Dysregulation of lipid metabolism in chronic kidney disease and the role of natural products.

Dysregulation of lipid metabolism plays a key role in the onset and progression of CKD, and a thorough understanding of its regulatory mechanisms is essential for the development of effective treatments. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have focused on the pharmacological activities of natural products and their application in the treatment of chronic diseases. Natural products, including plant extracts and bioactive compounds, have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifibrosis, and anti-apoptotic effects through various signaling pathways in the treatment of CKD.

Reducing VEGFB expression regulates the balance of glucose and lipid metabolism in mice via VEGFR1.

In recent years, studies have demonstrated that vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGFB) can affect the metabolism of fatty acids and glucose, and it is expected to become a target for the diagnosis and treatment of metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. At present, the specific mechanism that VEGFB regulates lipid and glucose metabolism balance is not completely understood. The present study used systemic VEGFB gene‑knockout mice to investigate the effects of downregulation of the VEGFB gene on lipid metabolism and insulin secretion, and to explore the mechanism of the VEGFB pathway involved in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism.

Effects of C-terminal amidation and heptapeptide ring on the biological activities and advanced structure of amurin-9KY, a novel antimicrobial peptide identified from the brown frog, .

Rana kunyuensis is a species of brown frog that lives exclusively on Kunyu Mountain, Yantai, China. In the current study, a 279-bp cDNA sequence encoding a novel antimicrobial peptide (AMP), designated as amurin-9KY, was cloned from synthesized double-strand skin cDNA of R. kunyuensis.

Identification and characterization of two novel cathelicidins from the frog .

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a group of gene-encoded small peptides that play pivotal roles in the host immune system of multicellular organisms. Cathelicidins are an important family of AMPs that exclusively exist in vertebrates. Many cathelicidins have been identified from mammals, birds, reptiles and fish.

Effects of astaxanthin on oxidative stress induced by Cu in prostate cells.

Astaxanthin (AST), a carotenoid molecule extensively found in marine organisms and increasingly used as a dietary supplement, has been reported to have beneficial effects against oxidative stress. In the current paper, the effects of AST on viability of prostate cells were investigated by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay; cell apoptosis and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were determined by flow cytometry; the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was measured by fluorospectrophotometer; and activities of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were evaluated by a detection kit. The results show that copper ion (Cu) induced apoptosis, along with the accumulation of intracellular ROS and MDA, in both prostate cell lines (RWPE-1 and PC-3).

Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2016): comments and comparisons.

A high quality diet is believed to play a functional role in promoting the healthy growth of mankind and preventing many kinds of chronic degenerative diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Adherence to a high quality diet has been strongly associated with a lower risk of mortality. To help promote healthy lifestyles and physical strength, the Chinese government has produced a new revised version of the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2016) and the Chinese Food Pagoda, as guidance for dietary intake among its population.

Molecularly imprinted polymers as the extracted sorbents of clenbuterol ahead of liquid chromatographic determination.

A pre-treatment methodology for clenbuterol hydrochloride (CLEN) isolation and enrichment in a complex matrix environment was developed through exploiting molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). CLEN-imprinted polymers were synthesized by the combined use of ally-β-cyclodextrin (ally-β-CD) and methacrylic acid (MAA), allyl-β-CD and acrylonitrile (AN), and allyl-β-CD and methyl methacrylate (MMA) as the binary functional monomers. MAA-linked allyl-β-CD MIPs (M-MAA) were characterized by Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

Simulation and evaluation of tablet-coating burst based on finite element method.

The objective of this study was to simulate and evaluate the burst behavior of coated tablets. Three-dimensional finite element models of tablet-coating were established using software ANSYS. Swelling pressure of cores was measured by a self-made device and applied at the internal surface of the models.

Effects of fish oil with a high content of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on mouse gut microbiota.

Background And Aims: Many studies show that fish oil with high content of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) plays an important role in human health and disease. But the effects of fish oil with high content of PUFAs on gut microbiota, which are also known play a significant role in several human diseases, is not clear. In the present study we evaluated the effects of fish oil with high content of n-3 PUFAs on gut microbiota.

Effect of yellow capsicum extract on proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of effect of Yellow Capsicum extract (YCE) that is rich in capsaicin on the proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in vitro.

Methods: 3T3 L1 cells that were exposed to differentiation-inducing medium containing high glucose DMEM (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium) and subsequently were treated with capsaicin and YCE for their effect on adipocyte differentiation, changes in their triglyceride content, leptin secretion, expression of lipoprotein lipase, PPARγ, and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα).

Results: Both YCE and capsaicin inhibited proliferation and differentiation 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and suppressed accumulation of intracellular triglyceride in a dose-dependent manner.

[Progress in cathelicidins antimicrobial peptides research].

Cathelicidins are a family of multi-functional antimicrobial peptides found in almost all types of vertebrates, where they play vital roles in the immune system. As they possess broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, cathelicidins are not only strongly resistant to Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and viruses, but they are also active against many antibiotic-resistant clinical bacteria, adopting a special antimicrobial mechanism that is unlikely to lead to microbial resistance. Cathelicidins likewise possess simple structures, and low hemolytic and cytotoxic activities.

