Myricetin Increases Circulating Adropin Level after Activation of Glucagon-like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) Receptor in Type-1 Diabetic Rats.

Myricetin is a common plant-derived flavonoid, considered an agonist of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor. It improves glycemic control and helps reduce body weight in diabetic subjects. The potential mechanisms of action of myricetin in this context might be enhancing the secretion of β-endorphin (BER) to activate peripheral μ-opioid receptors.

Major Plant in Herbal Mixture Gan-Mai-Da-Zao for the Alleviation of Depression in Rat Models.

Gan-Mai-Da-Zao (GMDZ) is a well-known product in Chinese traditional medicine and includes three major plants: blighted wheat (Fu Mai), licorice (Gan Cao), and jujube (Da Zao). GMDZ is widely used as an efficacious and well-tolerated prescription for depression in clinics. The present study was designed to investigate the main plant of GMDZ for its antidepressant-like effect using the unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) model on rats who received an injection with p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) to produce the chemical model.

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) from China and its phylogenetic analysis.

The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae: Tetriginae) was sequenced and annotated. The assembled mitochondrial genome was 14,947 bp, containing 45.8% of A, 15.

Liraglutide Activates Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor to Attenuate Hyperglycemia through Endogenous Beta-Endorphin in Diabetic Rats.

Liraglutide, an acylated analog of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), could improve glycemic control in diabetes. Moreover, endogenous opioid peptides play a role in blood sugar regulation. Since GLP-1 receptors are also expressed in extra-pancreatic tissues, this study investigates the effect of liraglutide on endogenous opioid secretion in type 1-like diabetes.

LncRNA A2M-AS1 lessens the injury of cardiomyocytes caused by hypoxia and reoxygenation via regulating IL1R2.

Background: Myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury (MI/RI) is a complex pathophysiological process, which can lead to severe myocardial injury. The long noncoding RNA alpha-2-macroglobulin antisense RNA 1 (A2M-AS1) has been revealed to be abnormally expressed in MI, However, its function in MI and the potential mechanism are still unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the functional role of A2M-AS1 in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced neonatal cardiomyocytes and its potential molecular mechanism.

Effects of aging on the plasma levels of nesfatin-1 and adiponectin.

Gastric and adipose tissue secrete a number of hormones that are involved in energy metabolism. The biological functions of these hormones, including their effects on aging, are currently under investigation. Adiponectin was shown to be directly involved in appetite and the control of body weight.

Silymarin induces insulin resistance through an increase of phosphatase and tensin homolog in Wistar rats.

Background And Aims: Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a phosphoinositide phosphatase that regulates crucial cellular functions, including insulin signaling, lipid and glucose metabolism, as well as survival and apoptosis. Silymarin is the active ingredient in milk thistle and exerts numerous effects through the activation of PTEN. However, the effect of silymarin on the development of insulin resistance remains unknown.

Role of musclin in the pathogenesis of hypertension in rat.

Musclin is a novel skeletal muscle-derived secretory factor found in the signal sequence trap of mouse skeletal muscle cDNAs. Musclin possesses a region homologous to the natriuretic peptide family. Thus, musclin is found to bind with the natriuretic peptide clearance receptors.

Opioid μ-receptors as new target for insulin resistance.

Type-2 diabetes is one of the fastest growing public health problems worldwide resulting from both environmental and genetic factors. Activation of μ-opioid receptor (MOR) could result in reversal of the impairment of insulin-stimulated glucose disposal in genetically obese Zucker rats via exercise training. This improvement of insulin resistance was associated with an elevation of circulating β-endorphin to ameliorate the post-receptor insulin signaling cascade, including downstream effectors of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) signaling pathway.

[Interleukin-8 monoclonal antibody attenuates smooth muscle cell proliferation and balloon inflation-induced abdominal aorta stenosis in rabbits].

Objective: To observe the effects of interleukin-8 monoclonal antibody on smooth muscle cell proliferation and balloon inflation-induced abdominal aorta stenosis in rabbits.

Methods: Thirty-six New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to balloon inflation group (group A, n = 12), interleukin-8 monoclonal antibody pre-treated rabbits (2 mg/kg for 3 days before balloon inflation, group B, n = 12) and sham-operated control group (group C, n = 12). Peripheral blood was collected before experiment and at 4 h, 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days post balloon inflation or sham operation and the levels of IL-8 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Characterization of preptin-induced insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells.

