Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase Research Articles

Olsalazine pretreatment augments chemosensitivity of gemcitabine in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Recently, olsalazine a DNA hypomethylating agent was found to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of olsalazine pretreatment in the potentiation of chemosensitivity of gemcitabine for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).In silico molecular docking was performed to analyze the interaction of olsalazine and gemcitabine with DNMT1 and DNA, respectively, using the AutoDock tools 1.5.6. Cytotoxicity of olsalazine, gemcitabine, and combination were measured on human HePG2 cells using MTT assay. Antiproliferative effects were assessed using animal model of N-nitrosodiethylamine and carbon tetrachloride-induced HCC. Treatment was initiated from 8th week of induction to 11th week and change in body weight, liver weight, and survival rate were measured. Following treatment, blood samples were collected for estimation serum biochemistry. Blood serum was used for the estimation of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein[CRP],lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and P53 levels. Oxidative stress markers were measured in liver tissue homogenates. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed on liver sections to detect the morphological changes and P53 expression. Docking analysis revealed the interactions between olsalazine and DNMT1 with a binding energy score of -5.34 and gemcitabine and DNA with a binding energy score of -5.93. Olsalazine pretreatment potentiated the antiproliferative effect of gemcitabine in cell line study. In the group receiving olsalazine pretreatment showed significant reductions in relative liver weight and improved survival rate of gemcitabine treatment group. Serum biochemical markers:serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase,serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin revealed improved liver functions. Olsalazine pretreatment also reduced the levels of inflammatory markers like CRP, LDH, TNF-α, and IL-6 and oxidative stress markers dose dependently. Histopathology and IHC showed improved liver morphology with potentiated the induction of P53 upon olsalazine pretreatment in combination with gemcitabine. In conclusion, sequential combination of olsalazine and gemcitabine improvedthe treatment outcomes during the progression of HCC.

Altering plasma lipids and liver enzyme activities via hippocampal injections of hen Lysozyme amyloid aggregates in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model: Insights into the therapeutic role of Bis (Indolyl) phenylmethane

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a prevalent form of dementia in the elderly. There is currently no effective treatment available for this disease. Diagnosis of AD typically relies on clinical manifestations and specific biomarkers. The present study investigated the impact of inducing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in mice through the injection of lysozyme amyloids formed in the presence or absence of Bis (Indolyl) phenylmethane (BIPM) on alterations in plasma lipid profiles and liver enzyme activities. 24 adult Wistar rats were divided into control, Scopolamine, Lysozyme, BIPM groups and the blood samples were obtained from the groups for biochemical analysis. The findings of the study revealed significant changes in the plasma lipid profiles and liver enzyme markers of the Lysozyme group compared to the control group. The Lysozyme group exhibited elevated triglycerides (n = 6, P < 0.02) and LDL levels (n = 6, P < 0.02), reduced HDL (n = 6, P < 0.05) and cholesterol levels (n = 6, P < 0.02), and altered serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) level (n = 6, P < 0.05) compared to controls. While the level of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) did not change significantly compared to the control. BIPM groups showed no significant changes in lipid or enzyme levels compared to controls. Overall, our research has shown that BIPM has the ability to modify the structure of HEWL aggregates, thereby improving the detrimental effects associated with AD caused by these aggregates. Analyzing lipid profiles and liver enzyme markers presents a promising avenue for targeted therapeutic approaches. These alterations observed in the plasma may potentially serve as candidate biomarkers for diagnosing this disease.

Identification of differentially expressed mRNAs as novel predictive biomarkers for gastric cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

