Differential metabolic profiles of ginsenosides in artificial gastric juice using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap-Orbitrap mass spectrometry.

Ginsenosides have poor oral bioavailability and undergo rapid biological transformation in the complex gastrointestinal environment. Most studies on the metabolism of ginsenosides have focused on gut bacteria, yet gastric juice remains a nonnegligible factor. Metabolic profiles of ginsenoside monomers formed in artificial gastric juice were separately investigated and qualitatively identified using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS ).

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) fails to improve cognition in patients with parkinson's disease: a Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Cognitive decline is one of the greatest concerns for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their care partners. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a nonpharmacological treatment option used to improve cognitive function in PD, but its efficacy is unclear. We performed a meta-analysis to determine whether rTMS improves cognition in PD patients.

Utility of Activated Carbon Nanoparticle (CNP) During total Thyroidectomy for Clinically Nodal Positive Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma (PTC).

Background: Activated carbon nanoparticle (CNP) is a novel tracer that may facilitate nodal dissection in clinically nodal positive (cN1) papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The present study compared the nodal yield and surgical outcomes between surgery with CNP and without CNP.

Methods: Patients who underwent total thyroidectomy with therapeutic nodal dissection for cN1 PTC were given the option of intraoperative CNP injection.

Constructing a DNA barcode reference library for southern herbs in China: A resource for authentication of southern Chinese medicine.

Southern Chinese Medicine (SCM) is an important sect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with its own special cultural style. Species identification is essential for TCM quality control because authentic herbs are possibly substituted with adulterants that would threaten the health of the public or even cause death. Here, we provided the first local reference DNA barcode library based on the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) for the molecular identification of SCM.

Small tumor necrosis factor receptor biologics inhibit the tumor necrosis factor-p38 signalling axis and inflammation.

Despite anti-TNF therapy advancements for inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, the burden of diseases remains high. An 11-mer TNF peptide, TNF, is known to stimulate selective functional responses compared to the parent TNF molecule. Here, we show that TNF binds to the TNF receptor, activating p38 MAP kinase through TNF receptor-associated factor 2.

Selective suppression of adipose tissue apoE expression impacts systemic metabolic phenotype and adipose tissue inflammation.

apoE is a multi-functional protein expressed in several cell types and in several organs. It is highly expressed in adipose tissue, where it is important for modulating adipocyte lipid flux and gene expression in isolated adipocytes. In order to investigate a potential systemic role for apoE that is produced in adipose tissue, mice were generated with selective suppression of adipose tissue apoE expression and normal circulating apoE levels.

Neutral fragment filtering for rapid identification of new diester-diterpenoid alkaloids in roots of Aconitum carmichaeli by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap-orbitrap mass spectrometry.

A rapid and effective method was developed for separation and identification of diester-diterpenoid alkaloids (DDA) in the roots of Aconitum carmichaeli by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution LTQ-Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS(n)). According to accurate mass measurement and the characteristic neutral loss filtering strategy, a total of 42 diester-diterpenoid alkaloids (DDA) were rapidly detected and characterized or tentatively identified. Meanwhile, the proposed fragmentation pathways and the major diagnostic fragment ions of aconitine, mesaconitine and hypaconitine were investigated to trace DDA derivatives in crude plant extracts.

PCOS is associated with increased CD11c expression and crown-like structures in adipose tissue and increased central abdominal fat depots independent of obesity.

Context: Adipose tissue macrophage (ATM) infiltration is a major pathway for obesity-induced insulin resistance but has not been studied as a mechanism for insulin resistance in PCOS.

Objective: We tested whether polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with increased ATM infiltration, especially of inflammatory subtype identified by the CD11c marker.

Design And Setting: We conducted a case-control study at an academic medical center in the United States.

ApoE derived from adipose tissue does not suppress atherosclerosis or correct hyperlipidemia in apoE knockout mice.