We aimed to characterize the effects of preptin on insulin secretion at the single-cell level, as well as the mechanisms underlying these changes, with respect to regulation by intracellular Ca(2+) [Ca(2+)](i) mobilization. This study assessed the effect of preptin on insulin secretion and investigated the link between preptin and the phospholipase C (PLC)/protein kinase C (PKC) pathway at the cellular level using fura-2 pentakis(acetoxymethyl) ester-loaded insulin-producing cells (Min 6 cells). Our results demonstrate that preptin promotes insulin secretion in a concentration-dependent manner.

The use of herbal medicine in cancer-related anorexia/ cachexia treatment around the world.

Cancer-related cachexia, a condition in which the body is consumed by deranged carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism that is induced by inflammatory cytokines. Cachexia is associated with poor treatment outcome, fatigue and poor quality of life. Pharmacological intervention in the treatment and/or prevention of cachexia has been mainly aimed at the use of appetite enhancers to increase oral nutritional intake so far.

Silymarin inhibits cervical cancer cell through an increase of phosphatase and tensin homolog.

Silymarin is an active constituent contained in the seeds of the milk thistle plant and is widely used as a hepatic protection agent due to its antioxidant-like activity. In the present study we evaluated the potential action of silymarin against cervical cancer and investigated its mechanism of action. Treatment of cervical cancer cells (C-33A) with silymarin resulted in a significant decrease in cell viability.

Role of Bone Morphogenetic Proteins-7 (BMP-7) in the Renal Improvement Effect of DangGui (Angelica sinensis) in Type-1 Diabetic Rats.

Hyperglycemia induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation is believed as major factors leading to diabetic nephropathy (DN). DangGui (Angelica sinensis) is mentioned to show renal protective effect in combination with other herbs. Bone morphogenetic proteins-7 (BMP-7) is produced merit in protection of DN.

Effect of exercise and high-fat diet on plasma adiponectin and nesfatin levels in mice.

Lifestyle-related diseases are associated with overeating and lack of exercise. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of exercise and high-fat diet on plasma adiponectin and nesfatin levels. Mice were housed for 4 weeks in 4 groups, which included the non-exercise and normal diet (SN), exercise and normal diet (EN), non-exercise and high-fat diet (SF) and the exercise and high-fat diet (EF) group.

The role of ghrelin in energy homeostasis and its potential clinical relevance (Review).

The novel gastric hormone ghrelin, a 28-amino acid peptide, has been identified as a potent growth-hormone secretagogue. Ghrelin production is regulated by nutritional and hormonal factors. Besides stimulating growth hormone secretion, studies show that ghrelin exerts a number of central and peripheral actions such as the regulation of food intake, the control of energy balance, glucose metabolism and insulin release, cardiovascular actions, the stimulation of gastric acid secretion, and motility.

Antihypertension Induced by Tanshinone IIA Isolated from the Roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza.

Tanshinone IIA is one of the active principles in danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge) widely used in treatment of cardiovascular disorders. We investigated the effect of danshen or tanshinone IIA on blood pressure and its possible mechanisms. An i.

Mechanisms of improvement of left ventricle remodeling by trans-planting two kinds of autologous bone marrow stem cells in pigs.

Background: The necrosis of a large number of myocardial cells after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) results in a decrease of cardiac function and ventricle remodeling. Stem cell transplantation could improve cardiac function after AMI, but the involving mechanisms have not been completely understood. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of transplantation of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNC) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) via the coronary artery on the ventricle remodeling after AMI as well as the mechanisms of the effects of transplantation of different stem cells on ventricle remodeling.

Activation of opioid mu-receptor by sinomenine in cell and mice.

Sinomenine, one of the alkaloids extracted from roots or stems of Sinomenium acutum, is documented to show antinociceptive action but the action mechanism is still unclear. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of sinomenine on opioid mu-receptor (OMR). In Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell transfected with OMR, the binding of [(3)H]naloxone was displaced by sinomenine in a concentration-dependent manner.