Gastric cancer (GC) has a high mortality rate worldwide. Despite significant progress in GC diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis for affected patients still remains unfavorable. To identify important candidate genes related to the development of GC and identify potential pathogenic mechanisms through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis. The Gene Expression Omnibus database was used to obtain the GSE183136 dataset, which includes a total of 135 GC samples. The limma package in R software was employed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Thereafter, enrichment analyses of Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were performed for the gene modules using the clusterProfile package in R software. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of target genes were constructed using STRING and visualized by Cytoscape software. The common hub genes that emerged in the cohort of DEGs that was retrieved from the GEPIA database were then screened using a Venn Diagram. The expression levels of these overlapping genes in stomach adenocarcinoma samples and non-tumor samples and their association with prognosis in GC patients were also obtained from the GEPIA database and Kaplan-Meier curves. Moreover, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting were performed to determine the mRNA and protein levels of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in GC and normal immortalized cell lines. In addition, cell viability, cell cycle distribution, migration and invasion were evaluated by cell counting kit-8, flow cytometry and transwell assays. Furthermore, we also conducted a retrospective analysis on 70 GC patients diagnosed and surgically treated in Wenzhou Central Hospital, Dingli Clinical College of Wenzhou Medical University, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shanghai University between January 2017 to December 2020. The tumor and adjacent normal samples were collected from the patients to determine the potential association between the expression level of GPT and the clinical as well as pathological features of GC patients. We selected 19214 genes from the GSE183136 dataset, among which there were 250 downregulated genes and 401 upregulated genes in the tumor samples of stage III-IV in comparison to those in tumor samples of stage I-II with a P-value < 0.05. In addition, GO and KEGG results revealed that the various upregulated DEGs were mainly enriched in plasma membrane and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, whereas the downregulated DEGs were primarily enriched in cytosol and pancreatic secretion, vascular smooth muscle contraction and biosynthesis of the different cofactors. Furthermore, PPI networks were constructed based on the various upregulated and downregulated genes, and there were a total 15 upregulated and 10 downregulated hub genes. After a comprehensive analysis, several hub genes, including runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), salmonella pathogenicity island 1 (SPI1), lysyl oxidase (LOX), fibrillin 1 (FBN1) and GPT, displayed prognostic values. Interestingly, it was observed that GPT was downregulated in GC cells and its upregulation could suppress the malignant phenotypes of GC cells. Furthermore, the expression level of GPT was found to be associated with age, lymph node metastasis, pathological staging and distant metastasis (P < 0.05). RUNX2, SPI1, LOX, FBN1 and GPT were identified key hub genes in GC by bioinformatics analysis. GPT was significantly associated with the prognosis of GC, and its upregulation can effectively inhibit the proliferative, migrative and invasive capabilities of GC cells.

Development and validation of an early mortality risk model for pediatric hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: a comparison with HScore, PELOD-2, P-MODS, and pSOFA.

There has been no severity evaluation model for pediatric patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) that uses readily available parameters. This study aimed to develop a novel model for predicting the early mortality risk in pediatric patients with HLH using easily obtained parameters whatever etiologic subtype. Patients from one center were divided into training and validation sets for model derivation. The developed model was validated using an independent validation cohort from the second center. The prediction model with nomogram was developed based on logistic regression. The model performance underwent internal and external evaluation and validation using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration curve with 1000 bootstrap resampling, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Model performance was compared with the most prevalent severity evaluation scores, including the PELOD-2, P-MODS, and pSOFA scores. The prediction model included nine variables: glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, albumin, globulin, myohemoglobin, creatine kinase, serum potassium, procalcitonin, serum ferritin, and interval between onset and diagnosis. The AUC of the model for predicting the 28-day mortality was 0.933 and 0.932 in the training and validation sets, respectively. The AUC values of the HScore, PELOD-2, P-MODS and pSOFA were 0.815, 0.745, 0.659 and 0.788, respectively. The DCA of the 28-day mortality prediction exhibited a greater net benefit than the HScore, PELOD-2, P-MODS and pSOFA. Subgroup analyses demonstrated good model performance across HLH subtypes. The novel mortality prediction model in this study can contribute to the rapid assessment of early mortality risk after diagnosis with readily available parameters.

Diabetes Warriors from Heart Wood: Unveiling Dalbergin and Isoliquiritigenin from Dalbergia latifolia as Potential Antidiabetic Agents in-vitro and in-vivo.