The synthesis of apoE by adipocytes has profound effects on adipose tissue lipid flux and gene expression. Using adipose tissue transplantation from wild-type (WT) to apoE knockout (EKO) mice, we show that adipose tissue also contributes to circulating apoE. Different from circulating apoE produced by bone marrow transplantation (BMT), however, adipose tissue-derived apoE does not correct hyperlipidemia or suppress atherosclerosis.

Regulation of plasma cholesterol esterification by sphingomyelin: effect of physiological variations of plasma sphingomyelin on lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activity.

Although sphingomyelin (SM) is the most abundant phospholipid in the plasma, next to phosphatidylcholine (PC), its physiological function in plasma is unclear. Here we employed plasma from various genetic models of mice which naturally differ in their plasma SM/PC ratios, to study the role of SM as a modulator of LCAT, the enzyme responsible for HDL maturation and the synthesis of cholesteryl esters (CE) in normal plasma. Serine palmitoyltransferase deficient mice, and SM synthase deficient mice, both of which have below normal SM/PC ratios, showed significantly elevated LCAT activities when assayed with the endogenous substrates.

Expression of the human apoE2 isoform in adipocytes: altered cellular processing and impaired adipocyte lipogenesis.

Expression of apoE in adipocytes has been shown to have an important role in modulating adipocyte triglyceride (TG) metabolism and gene expression that is independent of circulating and extracellular apoE. The impact of adipocyte expression of common human apoE isoforms was evaluated using adipocytes harvested from human apoE2, -3, and -4 knock-in mice. Expression of the apoE2 isoform was associated with an increase in adipocyte apoE gene expression and apoE synthesis.

Adipose tissue depot-specific differences in adipocyte apolipoprotein E expression.

Important differences in gene expression have been documented in adipocytes derived from specific adipose tissue depots. We have previously documented an important role for adipocyte apolipoprotein E (apoE) in modulating adipocyte and adipose tissue triglyceride and lipoprotein metabolism. We now evaluate the endogenous expression of apoE in adipocytes isolated from unique adipose tissue depots in 4 different species.

Hyperglycemia and advanced glycosylation end products suppress adipocyte apoE expression: implications for adipocyte triglyceride metabolism.

Endogenous adipocyte apolipoprotein E (apoE) plays an important role in adipocyte lipoprotein metabolism and lipid flux. A potential role for hyperglycemia in regulating adipocyte apoE expression and triglyceride metabolism was examined. Exposure of adipocytes to high glucose or advanced glycosylation end product-BSA significantly suppressed apoE mRNA and protein levels.

Mechanism for endogenously expressed ApoE modulation of adipocyte very low density lipoprotein metabolism: role in endocytic and lipase-mediated metabolic pathways.

Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins distribute energy in the form of fatty acids to peripheral tissues. We have previously shown that the absence of endogenous adipocyte apoE expression impairs adipocyte triglyceride acquisition from apoE-containing triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in vitro and in vivo. Studies were performed to evaluate the mechanism(s) for this impairment.

Role of adipocyte-derived apoE in modulating adipocyte size, lipid metabolism, and gene expression in vivo.

Adipocytes isolated from apolipoprotein E (apoE)-knockout (EKO) mice display alterations in triglyceride (TG) metabolism and gene expression. The present studies were undertaken to evaluate the impact of endogenously produced adipocyte apoE on these adipocyte parameters in vivo, independent of the profoundly disturbed metabolic milieu of EKO mice. Adipose tissue from wild-type (WT) or EKO mice was transplanted into WT recipients, which were then fed chow or high-fat diet for 8-10 wk.

Angiotensin II regulates adipocyte apolipoprotein E expression.

Context: Obesity is increasing in prevalence and it is important to understand factors that regulate adipose tissue lipid metabolism. Recently, endogenous expression of apolipoprotein E (apoE) in adipose tissue has been shown to have important effects on adipocyte lipid flux and gene expression. Adipose tissue is also a physiological target of angiotensin II (AII).

Cellular sphingolipids regulate macrophage apolipoprotein E secretion.