Colorectal cancer cell growth inhibition by linoleic acid is related to fatty acid composition changes.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) possess anti-cancer action both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we detected cell viability with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and cell membrane permeability with propidium iodide (PI) fluorescence dyeing, and calculated cell membrane fluidity change as fluorescence anisotropy. Fatty acid content in cells was measured by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS), and the relationship between fatty acid composition and cell viability was studied.

Effect of laminin tyrosine-isoleucine-glycine-serine-arginine peptide on the growth of human prostate cancer (PC-3) cells in vitro.

The laminin tyrosine-isoleucine-glycine-serine-arginine (YIGSR) peptide, corresponding to the 929-933 sequence of beta1 chain, is known to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis. In the present study, we observed that YIGSR not only inhibited the growth and migration of prostate cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner but also decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, inhibited ATP synthesis and increased caspase-9 activity. Investigation into the interaction of YIGSR with 67LR, the receptor for laminin and polyphenol (-) epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) employing MVD (Molegro Virtual Docker, an integrated platform for predicting protein ligand interactions), revealed that the binding site of YIGSR was the same as that of EGCG that explains as to why YIGSR is able to inhibit the cytotoxicity of EGCG against PC-3 cells.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate affects the growth of LNCaP cells via membrane fluidity and distribution of cellular zinc.

Objective: To evaluate effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on the viability, membrane properties, and zinc distribution, with and without the presence of Zn(2+), in human prostate carcinoma LNCaP cells.

Methods: We examined changes in cellular morphology and membrane fluidity of LNCaP cells, distribution of cellular zinc, and the incorporated portion of EGCG after treatments with EGCG, Zn(2+), and EGCG+Zn(2+).

Results: We observed an alteration in cellular morphology and a decrease in membrane fluidity of LNCaP cells after treatment with EGCG or Zn(2+).

[Growth inhibition of prostate cancer cells by epigallocatechin-3-gallate in the presence of Zn2+ in vitro].

In this paper, the cytotoxicity of EGCG against PC-3 prostate cancer cells and its molecular mechanism in the presence and absence of Zn2+ in vitro were investigated. The results showed that both EGCG and Zn2+ suppressed clonegenecity of PC-3 cells, and the suppression effect was enhanced in the coexist system of EGCG and Zn2+. MMP-9 is thought to play a significant role in cancer cell migration and invasion.

Investigations of the cytotoxicity of epigallocatechin-3-gallate against PC-3 cells in the presence of Cd2+ in vitro.

The epidemiological studies and recent data have provided convinced evidence that green tea and its major constituent epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) might have the potential to lower the risk of cancers in humans. Metal ions, such as zinc and cadmium, which are necessary to our health, are important factors inducing many diseases including prostate cancer in the condition of absence or excess. EGCG can satisfactorily exhibit complex chemistry with metal ions because of multiple hydroxyl states, which in turn changes their bioactivities and metabolism pathways.

Free Zn(2+) enhances inhibitory effects of EGCG on the growth of PC-3 cells.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major component of green tea, has both preventive and therapeutic beneficial actions in prostate cancer. In the present study, we compared the growth inhibitory effects and the antioxidant and ability to modify cell membrane permeation of zinc-EGCG complex and Zn2+/EGCG mixture on androgen-insensitive prostate cancer (PC-3) cells. It was noted that free Zn2+ enhanced the growth inhibitory effects of EGCG on PC-3 cells at 160 micromol/L concentration,whereas zinc-EGCG complex was ineffective.

Effects of metal ions, catechins, and their interactions on prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is threatening human health heavily, for its causes are related to diet, genetic factors, and lifestyle. Metal ions, which are necessary to our health, are important factors inducing many diseases including prostate cancer in the condition of absence or excess. Epidemiological and laboratory studies provide convincing evidence that green tea prevents and cures prostate cancer.

Comparison of effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate on hypoxia injury to human umbilical vein, RF/6A, and ECV304 cells induced by Na(2)S(2)O(4).

Hypoxia is related to the etiology of numerous pathological disease states, such as the formation of tumors or diverse retinopathies. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a potent polyphenolic antioxidant and antiangiogenic compound found in green tea, has been shown to suppress the growth of blood vessels necessary for the growth of tumors and the induction of retinopathies. However, only a few studies have been carried focusing on the protective effects of EGCG on hypoxia-induced injury of cultured endothelial cells.

Effects of interactions of EGCG and Cd(2+) on the growth of PC-3 cells and their mechanisms.

The preventive and therapeutic effects of a major component of catechins of green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), on prostate cancer have been demonstrated in many studies. It is well known that metal ions are necessary for human health, but an imbalance in metal ions metabolism can lead to many diseases including prostate cancer. Understanding the interactions of EGCG with metal ions might elucidate its mechanism in preventing and curing prostate cancer.

Cytotoxicity of epigallocatechin-3-gallate to LNCaP cells in the presence of Cu2+.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has shown remarkably anti-cancer activity, with its bioactivity being related to reactive conditions, such as pH and metal ions. The present study investigated the degradation of EGCG and its effect on prostate cancer cell in the presence of Cu2+. EGCG was incubated with prostate cancer cells, LNCaP, pretreated with or without Cu2+.

Growth inhibition of prostate cancer cells by epigallocatechin gallate in the presence of Cu2+.

Green tea is an effective chemopreventive agent to human prostate cancer adenoma (PCA). Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) inhibited the growth of PCA cells and induced apoptosis. Cu(2+) is a trace element necessary to our health.