Diabetes mellitus is a serious and complex metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. In recent years natural products has gained much more interest by researchers as alternative sources for diabetes treatment. Though many potential agents are identified so far but their clinical utility is limited because of their adverse effects. Therefore, there is a keen interest in discovering natural compounds to treat diabetes efficiently with less side effects. Dalbergia latifolia is well explored because of its diverse pharmacological activities including diabetes. Therefore, the present research work aimed to identify and isolate the potential antidiabetic agents from the heart wood of Dalbergia latifolia. We successfully extracted DGN and ISG from the heartwood and evaluated their antidiabetic potential both in-vivo and in-vitro. Alpha amylase activity inhibition of ISG and DGN was found to be 99.05 ± 8.54% (IC50 = 0.6025 µg/mL) and 84.68 ± 5.2% (IC50 = 0.0216 µg/mL) respectively. Glucose uptake assay revealed DGN (158%) promoted maximum uptake than ISG (77%) over control. In vivo anti diabetic activity was evaluated by inducing diabetes in SD rats with the help of HFD and STZ (35 mg/kg body weight). After the continuous administration of DGN (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg) and ISG (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg) for 14 days, we observed the reduction in the blood glucose levels, body weight, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein, blood urea, serum creatinine, serum glutamate oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase levels than vehicle group indicates the potency of ISG and DGN against diabetes.

Spirulina versus metformin for controlling some insulin signaling pathway genes in induced polycystic ovary syndrome rat model

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrinologic and gynecologic disorder that affects women of reproductive age; besides, insulin resistance (IR) occurs in 50–70 % of PCOS cases. Metformin (Met) is commonly prescribed for IR management; however, it does not affect IR with some gastrointestinal symptoms. Spirulina platensis (SP) is a blue-green alga that may increase insulin sensitivity. Therefore, our study aims to evaluate SP as an alternative treatment to Met for improving glucose homeostasis by assessing the expression of 11 crucial genes involved in the insulin signaling pathway. After induction of the PCOS model using dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (60 mg/kg bwt) for 30 consecutive days, rats were allocated into six groups. Relative liver weight, glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) serum levels, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), and insulin were determined. Furthermore, the gene expression of Ins1, Irs1, Pik3ca, Prkcz, Foxo1, Srebf1, Ppargc1a, Pklr, Gk, G6pc, and Pepck in the rat's liver tissue was determined using qRT-PCR. Treatment of the PCOS control group with Met or SP revealed a decrease in all these parameters compared with the PCOS model. Additionally, we found a statistically significant difference in the expression of both the Gk and Prkcz genes. To summarize our study results, SP or Met supplementation to PCOS rats had almost the same effect on assessed relative liver weight, GOT, GPT, and insulin levels compared with PCOS control rats. If further studies confirm and detect more impact of SP on IR in PCOS, SP could be used instead of Met since the latter causes many side effects.

The role of pantothenic acid in alleviating hypoxia-induced liver injury of sub-adult grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus): Possible mechanisms and implication

In aquaculture, hypoxia poses a significant threat to fish growth and survival. Despite this, there is limited research on the impact of pantothenic acid (PA) in enhancing the anti-hypoxia stress capability of fish. The primary objective of this study was to explore the effects and potential mechanisms of PA in alleviating hypoxia-induced liver injury in sub-adult grass carp. To achieve this, six experimental diets containing varying levels of PA (0.08, 11.95, 24.95, 37.95, 50.95, and 63.95 mg/kg) were formulated and administered to grass carp (initial weight 696.22 ± 2.45 g) for 63 days. Following the dietary intervention, the fish were segregated into hypoxia and control groups and treated for 96 h. The findings revealed that optimal PA levels could enhance the growth performance of sub-adult grass carp and ameliorate the adverse impacts of hypoxia. First, optimal PA levels reduced serum levels of glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as mitigated hepatocyte vacuolization, improved liver and mitochondrial morphology, thereby alleviating hypoxia-induced liver injury. Furthermore, optimal PA levels were associated with increased contents of serum cortisol, glucose, liver glycogen, pyruvate, and the activities of Pantothenate kinase 2 (PanK2) and coenzyme A (CoA), while liver lactate content and LDH activity were reduced, indicating improvements in energy metabolism and PA utilization, potentially mediated by the down-regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) mRNA level. Moreover, optimal PA levels decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, enhanced liver antioxidant capacity, down-regulated autophagy-related gene mRNA levels, and up-regulated autophagy receptor protein 62 (p62) protein level, suggesting a reduction in oxidative damage and autophagy. Finally, a rise in levels of mitochondrial quality control-related mRNAs such as mitofusin 1/2 (MFN1/2), dynamin-related protein-1 (DRP-1), and nuclear respiratory factor 1/2 (Nrf-1/2) was observed, together with increment in the protein levels of PTEN induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), BCL-2 interacting protein 3 (BNIP3) and FUN14 domain-containing protein 1 (FUNDC1). These alterations hinted at the role of PA in preserving mitochondrial homeostasis. In conclusion, PA exhibited a protective role against hypoxia-induced liver injury by enhancing liver energy metabolism, bolstering antioxidant defenses, suppressing autophagy, and maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis. Through an assessment of percentage weight gain (PWG) and liver ROS level, the requirements of PA for promoting growth and resilience to hypoxia-induced liver injury in sub-adult grass carp were determined to be 37.44 mg/kg and 42.57 mg/kg, respectively.