Macrophage-derived apolipoprotein E (apoE) in the vessel wall has important effects on the vessel-wall response to atherogenic injury. The current studies characterize a novel post-transcriptional pathway for the regulation of apoE secretion from macrophages. Treatment of J774 macrophages transfected to constitutively express a human apoE3 cDNA (to constitutively secrete a physiologic level of apoE) with sphingomyelinase led to a reduction of apoE secretion by nearly 50%.

Nutritional regulation of adipose tissue apolipoprotein E expression.

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is a multifunctional protein that is highly expressed in human and murine adipose tissue. Endogenous adipocyte apoE expression influences adipocyte triglyceride turnover and modulates the expression of genes involved in lipid synthesis and oxidation. We now demonstrate the regulation of adipose tissue apoE expression by nutritional status in lean and obese mice.

Endogenous ApoE expression modulates adipocyte triglyceride content and turnover.

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is highly expressed in adipose tissue and adipocytes in which its expression is regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma agonists and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. There is, however, no information regarding a role for endogenous apoE in differentiated adipocyte function. In this report, we define a novel role for apoE in modulating adipocyte lipid metabolism.

Effects of leptin replacement on hypothalamic-pituitary growth hormone axis function and circulating ghrelin levels in ob/ob mice.

Leptin-deficient obese mice (ob/ob) have decreased circulating growth hormone (GH) and pituitary GH and ghrelin receptor (GHS-R) mRNA levels, whereas hypothalamic GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin (SST) expression do not differ from lean controls. Given the fact that GH is suppressed in diet-induced obesity (a state of hyperleptinemia), it remains to be determined whether the absence of leptin contributes to changes in the GH axis of ob/ob mice. Therefore, to study the impact of leptin replacement on the hypothalamic-pituitary GH axis of ob/ob mice, leptin was infused for 7 days (sc), resulting in circulating leptin levels that were similar to wild-type controls (approximately 1 ng/ml).

Regulation of macrophage apoE secretion and sterol efflux by the LDL receptor.

Factors that regulate apolipoprotein E (apoE) secretion by macrophages will have important effects on vessel wall lipid flux and atherosclerosis. Macrophages express the LDL receptor, which binds apoE with high affinity and could thereby affect the net secretion of apoE from macrophages. In these studies, we demonstrate that treatment of J774 macrophages transfected to constitutively express a human apoE3 cDNA with simvastatin, to increase LDL receptor activity, reduces the secretion of apoE.

A novel beta-oxa polyunsaturated fatty acid downregulates the activation of the IkappaB kinase/nuclear factor kappaB pathway, inhibits expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules, and depresses inflammation.

Several novel polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that contain either an oxygen or sulfur atom in the beta-position were found to exhibit more selective antiinflammatory properties than their natural PUFA counterparts. One of these, beta-oxa-23:4n-6, unlike natural PUFAs, lacked ability to stimulate oxygen radical production in neutrophils but caused marked inhibition of agonist-induced upregulation of leukocyte adhesion to cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression. In addition, beta-oxa-23:4n-6 inhibited acute and chronic inflammatory responses in mice as well as the upregulation of adhesion molecule expression in arterial endothelium.

Distinct cellular loci for the ABCA1-dependent and ABCA1-independent lipid efflux mediated by endogenous apolipoprotein E expression.

Objective: Macrophage expression of both apolipoprotein E (apoE) and ABCA1 have been shown to modulate lipid efflux from these cells and to play an important atheroprotective role in vivo. We evaluated the relationship between apoE and ABCA1 for regulating cellular sterol efflux.

Methods And Results: ApoE-mediated, but ABCA1-independent, lipid efflux was demonstrated in 3 model systems.

Neuroprotective effects of prostaglandin A1 in animal models of focal ischemia.

The present study evaluated the neuroprotective potential of prostaglandin A1 (PGA1) in rodent models of focal cerebral ischemia. PGA1 33 nmol reduced infarction volume by about 43% (P < 0.05) when administered intracerebroventricularly before and after transient ischemia in mice.