Water Extract of Pleurotus eryngii var. ferulae Prevents High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity by Inhibiting Pancreatic Lipase.

Pleurotus eryngii var. ferulae (PEF) is traditionally used in the prevention and treatment of lifestyle-related diseases. In this study, we investigated the ability of PEF extract to prevent obesity and metabolic diseases and explored the underlying mechanism.

Inhibition of C1-Ten PTPase activity reduces insulin resistance through IRS-1 and AMPK pathways.

Insulin resistance causes type 2 diabetes; therefore, increasing insulin sensitivity is a therapeutic approach against type 2 diabetes. Activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an effective approach for treating diabetes, and reduced insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) protein levels have been suggested as a molecular mechanism causing insulin resistance. Thus, dual targeting of AMPK and IRS-1 might provide an ideal way to treat diabetes.

Potential pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity of phenolic constituents from the root bark of Morus alba L.

Detailed phytochemical investigation from the root bark of Morus alba resulted in the isolation of eleven new compounds, including seven 2-arylbenzofuran derivatives (morusalfurans A-G), three flavonoids (morusalnols A-C), and one geranylated stilbene (morusibene A), as well as 22 known compounds. The structures of the identified compounds were elucidated based on a comprehensive analysis of spectroscopic data and Mosher's method. Compounds 2, 3, 6-8, 11, 23, 24, and 29 showed potent inhibition of PL in comparison with the positive control treatment (orlistat, IC50=0.

DISTINCTIVE LOCALIZATION OF GROUP 3 LATE EMBRYOGENESIS ABUNDANT SYNTHESIZING CELLS DURING BRINE SHRIMP DEVELOPMENT.

Despite numerous studies on late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, their functions, roles, and localizations during developmental stages in arthropods remain unknown. LEA proteins protect crucial proteins against osmotic stress during the development and growth of various organisms. Thus, in this study, fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to determine the crucial regions protected against osmotic stress as well as the distinctive localization of group 3 (G3) LEA(+) cells during brine shrimp development.

Exendin-4 increases bone mineral density in type 2 diabetic OLETF rats potentially through the down-regulation of SOST/sclerostin in osteocytes.

Aim: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor participates in the control of bone resorption in GLP-1 knockout mice. Also, GLP-1 induces an insulin- and parathyroid hormone-independent osteogenic action through osteoclasts and osteoblasts in insulin-resistant and type 2 diabetic rats. Osteocytes are now considered central to bone homeostasis.

17β-estradiol induces an interaction between adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and the insulin signaling pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Estrogen (17β-estradiol) has been implicated in maintaining insulin sensitivity. It is thought to act predominantly through genomic pathways and regulate the expression of various genes via binding to estrogen receptors (ERs)-α and -β. 17β-estradiol has been reported to simultaneously stimulate protein kinase B (Akt) and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in ex vivo skeletal muscle.

Melatonin improves inflammatory cytokine profiles in lung inflammation associated with sleep deprivation.

Sleep disturbance has become an endemic behavior in modern countries, and its prevalence has also increased. Even a subtle sleep deficiency is related to health problems. Particularly, patients with pulmonary disease often complain of insomnia.

Exendin-4 protects oxidative stress-induced β-cell apoptosis through reduced JNK and GSK3β activity.

Oxidative stress induced by chronic hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes plays a crucial role in progressive loss of β-cell mass through β-cell apoptosis. Glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has effects on preservation of β-cell mass and its insulin secretory function. GLP-1 possibly increases islet cell mass through stimulated proliferation from β-cell and differentiation to β-cell from progenitor cells.

Parenteral 17beta-estradiol decreases fasting blood glucose levels in non-obese mice with short-term ovariectomy.

Aims: long-term ovariectomy-induced metabolic changes such as insulin resistance and glucose intolerance might be caused directly by estrogen deficiency and may occur partly as secondary effects of obesity arising due to the orexigenic effects of estrogen deficiency. Long-term estrogen treatment prevented those by exerting anorexigenic and metabolic actions in ovariectomized mice. However, the effect of short-term estrogen treatment on glucose metabolism in mice with short-term ovariectomy, during which ovariectomy-induced obesity does not develop, is not yet clear.

Methanolic extracts of Uncaria rhynchophylla induce cytotoxicity and apoptosis in HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells.

In this paper, we report the anticancer activities of Uncaria rhynchophylla extracts, a Rubiaceae plant native to China. Traditionally, Uncaria rhynchophylla has been used in the prevention and treatment of neurotoxicity. However, the cytotoxic activity of Uncaria rhynchophylla against human colon carcinoma cells has not, until now, been elucidated.