Effect of resveratrol and rosuvastatin on experimental diabetic nephropathy in rats

The development of diabetic nephropathy (DN) relays mainly on control of blood glucose and restrains hyperglycemic-induced oxidative stress. Hence, the effect administration of resveratrol (RSV) (5 mg/kg) alone or in combination with rosuvastatin (RSU) (10 mg/kg) on development and progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN) was evaluated. Oral treatment of diabetic rats with RSV alone or co-administered with RSU improved renal dysfunction indicated by a significant decrease in serum creatinine, urinary protein and urinary TGF-β1 when compared with diabetic control rats. Also, a significant increase in body weight, relative kidney weight with a significant decrease in serum glucose and glycated hemoglobin in diabetic treated groups when compared with diabetic control group. Hyperglycemic-induced oxidative stress in diabetic control rats indicated by a significant decrease in renal activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and reduced glutathione level with a significant increase in malondialdehyde levels. However, oral treatment of diabetic rats with RSV alone or co-administered with RSU improved the antioxidant status back to control values. Similarly, mRNA analysis of quantitative real time-PCR substantiated that RSV with RSU notably normalizes the renal expression of TGF-β1, fibronectin, NF-κB/p65, Nrf2, Sirt1 and FoxO1 in the diabetic group of rats. The histopathological observations of the combined treated diabetic rats effectively protect the kidneys from hyperglycemic-induced oxidative damage. These findings confirmed the renoprotective effects of RSV with RSU treatment through improving glycemic control and attenuating oxidative stress damage in renal tissues of diabetic rats.     

Laparoscopic greater curvature plication: Surgical techniques and early outcomes of a Chinese experience

BackgroundLaparoscopic greater curvature plication (LGCP) is a novel restrictive bariatric procedure that can reduce the gastric volume by infolding the gastric greater curvature without gastrectomy. The objective of this study was to describe the surgical technique of LGCP and validate the efficacy and safety of LGCP for the treatment of obesity in obese Chinese patients with a relatively low body mass index (BMI).MethodsTwenty-two obese patients (mean age 33.8±6.0 years; mean BMI 37.0±7.0 kg/m²) underwent LGCP between September 2011 and September 2012. After dissecting the greater omentum and short gastric vessels, the gastric greater curvature plication with 2 rows of nonabsorbable suture was performed under the guidance of a 32-F bougie. The data were collected during follow-up examinations performed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.ResultsAll procedures were performed laparoscopically. The mean operative time was 84.1 minutes (50–120 min), and the mean length of hospital stay was 3.8 days (2–10 d). There were no deaths or postoperative major complications that needed reoperation. The mean percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) was 22.9%±6.9%, 38.6%±9.8%, 51.5%±13.5%, and 61.1%±15.9% at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. At 6 months, type 2 diabetes was in remission in 2 (50%) patients, hypertension in 1 (33.3%) patient, and dyslipidemia in 11 (78.6%) patients. Decreases in the index for homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and in insulin and glucose concentrations were observed.ConclusionsThe early outcomes of LGCP as a novel treatment for obese Chinese with a relatively low BMI are satisfactory with respect to the effectiveness and low incidence of major complications. Additional long-term follow-up and prospective, comparative trials are still needed.     

Screening of the Optimal Potassium Fertilization Rate for Maximizing Bulb Yield and Potassium Nutrient Evaluation in Fritillaria thunbergii Miq.

BackgroundThe dry bulb of Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. is a traditional Chinese medicine, and is the leading product of the geo-authentic crude drugs ‘Zhebawei’ in Zhejiang Province. Fritillaria thunbergii requires more potassium (K) than nitrogen and phosphorus, while the response of F. thunbergii to K has rarely been studied.Objective and MethodsTo evaluate the K nutritional status of F. thunbergii, a 2-year field experiment was conducted under six K application rates (0, 40, 80, 120, 160, and 200 kg K₂O ha⁻¹) with two F. thunbergii cultivars (ZB1, narrow-leaf; ZB2, broad-leaf).ResultsThe bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii (BFT) yield increased to a plateau with more than ~120 kg K₂O ha^–1. The BFT quality met the standard of Pharmacopoeia of P. R. China with more than 40.0 kg K₂O ha^–1. Leaf K concentration was significantly correlated with BFT yield, and was more sensitive to K application rate as compared to those of stems and flowers. Potassium application extended the duration of rapid leaf-biomass accumulation and increased the accumulation rate. Two cultivars had similar response patterns to K application, but ZB2 had higher K partial productivity, leaf-biomass, and leaf K concentration than ZB1.Conclusion108.4–128.0 kg K₂O ha^–1 was the optimal K application range for BFT yield. The potassium nutrition index (KNI) model established based on leaf K concentration has biological significance and can be used for dynamic diagnosis of K nutritional status of F. thunbergii with both accuracy and simplicity.