AMPK agonist alleviate renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis via activating mitophagy in high fat and streptozotocin induced diabetic mice.

Renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis was a crucial pathological feature of diabetic nephropathy (DN), and renal tubular injury might associate with abnormal mitophagy. In this study, we investigated the effects and molecular mechanisms of AMPK agonist metformin on mitophagy and cellular injury in renal tubular cell under diabetic condition. The high fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetic mice model and HK-2 cells were used in this study.

[Selenium Geochemical Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Paddy Fields in Du'an County, Guangxi].

This study used 21 rock samples and 193 sets of paddy soil and rice grain samples collected form Baiwang Town, an area of clastic sedimentary rocks in Guangxi, China, to evaluate the potential for selenium-rich agriculture. We analyzed the concentrations of selenium and heavy metals in the soil and rice samples, and discuss the influencing factors by means of statistics and correlation analysis. The results showed that the selenium-rich rate of paddy soil and rice grain in Baiwang Town were 67.

[Migration, Transformation Characteristics, and Ecological Risk Evaluation of Heavy Metal Fractions in Cultivated Soil Profiles in a Typical Carbonate-Covered Area].

In China, high heavy metal concentrations in cultivated soil are mainly distributed in carbonate-covered areas. The migration and transformation of heavy metals in such soils are influenced by interactions between natural processes and human activities. This study examined the profiles of nine paddy soils, derived from carbonate rocks in Guangxi.

[Factors Affecting the Translocation and Accumulation of Cadmium in a Soil-Crop System in a Typical Karst Area of Guangxi Province, China].

To understand the main factors influencing the translocation and accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in soil-crop systems in typical karst areas, 68 sets of paddy soil and rice grain samples were collected in Guangxi Province. These were used to analyze Cd concentrations and soil properties (pH, organic matter (OM) content, oxide content, and texture). Spearman's correlation coefficients and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to examine the effects of soil properties on Cd concentrations and identify the main influencing factors.

Ultrasonic treatment on physicochemical properties of water-soluble protein from Moringa oleifera seed.

Effect of ultrasonic power on the structure and functional properties of water-soluble protein extracted from defatted Moringa oleifera seed were explored. The results showed that ultrasonic treatment could reduce β-sheet and β-turn content of water-soluble protein from Moringa oleifera seed (MOWP) and increase the content of random coil and α-helix. Changes in intrinsic fluorescence spectra, surface hydrophobicity (H) and thermal behaviors indicated that ultrasonic had significant effect on the tertiary structure of MOWP.

[Trace Metals Pollution and Health Risks for Planning Area Soils of 193 Chinese Cities].

Urban soils are more easily subjected to modification, especially by contamination because of various human activities, and the environmental problems caused by urban soil pollution have become more prominent. To systematically investigate concentration characteristics, pollution levels, and exposure risks of 13 trace metals in urban soils of planning areas for 193 cities above the prefectural level, located in 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) of China, levels of pollution in urban soil were evaluated using the geoaccumulation index and integrated pollution index of trace metals, and health risks of residents exposed to urban soils were quantified using the health risk assessment method recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The results show that the median concentrations of As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, Tl, V, and Zn in topsoils of urban planning areas were 9.

Synergistic Antibacterial Activity Between 1,4-Naphthoquinone and β-Lactam Antibiotics Against Methicillin-Resistant .

Currently, limited antibiotics are available to treat methicillin-resistant (MRSA) infections. One approach is the use of adjuvants in antibiotic therapy. 1,4-Naphthoquinones are naturally occurring alkaloids shown to have antibacterial properties.

[Bioavailability, Translocation, and Accumulation Characteristic of Heavy Metals in a Soil-Crop System from a Typical Carbonate Rock Area in Guangxi, China].

This study uses 68 sets of paddy soil and rice grain samples collected from an area of carbonate rocks in Guangxi Province, China, to explore the ecological risks of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Ni, and Zn) in soils from a high background area. We analyzed the concentrations of these heavy metals in soil and grain samples, and their chemical speciation in soil, and use these data to assess the associated ecological risks by means of statistics, a geo-accumulation index, bioconcentration factors (BCF), and correlation analysis. The arithmetic mean values of heavy metals concentrations in soil samples from the study area were (75.

The Impact of Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms on the Susceptibility of Diabetic Vascular Complications: A Meta-Analysis.

To determine whether vitamin D receptor () gene polymorphisms are correlated with susceptibility to diabetic vascular complications. We included all eligible studies, and used Stata12.0 to calculate the pooled results.

Green tea polyphenols attenuate hepatic steatosis, and reduce insulin resistance and inflammation in high-fat diet-induced rats.

Non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance and inflammation; however, the exact pathogenesis of NAFLD is not fully understood. Green tea polyphenols (GTP) exhibit beneficial effects against metabolic syndrome. However, the effect of GTP on NAFLD remains largely unknown.

Mitochondria-Targeted Peptide SS31 Attenuates Renal Tubulointerstitial Injury via Inhibiting Mitochondrial Fission in Diabetic Mice.

Objective: Renal tubular injury is an early characteristic of diabetic nephropathy (DN) that is related to mitochondrial dysfunction. In this study, we explore the effects and mechanisms of mitochondria-targeted peptide SS31 on renal tubulointerstitial injury in DN.

Method: 40 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, STZ group, STZ+SS31 group, and STZ+normal saline group.

Antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of extract of ginkgo biloba in rats of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of extract of ginkgo biloba (EGB) in treatment of diet-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in rats.

Methods: The experiment was conducted in the Laboratory, Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China from June 2009 to December 2009. In this study, the rat model of NASH was produced by feeding high-fat diet.