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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the main cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, and the increasing trend of NAFLD has burdened the healthcare system. NAFLD encompasses a wide range of liver pathologies, from simple benign hepatocyte steatosis to more severe inflammatory nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Djulis (Chenopodium formosanum Koidz.) is traditionally used as a native cereal and a food supplement that promotes human health through its antioxidant, hepatoprotection, skin protection, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, and antitumor effects. Djulis hull, regarded as agricultural waste, is usually removed during food processing and contains high rutin content. The present study evaluated the anti-NAFLD effect of Djulis hull and its major compound, rutin, in mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into one of five diet groups (n = 6 per group) and fed the following for 16 weeks: (1) normal diet group (ND), (2) HFD group (HFD), (3) HFD and oral gavage of low dose (50 mg/kg) of Djulis hull crude extract group (HFD/LCE), (4) HFD and oral gavage of high dose (250 mg/kg) of Djulis hull crude extract group (HFD/HCE), or (5) HFD and oral gavage (50 mg/kg) of rutin (HFD/R) group. We found that Djulis hull crude extract markedly reduced HFD-induced elevation in body weight and fat around the kidney weights, hepatic injury indicators (AST and ALT), and steatosis and hypertrophy. Furthermore, Djulis hull crude extract administration significantly affected DG(20:4/18:1), PA(22:0/17:1), PC(10:0/17:0), and PA(18:4/20:5) in HFD-induced obese mice. In addition, treating HFD-induced obese rats with Djulis hull crude extract significantly increased fatty acid oxidation by increasing the protein expression of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α, and hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 in the liver. Moreover, the administration of Djulis hull crude extract significantly decreased the inflammatory response (PPARγ, IL-6, and TNF-α) to modulate oxidative damage. Therefore, Djulis hull crude extract attenuated the progression of NAFLD by reducing inflammation mediated by PPARγ and enhancing the expression levels of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation mediated by AMPK signaling.

Objective: To study the role of miR-34c-5p targeting CCL22 in affecting the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was applied...

The aim is to investigate the correlation between computed tomography (CT) features and insulin resistance levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) complicated with primary pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Nearly, 268 untreated PTB patients complicated with T2DM were divided into two groups according to the optimal cutoff value of HOMA-IR score for the Chinese population: HOMA-IR ≤ 2.69 (Group I: 74 patients), >2.69 (Group II: 194 patients). The basic characteristics and changes of CT manifestations were analyzed. In the two groups, the detection rate of large segmented leafy shadow was 39.2% and 78.9%; the air bronchogram sign detection rate was 40.5% and 80.9%; the discovery rate of mouth-eaten cavity was 33.8% and 73.7%; the thin-walled cavity detection rate was 2.7% and 16.0%; the rate of multiple cavities was 35.1% and 69.6%; and bronchial tuberculosis was found in 4.1% and 35.6%, respectively. The detection rates of lesions in Group II were significantly higher than in Group I (p < .05). HOMA-IR was found independently associated with large segmented leafy shadow, air bronchial sign, thin-walled cavity, and bronchial tuberculosis. The level of insulin resistance can effectively reflect the severity of PTB patients with T2DM. CT scan can directly provide image information in clinics. These two examinations can guide clinicians to accurately formulate subsequent treatment plans.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the natural weathering properties of unmodified and acetylated veneer overlaid wood‒plastic composites (vWPCs) manufactured by one-step hot press molding. The results show that the water absorption and thickness swelling of vWPC with acetylated veneer were lower than those of unmodified vWPC. In addition, the surface tensile strength of vWPC increased with increasing weight gain of acetylated veneer, and the flexural properties of vWPC were not significantly different. Furthermore, the results of natural weathering demonstrated that not only the photostability but also the modulus of elasticity (MOE) retention ratio and surface tensile strength of vWPC with acetylated veneer were significantly higher than those of vWPC with unmodified veneer. Thus, better dimensional stability, surface tensile strength, and weathering properties can be achieved when the vWPC is made with acetylated veneer, especially those containing veneers with a higher weight percent gain.

Innate immune response plays the key role in initiating and guiding the immune response. Elucidating the innate immune related molecular events involved in the interaction between the parasite and the host will aid in the development of an effective vaccine and anti-schistosome pharmaceuticals. In this study, we examined the regulatory effect of Schistosoma japonicum soluble egg antigen (SEA) on MHC class II expression in macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. We demonstrated that SEA possesses the ability to down-regulate IFN-γ-induced MHC class II expression in RAW 264.7 cells. The production of IL-10 and IL-6 in RAW 264.7 cells, induced by SEA, was responsible for mediating the down-regulation of MHC class II. Our findings suggest that in RAW 264.7 cells (1) IFN-γ provides a condition for lower concentrations of SEA to attenuate MHC class II expression; (2) SEA attenuated IFN-γ-induced MHC class II expression and the IL-10 and IL-6 production is mediated at least partly by the interaction of SEA with TLR4; and (3) SEA attenuated IFN-γ-induced MHC class II expression at the transcriptional level.