Glucocorticoids Suppress the Browning of Adipose Tissue via miR-19b in Male Mice.

Physiological levels of glucocorticoids (GCs) are required for proper metabolic control, and excessive GC action has been linked to a variety of pandemic metabolic diseases. MicroRNA (miRNA)-19b plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of GC-induced metabolic diseases. This study explored the potential of miRNA-based therapeutics targeting adipose tissue.

Potential involvement of Fgf10/Fgfr2 and androgen receptor (AR) in renal fibrosis in adult male rat offspring subjected to prenatal exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP).

Background: We previously demonstrated that maternal exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) induces dysplasia of the kidney in newborn male offspring and renal fibrosis in adults. But the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Fgf10/Fgfr2 and androgen receptor (AR) are known to be important for renal development.

Morphological and functional deterioration of the rat thyroid following chronic exposure to low-dose PCB118.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent environmental pollutants that can severely disrupt the synthesis and secretion of endocrine hormones. To investigate the effects of 2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB118) on thyroid structure and function, 40 male Wistar rats were divided into 4 equal treatment groups and administered vehicle or one of three doses of PCB118. The experimental groups received intraperitoneal (i.

[Effect of pioglitazone on receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B expression in osteoclast from RAW264.7 cells].

Objective: To study the effect of pioglitazone, a synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonist, on the RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis of osteoclast precursor cells, and to explore the function and mechanism of PPARγ in the osteoclast differentiation.

Methods: Pioglitazone treatment of RAW264.7 murine macrophages were compared with those of simply cultured control and RANKL-mediated control.

[Mechanism of BVT.2733 and pioglitazone in the improvement of insulin resistance].

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of BVT.2733 on insulin resistance, by using diet-induced obese (DIO) mice model.

Methods: After having been balanced for 3 days, the C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a normal diet group and a high-fat diet (HFD) group.

Inhibition of COX-2 and activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma synergistically inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of human pancreatic carcinoma cells.

Although inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) or activation of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) leads to growth inhibition in malignancies, the synergistic anti-tumor effects of combination of COX-2 inhibitor (NS-398) and PPAR-gamma agonist (rosiglitazone) on the human pancreatic cancer cells remains unknown. Here, we evaluated the effects of NS-398 and/or rosiglitazone on the cell proliferation and apoptosis in a pancreatic cancer cell line, SW1990. NS-398 and rosiglitazone decreased cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

[Clinical evaluation of efficacy and safety of nateglinide in the treatment of type 2 diabetes].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nateglinide, a new antidiabetic agent, in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Methods: A total of 219 treatment-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes from 6 centers were enrolled in this study and blindly divided into nateglinide group (n = 105) and repaglinide group (n = 114). In all patients, the disease was confirmed for at least three months.

Blockade of cholecystokinin-2 receptor and cyclooxygenase-2 synergistically induces cell apoptosis, and inhibits the proliferation of human gastric cancer cells in vitro.

Gastrin and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) play important roles in the carcinogenesis and progression of gastric cancer. However, it remains unknown whether the combination of cholecystokinin-2 (CCK-2) receptor antagonist plus COX-2 inhibitor exerts synergistic anti-tumor effects on human gastric cancer. Here, we demonstrated that the combination of AG-041R (a CCK-2 receptor antagonist) plus NS-398 (a selective COX-2 inhibitor) treatment had synergistic effects on proliferation inhibition, apoptosis induction, down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bax expression in MKN-45 cells.

Heat shock protein 27 regulates oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes: mechanisms via reactive oxygen species generation and Akt activation.

Background: Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, which in turn promotes cardiomyocytes apoptosis, is associated with the pathogenesis and progression of various cardiac diseases such as ischemia and heart failure. Recent studies have shown that over expression of heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) confers resistance to cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, not much is known about the regulation of myocyte survival by Hsp27.

11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 promotes differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1), a potential link between obesity and type 2 diabetes, and preadipocyte differentiation.

Methods: Mouse 11beta-HSD1 siRNA plasmids were transfected into 3T3-L1 preadipocytes (a cell line derived from mouse Swiss3T3 cells that were isolated from mouse embryo), for examination of the effect of targeted 11beta-HSD1 inhibition on differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. Differentiation was stimulated with 3-isobutyl-1-methyxanthine, insulin, and dexamethasone.

[Effects of gastrin receptor antagonist and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor on proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer cell].

Objective: To investigate the regulative roles of the gastrin receptor antagonist proglumide and the specific cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitor NS-398 on the proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer cells.

Methods: Human gastric cancer cells of the line MKN-45 were routinely cultured in RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum. Subconfluent cell cultures were treated with proglumide at a final concentration of 5 mmol/L, NS-398 at a final concentration of 10.

Influences of Helicobacter pylori on cyclooxygenase-2 expression and prostaglandinE2 synthesis in rat gastric epithelial cells in vitro.

Background And Aim: It is known that cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is over expressed in gastrointestinal neoplasia and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is causally linked to gastric cancer. The present study aimed to elucidate the effects of H.

Role of 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 in differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells and in rats with diet-induced obesity.

Aim: To observe the roles of 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1) in in vitro preadipocyte differentiation and in rats with diet-induced obesity (DIO).

Methods: Protein expression of 11beta-HSD1 in the process of 3T3-L1 cell differentiation and in various tissues of the rats were detected by Western blot analysis; expression of 11beta-HSD1 mRNA and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and other marker genes of preadipocyte differentiation were detected by using real-time PCR.

Results: Lipid droplets in 3T3-L1 cells accumulated and increased after stimulation.

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in gastric carcinoma and its correlation with angiogenesis.

Objective: To investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 in gastric carcinomas, and to correlate this expression with clinicopathological parameters and angiogenesis.

Methods: Ninety-six resected tumor specimens from patients with gastric carcinoma were obtained, and 30 corresponding paracancerous normal tissues were randomly selected as a control. Immunohistochemical staining was used for detecting the expression of COX-2 and MMP-9.

[Investigation on sleep status of college and high school students].

Objective: To investigate the sleep status of college and high schools students.

Methods: Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and self-manufactured questionnaires about siesta habits were used as tools. Three groups of students from medical college (MC), senior high school (SS) and junior high school (JS) were surveyed.

[Effects of hsf1 genotype on the constitutive expression of alphaB-crystallin in mice myocardium].

Aim: Try to clarify the effects of HSF1 gene on the constitutively expressed alphaBC.

Methods: To investigate the levels of constitutively expressed alphaB-Crystallin (alphaBC) in hsf1 knockout (hsf1 -/-) and hsf1 wild type (hsf1 +/+) mice myocardium by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.

Results: The alphaBC levels in hsf1 -/- and hsf1 +/+ were 68.