Effect of Biologger Attachment on the Stress and Health State of the Spotted Sea Bass Lateolabrax maculatus

The biologger is a widely used tool in biotelemetry for investigating marine fish. However, studies reported that the attachment of biologgers has a negative effect on the target organisms. We assessed the health status of spotted sea bass with attached biologgers by analyzing changes in their serum biochemistry and biomarker gene expression at varying biologger/fish body weight ratios. Especially, the assessment of the health status using biomarker genes offers the rapid evaluation of the condition of an individual. The genes bax, hsp70-2, and Cx32.7, associated with apoptosis, stress, and immunity, were selected as biomarker genes to assess the fish stress levels and overall health. The experimental groups included a control group without the biologger (C) and biologger-equipped groups, each carrying a biologger whose weight was 2.0–3.0% (W2), 5.0–6.0% (W5), and 10.0–12.0% (W10) of the fish body weight. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 1, 7, 14, and 21 post-attachment. The expression of bax, hsp70-2, and Cx32.7 was analyzed in the liver and muscle on day 21. The W10 group showed significantly higher levels of superoxide dismutase on day 1 and of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase on day 7 than the other groups. On day 21 post-attachment, regardless of the biologger/fish body weight ratio, the liver and muscle tissues from groups W2, W5, and W10 showed significantly higher expression of bax, hsp70-2, and Cx32.7 than those from group C, respectively. However, there was no significant change in blood parameters depending on the weight of the attached biologger on day 21 post-attachment. These results indicate that the spotted sea bass gradually adapted to the attached biologgers of weights up to 10–12% of their body weight under our experimental conditions, providing clues to determine the timing of biologger release for biotelemetry studies.

Effects of Corbicula fluminea meal in high-fat diet on growth, lipid metabolism and intestinal microbiota of juvenile rice field eel Monopterus albus

Corbicula fluminea meal was added to a high-fat diet for eight weeks to determine its effects on growth, lipid metabolism, and intestinal microbiota in juvenile rice field eel (Monopterus albus). C. fluminea meal was made of dried and crushed soft parts of freshwater clam. The study included four diets: a normal fat diet (6.63% lipid, CON), a high fat diet (12.61% lipid, HFD), and a high fat diet supplemented with 1% or 2% C. fluminea meal (CFM1 and CFM2, respectively). The results showed that: (1) the growth performance was higher in the HFD, CFM1 and CFM2 group compared with the CON group, the hepatosomatic index (HSI) was significantly higher in fish fed the high-fat diet than in those fed other diets. (2) Compared with the CON group, The levels of serum triacylglycerol (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) contents, glutamate pyruvic transaminase (GPT), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) activities and the number of hepatic lipid droplets were significantly increased in the HFD group. The addition of C. fluminea meal both reduced liver damage and fat deposition. (3) The mRNA expressions of pparγ, fas, acc, me1, srebp1, g6pdh, hsl, lpl, cpt1, and cpt2 in the HFD group were significantly upregulated, while HFD supplemented with C. fluminea meal significantly downregulated the mRNA expressions of pparγ, fas, acc, me1, srebp1 and g6pdh and significantly upregulated the mRNA expressions of hsl and lpl. (4) The alpha diversity of intestinal microbial community in the HFD group was higher than those in the CON and CFM1 groups. The beta diversity revealed the microbial composition differed in the HFD group from the CON and CFM1 groups. The abundance of Firmicutes in the HFD group increased significantly compared with the CON and CFM1 groups, while the abundances of Cetobacterium decreased. In conclusion, the high-fat diet resulted in abnormal liver fat deposits and intestinal microbiota dysfunction in M. albus, but HFD supplemented with 1% or 2% C. fluminea meal reduced these negative effects.

AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF LIVER FUNCTIONS IN MULTIPLE TRANSFUSED THALASSEMIA PATIENTS ON REGULAR CHELATION THERAPY VERSUS IRREGULAR CHELATION THERAPY IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTER OF JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN

Objectives: The aim of our study was to determine liver functions in thalassemia patients on regular versus irregular chelation therapy. Methods: This was an observational study conducted in the department of pediatrics in a tertiary care hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan. All those patients who received more than 50 blood transfusions are considered as multiple transfused patients and were included in this study. Results: A total of 50 patients were enrolled in this study. Ninety percent of patients were under 15 years of age and the male-to-female ratio was 2.85:1. In 82.35% regular chelation therapy, patients have normal liver functions as compared to 49.5% in irregular chelation therapy patients. Conclusion: Patients having abnormal liver functions in thalassemia patients due to iron overload. As a result of chelation therapy, serum glutamic oxalocetic transaminase and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase levels were significantly reduced. In the study, regular chelation therapy should be started as early as indicated in thalassemia patients.

Assessing the Utility of the Aspartate Aminotransferase to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) as a Noninvasive Indicator for Liver Cirrhosis.

Background Of liver-related disorders, cirrhosis is currently the leading cause of death and has become a significant global public health concern. Aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), a newer prognostic modality, is a very effective noninvasive diagnostic for identifying advanced liver fibrosis. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted among individuals with liver disease, 100 casesand 100 controls for two years. All the sociodemographic details, clinical features of the patients, and clinical findings such as prothrombin time (PT), liver function tests, kidney function tests, and total blood count were recorded using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Results According to our survey results, 48% of the participants were between the ages of 40 and 60.Regarding aPTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) and liver function test characteristics (serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase(SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT)), we showed a substantial difference between the patients and controls.Regarding the APRI distribution, we also found a statistically significant variation between the research groups. When we compared the validity of APRI scores in diagnosing cirrhosis, we discovered that the ideal cutoff value of APRI was determined to be 3.99, with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 33%, 86%, 70%, and 56%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for APRI in detecting cirrhosis was also 0.693. Conclusion Thus, our study results conclude that APRI is a crucial noninvasive prognostic tool that can be utilized to prognostize liver cirrhosis.

Chronic toxicity of sediment-bound triclosan on freshwater walking catfish Clarias magur: Organ level accumulation and selected enzyme biomarker responses

Triclosan (TCS) is a biocide widely used in personal care and medicinal products. TCS persists in sediments and has been detected worldwide, making sediments a vital route of TCS exposure to aquatic organisms. This experiment explored the bioaccumulation and toxicological effects of TCS-contaminated sediment. The study revealed that the half-life of TCS in the sediment-water system was 21.52 days. Exposure of Clarias magur juveniles to 0.4 and 0.8 mg kg−1 TCS-spiked sediment resulted in high Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factor (BSAF) with the highest bioaccumulation in the liver (29.62–73.61 mg kg−1), followed by gill (9.22–17.57 mg kg−1), kidney (5.04–9.76 mg kg−1), muscle (2.63–4.87 mg kg−1) and brain (1.53–3.20 mg kg−1). Furthermore, a concentration-dependent increase in oxidative stress biomarkers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) was documented during 45 days of exposure in gill, liver, kidney, muscle, and brain tissues of exposed fish. A similar increasing trend was also recorded for liver transaminase enzymes such as glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) during the experimental period compared to control. Serum biochemical analysis revealed a significant time and concentration-dependent increase in serum glucose, serum GOT, and serum GPT, while serum total protein and albumin decreased significantly during exposure. These findings demonstrate high bioaccumulative and toxic nature of TCS in fish, promoting multiple physiological and biochemical dysfunctions through sediment exposure. The study underscores the urgent need for strengthened regulations and robust monitoring of triclosan across various environmental matrices, including sediment, to mitigate the detrimental impacts of TCS effectively.

