Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate ameliorates insulin resistance in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease mice.

Aim: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a major polyphenol in green tea. In this study, we investigated the effects of EGCG on insulin resistance and insulin clearance in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) mice.

Methods: Mice were fed on a high-fat diet for 24 weeks.

Effects and mechanisms of vitamin A and vitamin E on the levels of serum leptin and other related cytokines in rats with rheumatoid arthritis.

Leptin has been identified as an important cytokine in the inflammatory networks of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Higher serum leptin levels may accelerate the development of RA. This study aimed to examine the effects of vitamin A (VitA) and vitamin E (VitE) on the levels of leptin and other related experimental and clinical indices, and to explore the mechanisms of these effects through the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signal transduction pathway in rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

Prevalence and risk factors of postpartum depression in a population-based sample of women in Tangxia Community, Guangzhou.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and analyze the risk factors of postpartum depression (PPD) in Tangxia Community, Guangzhou, a community representative of the process of urbanization in China.

Methods: A total of 1 823 delivery women in Tangxia Community, Guangzhou were screened with the Chinese Version of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Hamilton Depression Scale and Social Support Rating Scale. The risk factors were evaluated by self-made questionnaire based on literature interview combined with expert consultation.

Protective mechanism of andrographolide against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in mice.

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of andrographolide (AP), a bioactive component isolated from Andrographis paniculata, on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver injury as well as the possible mechanisms involved in this protection in mice. Acute liver injury was induced by CCl(4) intoxication in mice. Serum biological analysis, lipid peroxides and antioxidant estimation, histopathological studies, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot assay were carried out.