Search

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the protective effect of kaempferol against adriamycin-induced renal injury in rats and its underlying mechanism.MethodsA rat model of renal injury was established by adriamycin injection. The rats were divided into the model group； the low-， medium-， and high-dose kaempferol groups； and the high-dose kaempferol + EX527 （silence information regulator 1 ［SIRT1］-specific inhibitor） group. A blank control group was also used （n = 10）. Twenty-four-hour urine protein levels were measured on the day of modeling and at 1， 2， and 4 weeks after modeling. Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen concentrations were measured using an automatic biochemical analyzer. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-1β （IL-1β） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to detect pathological changes in renal tissues. The ultrastructure of the kidneys was observed using transmission electron microscopy. Flow cytometry was used to observe renal cell apoptosis. Western blotting was used to detect the protein levels of SIRT1， p38-mitogen activated protein kinase （p38MAPK）， phosphorylated （p）-p38MAPK， nuclear factor-κB p65 （NF-κB p65）， p-NF-κB p65， B lymphocytoma-2 protein （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-related X protein （Bax）， and caspase-3 in renal tissue.ResultsIn the first week， the 24 h urine protein level increased in the model group compared to that in the blank control group. In the second and fourth weeks， the levels of serum creatinine， blood urea nitrogen， TNF-α， and IL-1β increased. The renal tissue injury score and the apoptotic rate also increased. The protein levels of p-p38MAPK/p38MAPK， p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65， Bax， and caspase-3 increased. SIRT1 and Bcl-2 protein expression levels significantly decreased （P < 0.05）. After intervention with low， medium， and high doses of kaempferol in the model rats， the aforementioned changes were significantly reversed （P < 0.05）. The SIRT1-specific inhibitor EX527 significantly downregulated the expression level of SIRT1 and significantly weakened the protective effect of kaempferol against kidney injury （P < 0.05）.ConclusionKaempferol has a protective effect against adriamycin-induced renal injury， and the mechanism may be related to the upregulation of SIRT1 expression， the inhibition of p38MAPK signal pathway activation， and a reduction in renal cell apoptosis.

LAMOST J024048.51+195226.9 (J0240+1952) was recently identified as the second AE Aquarii (AE Aqr)-type cataclysmic variable, possessing the fastest known rotating white dwarf. We performed a Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observation of J0240+1952 utilizing the European VLBI Network at 1.7 GHz, to obtain the first view of the radio morphology on mas scale. Our high-resolution VLBI image clearly shows that the radio emission is compact on mas scale (≲2 AU), with no evidence for a radio jet or extended emission. The compact radio source has an average flux density of ∼0.37 mJy, and its brightness temperature is given at ≳2.3 × 107 K, confirming a non-thermal origin. The emission exhibits irregular variations on a time-scale of tens of minutes, similar to the radio flares seen in AE Aqr. The measured VLBI position of J0240+1952 is consistent with that derived from Gaia. Our results favour the model in which the radio emission is attributed to a superposition of synchrotron radiation from expanding magnetized blobs of this system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To explore the cross‐sectional relationship between the body mass index (BMI) and physical fitness index (PFI) of Chinese college students. Methods: In total, 30 497 (male 16 197, 55.5%) Chinese college students aged 19–22 were tested for height, weight and five physical fitness indicators (50‐m sprint, sit and reach, standing long jump, 1000/800‐m run, pull‐up/bent‐leg sit‐up). Stratified according to age and gender, according to BMI percentile, divided into BMI < 10th Percentile (A), 10th ≤ BMI < 25th Percentile (B), 25th ≤ BMI < 75th Percentile (C), 75th ≤ BMI < 90th Percentile (D), BMI ≥ 90th Percentile (E), a total of 5 groups, and the PFI composed of 5 indicators of physical fitness was calculated according to age and gender. The comparison of PFI between different BMI groups was carried out using the effect size, and the non‐linear relationship between BMI‐Z and PFI was analyzed. Results: The relationship between BMI‐Z and PFI of male and female college students in China showed an inverted "U"‐shaped curve. With comparable BMI, PFI change was greater in males than in females. Conclusion: The relationship between BMI and PFI of Chinese college students is nonlinear. The physical fitness level of college students who are underweight or