji Hospital between Jan.

Protective Effects of Hu-Lu-Ba-Wan () against Oxidative Stress in Testis of Diabetic Rats through PKCα/NAPDH Oxidase Signaling Pathway.

Objective: To explore the protective effect and the underlying mechanism of Hu-Lu-Ba-Wan (, HLBW) on the testis of diabetic rats.

Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats (160-180 g) were randomly divided into 3 groups according to a random number table, including a control group (n=8), diabetic group (n=8), and HLBW group (n=8). Diabetic rat model was established by high-fat-diet administration and single intravenous injection of streptozotocin (26 mg/kg).

Correlation analysis between disease severity and inflammation-related parameters in patients with COVID-19: a retrospective study.

Background: COVID-19 is highly contagious, and the crude mortality rate could reach 49% in critical patients. Inflammation concerns on disease progression. This study analyzed blood inflammation indicators among mild, severe and critical patients, helping to identify severe or critical patients early.

Berberine Inhibits Gluconeogenesis in Skeletal Muscles and Adipose Tissues in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats via LKB1-AMPK-TORC2 Signaling Pathway.

The effect and potential molecular mechanisms of berberine on gluconeogenesis in skeletal muscles and adipose tissues were investigated. After adaptive feeding for one week, 8 rats were randomly selected as the normal group and fed on a standard diet. The remaining 32 rats were fed on a high-fat diet and given an intravenous injection of streptozotocin (STZ) for 2 weeks to induce the diabetic models.

New role for ceramide in hypoxia and insulin resistance.

Ceramides are significant metabolic products of sphingolipids in lipid metabolism and are associated with insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. In chronic inflammatory pathological conditions, hypoxia occurs, the metabolism of ceramide changes, and insulin resistance arises. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are a family of transcription factors activated by hypoxia.

Jiao-tai-wan Up-regulates Hypothalamic and Peripheral Circadian Clock Gene Cryptochrome and Activates PI3K/AKT Signaling in Partially Sleep-deprived Rats.

This study aims to explore the effect and mechanism of Jiao-tai-wan (JTW) on systemic and tissue-specific inflammation and insulin resistance in obesity-resistant (OR) rats with chronic partial sleep deprivation (PSD). OR rats with PSD were orally given JTW and Estazolam for 4 weeks. The amount of food intake and metabolic parameters such as body weight increase rate, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin (FINS), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and plasma inflammatory markers were measured.

Effect of Jiaotai Pill () on intestinal damage in partially sleep deprived rats.

Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of Jiaotai Pill (, JTW) on intestinal mucosal damage in rats with chronic partial sleep deprivation (PSD).

Methods: Obesity resistant (OR) rats were selected, and underwent 4 h PSD by being exposed to environmental noise for 4 weeks. During the whole PSD period, JTW and estazolam were orally given to the rats respectively in the treating groups.

[Research progress of berberine in treatment of diabetic kidney disease].

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a chronic renal microvascular complication associated with abnormal glucose metabolism, which is an important cause of end stage renal disease. Diabetes can damage the kidney through many ways, including renal vascular, glomerular, tubular, and renal interstitial damages. Therefore, a comprehensive treatment process must be taken for the treatment of DKD, and the selection of appropriate drugs has important significance in the treatment of DKD.

Association of polymorphisms of rs179247 and rs12101255 in thyroid stimulating hormone receptor intron 1 with an increased risk of Graves' disease: A meta-analysis.

The polymorphisms of thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) intron 1 rs179247 and rs12101255 have been found to be associated with Graves' disease (GD) in genetic studies. In the present study, we conducted a meta-analysis to examine this association. Two reviewers systematically searched eligible studies in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM).

[On Relation between Diabetes and Intestinal Flora from Theory of Pi-Wei].

Diabetes is seriously hazards to human health and its pathogeneses are not clear. Recent studies show that the imbalance of intestinal flora and the development of diabetes are closely related. Appropriate bacteria can improve blood sugar disorder.

[Research progress of relationship between diabetes and intestinal epithelial tight junction barrier and intervetion of berberine].

Intestinal tight junction is an important part of the small intestinal mucosa barrier. It plays a very significant role in maintaining the intestinal mucosal permeability and integrity, preventing the bacterial endotoxin and toxic macromolecular substances into the body so as to keep a stable internal environment. Numerous studies have shown that intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction is closely related to the development of diabetes.

[Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of berberine and jateorhizine in Coptidis Rhizoma powder and their monomeric compounds in type 2 diabetic rats].

This article focused on a comparative analysis on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of berberine (BER) and jateorhizine(JAT) in Coptidis Rhizoma powder (HL-P) and their monomeric compounds (BER + JAT, BJ) in type 2 diabetic (T2D) rats to explore the beneficial. effect of HL-P in the treatment of T2D. The T2D rats were treated with HL-P, BER, JAT and BJ, respectively for 63 d.

Fenugreek lactone attenuates palmitate-induced apoptosis and dysfunction in pancreatic β-cells.

Aim: To investigate the effect of fenugreek lactone (FL) on palmitate (PA)-induced apoptosis and dysfunction in insulin secretion in pancreatic NIT-1 β-cells.

Methods: Cells were cultured in the presence or absence of FL and PA (0.25 mmol/L) for 48 h.

Berberine inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis via the LKB1-AMPK-TORC2 signaling pathway in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Aim: To investigate the molecular mechanisms of berberine inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis in a diabetic rat model.

Methods: The 40 rats were randomly divided into five groups. One group was selected as the normal group.

Effects of berberine and cinnamic acid on palmitic acid-induced intracellular triglyceride accumulation in NIT-1 pancreatic β cells.

Objective: To investigate the effects of berberine (BBR) and cinnamic acid (CA), the main active components in Jiaotai Pill (, JTP), on palmitic acid (PA)-induced intracellular triglyceride (TG) accumulation in NIT-1 pancreatic β cells.

Methods: Cells were incubated in culture medium containing PA (0.25 mmol/L) for 24 h.

[Effect of jiaotai pill on pancreatic fat accumulation and islet cell apoptosis in rats with type 2 diabetes].

In this study, the rat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) model was established through tail vein injection with low dose of streptozotocin (STZ) and high fat diet for 8 weeks, and then treated with Jiaotai Pill. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), fasting serum insulin (FINS), free fatty acid(FFA) levels and blood lipid were assayed. HOMA-IR was calculated.

Inhibition of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9: a novel mechanism of berberine and 8-hydroxy dihydroberberine against hyperlipidemia.

Objective: To investigate the effect and molecular mechanisms of different doses of 8-hydroxy dihydroberberine (Hdber) for the treatment of hyperlipidemia in rats.

Methods: A rat model of hyperlipidemia was established by feeding rats a high-fat diet for 4 weeks in 70 rats of 80 animals, and 10 rats were randomly selected as control group. The hyperlipidemic rats were then randomly divided into the following groups: a model group (MOD); a berberine group [BBR, 156 mg/(kg day)]; Hdber groups, which were treated with different doses of Hdber [78, 39 and 19.

Effects of Chinese Fructus Mume formula and its separated prescription extract on insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic rats.

The effect of Fructus Mume formula and its separated prescription extract on insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic rats was investigated. The rat model of type 2 diabetes was established by feeding on a high-fat diet for 8 weeks and by subsequently intravenous injection of small doses of streptozotocin. Rats in treatment groups, including the Fructus Mume formula treatment group (FM), the cold property herbs of Fructus Mume formula treatment group (CFM), the warm property herbs of Fructus Mume formula treatment group (WFM), were administrated with Fructus Mume formula and its separated prescription extract by gavage, while the rats in diabetic model group (DM) and metformin group (MET) were given by gavage with normal saline and metformin correspondingly.

Jiaotai Pill enhances insulin signaling through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway in skeletal muscle of diabetic rats.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Jiaotai Pill (, JTP) at different constitutional proportions on insulin signaling through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway in the skeletal muscle of diabetic rats.

Methods: The rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was established by intravenous injection of a small dose of streptozotoein plus high fat diet feeding. JTP at the same dosage of cinnamon and the increasing dosage of Coptis chinensis was administered to diabetic rats for nine weeks respectively.

Effect of ethanol extract of Rhodiola rosea on the early nephropathy in type 2 diabetic rats.

This study aimed to investigate the therapeutical effects of Rhodiola rosea extract on rats with type 2 diabetic nephropathy (DN). The rat type 2 DN model was established by high fat and high calorie feeding and intravenous injection of streptozocin (STZ). Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group, control group, low dose Rhodiola rosea group, high dose Rhodiola rosea group and Captopril group.