Metformin Attenuates Liver Fat Content: Finding from Schizophrenia Patients with Olanzapine-induced Weight Gain.

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of metformin on liver fat content (LFC) in first episode schizophrenia patients with olanzapine-induced weight gain, and the relationship between the change of LFC and the other metabolic indices.

Methods: In a double-blind study, the clinically stable inpatients with first-episode schizophrenia under olanzapine monotherapy who gained more than 7% of their baseline weight were randomly assigned to two groups; one with olanzapine plus metformin (1,000 mg/day) (metformin group) and the other with olanzapine plus placebo (placebo group) for 16 weeks. All patients continued to maintain the original olanzapine dosage.

Cerebrospinal fluid FGF23 levels correlate with a measure of impulsivity.

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a bone-derived protein produced mainly by osteocytes and osteoblasts and at low levels in specific parts of the brain. It has been shown to associate with mood regulation. Lithium treatment gives rise to significant elevations of serum FGF23 levels in depressive patients.

[Association of aggressive behaviors of schizophrenia with short tandem repeats loci].

Objective: To assess the association of short tandem repeats (STRs) loci with aggressive behaviors of schizophrenia.

Methods: Blood samples from 123 schizophrenic patients with aggressive behaviors and 489 schizophrenic patients without aggressive behaviors were collected. DNA from all samples was amplified with a PowerPlex 21 system and separated by electrophoresis to determine the genotypes and allelic frequencies of 20 STR loci including D3S1368, D1S1656, D6S1043, D13S317, Penta E, D16S639, D18S51, D2S1338, CSF1PO, Penta D, TH01, vWA, D21S11, D7S820, D5S818, TPOX, D8S1179, D12S391, D19S433, and FGA.

Chemical constituents of Trachelospermum jasminoides.

Ten compounds, comprising a new C(8) normonoterpenoid glycoside, trachelinoside (1), structurally as 4-(2-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-hydroxyethyl-5,5-dimethyldihydrofuran-2(3H)-one, together with nine known compounds, were isolated from the 85% ethanol extract of the vines and leaves of Trachelospermum jasminoides (Lindl.) Lem.

[Study on the flavonoids constituents of Trachelospermum jasminoides].

Objective: To study the flavonoids constituents of Trachelospemum jasminoides.

Methods: The compounds were separated and purified by column chromatography with silica gel, and identified by IR, MS, NMR and 2D-NMR.

Results: Six flavonoids were identified as apigenin (I), apigenin 7-O-beta-glucoside (II), apigenin 7-O-beta-neospheroside (III), luteoloside (IV), narngin (V) 6,8-di-C-glucopyanosylapigenin (VI), respectively.

Lignans from Trachelospermum jasminoides.

Seven lignans having a diarylhydroxybutyrolactone skeleton were isolated from the leaves and stems of Trachelospermum jasminoides (Lindl.) Lem. Their structures were elucidated to be nortrachelogenin 8' -O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), nortrachelogenin 5'- C- beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), trachelogenin amide (3), nortracheloside, trachelogenin, tracheloside, and trachelogenin 4'- O- beta-gentiobioside, respectively, on the basis of spectroscopic analyses.

[Studies on chemical constituents of Ervatamia hainanensis].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of Ervatamia hainanensis.

Method: The compounds were separated and purified by column chromatography with silica gel, and identified by IR, MS, NMR and 2D-NMR.

Result: Five compounds were identified as I (isolariciresinol 9-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside), II (cycloartenol), III (beta-amyrin acetate), IV (beta-sitosterol), V (daucosterol), respectively.

[Studies on liver-toxicity in rhigoma of Dioscorea bulbifera].

Objective: To explore the liver-toxic fraction in Rhigoma of Dioscorea bulbifera.

Method: The rats were randomized into four groups: control group (20% PVP-water), T001(10% total methanol extraction), F002(5% chloroform fraction) and F003(5% methanol fraction). Direct bilirubin (DBil) and Glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were examined, and liver index was measured.