overweight and those with obesity is lower than that of normal‐weight students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Volatile anesthetic such as isoflurane causes widespread neurodegeneration in the developing animal brains and also induces cognitive impairments. Paeonol is a plant-derived phenolic compound possessing numerous bioactive properties. The study investigates the neuroprotective effects of paeonol against isoflurane-induced neurodegeneration and cognitive disturbances in neonatal rats.Methods: Paeonol (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg body weight/day) was given orally to separate groups of neonatal rats from postnatal day 3 (P3) to P21 and were exposed to isoflurane (0.75%; 6 h) on P7.Results: Neuroapoptosis following isoflurane exposure was remarkably reduced by paeonol. Isoflurane-induced elevated cleaved caspase-3, Bad, and Bax expression, were down-regulated on paeonol administration. Paeonol significantly enhanced expression of antiapoptotic proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, xIAP, c-IAP-1, c-IAP-2, and survivin) and improved acetylation of HK39 and HK412. The expression of histone deacetylases (HDACs)-HDAC2 and HDAC-3 were down-regulated. Isoflurane-induced activation of JNK/p38MAPK signaling and suppressed ERK signaling and were effectively regulated by paeonol. General behavior and freezing responses of the rats were improved. Results of the Morris Water Maze tests revealed improved learning and memory retention on paeonol treatment.Conclusions: Paeonol effectively inhibited neuroapoptosis and improved isoflurane-induced cognitive dysfunctions via regulating histone acetylation and JNK/ERK1/2/p38MAPK signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Nephrotic syndrome is a common disease of the urinary system. The aim of this study is to explore the effect of astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1) and P-glycoprotein 170 (P-gp170) in adriamycin nephropathy rats and the underlying mechanisms., Methods: A total of 72 male Wistar rats were divided into a control group, a model group, an APS low-dose group, an APS high-dose group, an APS+micro RNA (miR)-16 antagomir group and an APS+miR-16 antagomir control group, with 12 rats in each group. Urine protein (UP) was detected by urine analyzer, and serum cholesterol (CHOL), albumin (ALB), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (SCr) were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer; serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels were detected by ELISA kit; the morphological changes of kidney tissues were observed by HE staining; the levels of miR-16 and MDR1 mRNA in kidney tissues were detected by real-time RT-PCR; the expression levels of NF-κB p65, p-NF-κB p65, and P-gp170 protein in kidney tissues were detected by Western blotting; and dual luciferase was used to verify the relationship between miR-16 and NF-κB., Results: The renal tissue structure of rats in the control group was normal without inflammatory cell infiltration. The renal glomeruli of rats in the model group were mildly congested, capillary stenosis or occlusion, and inflammatory cell infiltration was obvious. The rats in the low-dose and high-dose APS groups had no obvious glomerular congestion, the proliferation of mesangial cells was significantly reduced, and the inflammatory cells were reduced. Compared with the high-dose APS group and the APS+miR-16 antagomir control group, there were more severe renal tissue structure damages in the APS + miR-16 antagomir group. Compared with the control group, the levels of UP, CHOL, BUN, SCr, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and MDR1 mRNA, and the protein levels of p-NF-κB p65 and P-gp170 in the model group were significantly increased (all P <0.05); the levels of ALB and miR-16 were significantly decreased (both P <0.05). Compared with the model group, the levels of UP, CHOL, BUN, SCr, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and MDR1 mRNA, and the protein levels of pNF-κB p65 and P-gp170 in the low-dose and high-dose APS groups were significant decreased (all P <0.05); and the levels of ALB and miR-16 were significantly increased (both P <0.05). Compared with APS+miR-16 antagomir control group, the UP, CHOL, BUN, SCr, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels, MDR1 mRNA, and the protein levels of p-NF-κB p65 and P-gp170 were significantly increased (all P <0.05). The levels of ALB and miR-16 were significantly decreased in the APS+miR-16 antagomir group compared with the APS+miR-16 antagomir control group (both P <0.05)., Conclusions: APS can regulate the miR-16/NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby affecting the levels of MDR1 and P-gp170, and reducing the inflammation in the kidney tissues in the adriamycin nephropathy rats.