Glycyrrhizic acid improved lipoprotein lipase expression,insulin sensitivity,serum lipid and lipid deposition in high-fat diet-induced obese rats

Background  

The metabolic syndrome, known also as the insulin resistance syndrome, refers to the clustering of several risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Dyslipidaemia is a hallmark of the syndrome and is associated with a whole body reduction in the activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), an enzyme under the regulation of the class of nuclear receptors known as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR). Glycyrrhizic acid (GA), a triterpenoid saponin, is the primary bioactive constituent of the roots of the shrub Glycyrrhiza glabra. Studies have indicated that triterpenoids could act as PPAR agonists and GA is therefore postulated to restore LPL expression in the insulin resistant state.     

99mTc-diflunisal and the human iris: topical application reveals localization.

Following the instillation of a drug into the eye, drainage mechanisms will commence at once. In this report, an attempt was made to assess the dynamics of an instilled nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), diflunisal, labeled with 1 MBq 99mTc followed by twenty minutes of scintigraphy. The results obtained with this labeled drug were compared with instillation of the same volume and activity of 99mTcO4-. Although the pertechnetate anion is an excellent and innocuous indicator for detecting the external lacrimal drainage system of the eye, it cannot visualize the internal structures. A clear scintigraphic difference was noted between labeled diflunisal and the pertechnetate anion. Scintigraphic activity surrounding the pupil of the eye provides evidence of visualization of the iris/ciliary body. This seems reasonable as the cyclooxygenase enzyme is located in this structure, and NSAIDs exert their mechanism of action via this complex. With this technology, visualization of some internal structures of the eye may be facilitated.     

Nannizzia incurvata in Hue city - Viet Nam: Molecular identification and antifungal susceptibility testing

BackgroundNannizzia incurvata, a species belonging to the Nannizzia gypsea complex, is considered a neglected pathogen.ObjectiveTo detected N. incurvata isolates from dermatophytosis patients in Hue city - Viet Nam, and test the antifungal susceptibility of this species. Moreover, fungal capability to produce hydrolytic enzymes was evaluated.MethodsPatients’ samples were collected and cultured on Sabouraud-chloramphenicol-cycloheximide medium. Dermatophytes isolates were initially macroscopically and microscopically identified. ITS PCR-RFLP and ITS rDNA sequences were performed to determine and confirm species. An ITS Neighbor-Joining phylogenetic tree evaluated the genetic relationship among isolates. Fungal hydrolytic enzymes were examined, including lipase, phospholipase and protease. Antifungal susceptibility testing was carried out by the disk diffusion method. MICs of itraconazole, voriconazole, and terbinafine against these isolates were determined by the broth microdilution method.ResultsTwelve isolates of N. gypsea complex were preliminary morphologically identified. PCR-RFLP and ITS-rDNA sequencing identified and confirmed dermatophytes as N. incurvata strains, respectively. An evident polymorphism among isolates was highlighted in the phylogenetic tree. All isolates showed the activity of lipase, phospholipase, and protease production. Overall, all N. incurvata isolates were susceptible to itraconazole, voriconazole, clotrimazole, miconazole, and terbinafine. Few isolates were susceptible to griseofulvin, and none of them were susceptible to fluconazole.ConclusionsThere was a presence of polyclonal N. incurvata isolates in dermatophytosis patients from Hue city, identified by PCR-RLFP and confirmed by ITS sequencing. We confirmed PCR-RLFP as a reliable technique to identify this species. Azole and terbinafine are the optimal choices for N. incurvata treatment except for fluconazole.     

长时间慢性心肌缺血实验动物模型的构建技术

目的:建立慢性心肌缺血大鼠动物实验模型,探讨动物模型构建的关键技术点。方法:实验于2004-07/2204-11在汕头大学医学院药理学实验室完成。建立慢性心肌缺血大鼠实验动物模型:选用SD大鼠37只,雌雄不拘。以氯胺酮麻醉,心电监护,连接呼吸机辅助通气。在左心耳和肺动脉圆锥之间结扎血管(即结扎左冠状动脉)。2个月后取材,肉眼观察大体标本缺血区和非缺血区差异,石蜡切片观察结扎冠状动脉后心肌缺血情况。结果:①在整个实验过程中,术中或术后马上死亡大鼠7只(19%),术后6h死亡的大鼠9只(24%),术后1天死亡的大鼠1只(3%),术后1周死亡的大鼠1只(3%),术后4周死亡的大鼠1只(3%),术后6周死亡的大鼠1只(3%),至2个月仍存活的大鼠17只(46%)。②构建的慢性心肌缺血大鼠动物模型,经石蜡切片,苏木精-伊红染色后镜下可以看到很典型的变性、纤维化。③大体标本肉眼观察也看到很明显的瘢痕形成。④成功构建模型的技术关键是麻醉程度的控制、术后呼吸道的管理和冠状动脉的定位。结论:①模型的构建关键在于手术当时和围术期,大鼠在手术1周后发生死亡的事件明显减少,能较好地存活。②实验建立的缺血模型,缺血确切,可较理想地复制心肌缺血性损伤的过程。③慢性模型的构建成功率仍比较低,其中麻醉程度的控制、呼吸道的管理和冠状动脉的定位是本模型成功建立的关键。④结合大体标本和病理切片最后判断心肌缺血程度是比较可靠的方法,手术当时心电图改变只是很好的辅助指标,不是结扎当时判断冠状动脉结扎效果的金标准。