Impact of Shifting From Office Work to Telework on Workers' Physical Health: A Longitudinal Study.

The aim of the study is to clarify the longitudinal association between teleworking and physical health changes of Japanese workers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were in a certain company who received mandatory health examinations in 2019 and 2020. In June 2020, the participants were asked about frequency of teleworking, which was introduced owing to the COVID-19. Whether physical health differed by the frequency of teleworking was analyzed. The participants were 3689 workers. Frequency of teleworking were associated with more deleterious changes in diastolic blood pressure, antilipidemic drug use, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase(GOT), Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase(GPT), metabolic syndrome, and insufficient walking time among men. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in women. Male workers who teleworked more frequently were more likely to experience a deterioration in their physical health within 1-year compared with those who worked at the office.

Roles of glutamic pyruvate transaminase 2 in reprogramming of airway epithelial lipidomic and metabolomic profiles after smoking.

Metabolic abnormalities represent one of the pathological features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Glutamic pyruvate transaminase 2 (GPT2) is involved in glutamate metabolism and lipid synthesis pathways, whilst the exact roles of GPT2 in the occurrence and development of COPD remains uncertain. This study aims at investigating how GPT2 and the associated genes modulate smoking-induced airway epithelial metabolism and damage by reprogramming lipid synthesis. The circulating or human airway epithelial metabolomic and lipidomic profiles of COPD patients or cell-lines explored with smoking were assessed to elucidate the pivotal roles of GPT2 in reprogramming processes. We found that GPT2 regulate the reprogramming of lipid metabolisms caused by smoking, especially phosphatidylcholine (PC) and triacylglycerol (TAG), along with changes in the expression of lipid metabolism-associated genes. GPT2 modulated cell sensitivities and survival in response to smoking by enhancing mitochondrial functions and maintaining lipid and energy homeostasis. Our findings provide evidence for the involvement of GPT2 in the reprogramming of airway epithelial lipids following smoking, as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying GPT2-mediated regulation, which may offer an alternative of therapeutic strategies for chronic lung diseases.

Exploring the relationship between dietary rapeseed meal, condensed tannin and growth, nutrive metabolism in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

This study evaluated the effects of rapeseed meal (RM) and condensed tannin (CT) on the growth and nutritional metabolism of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), and speculated whether there was interaction between anti-nutritional factors in RM. Eight diets were formulated for 55-day feeding trial, six of which were practical diet groups, including control group (CG), five RM inclusive groups with graded RM levels of 5% (RM5), 10% (RM10), 15% (RM15), 20% (RM20) and 25% (RM25) partially replacing fishmeal, and the other two were semi-purified diets with 0.062% CT (CT5) ≈ the CT content in the RM5 and 0.31% CT (CT25) ≈ the CT content in the RM25. The results of the experiments on replacing fishmeal with RM demonstrated that with the increase of RM substitution level, the weight gain rate (WGR), survival rate (SR) and specific growth rate (SGR) of largemouth bass showed a downward trend. High levels of RM led to the inhibition of digestive enzyme activity in largemouth bass, as well as the manifestation of abnormal markers related to protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism in both plasma and liver. RM reduced muscle protein and fat content, although the effect was not statistically significant at 5% RM level. The results of CT concentration experiments showed that the addition of 0.31% CT significantly reduced WGR, SGR, SR, protein efficiency ratio (PER) and gastrointestinal digestive enzyme activity, and significantly increased the feed coefficient ratio (FCR), plasma ammonia (PA), plasma glucose (PG), and hepatic glycogen (HG) and liver triglyceride (TG). The addition of 0.062% CT significantly reduced PG and HG. Supplementation of CT significantly reduced muscle fat. Among the groups of CT supplementation and RM, CT5 exhibited superior WGR, PER and FCR compared to RM5, along with enhanced intestinal trypsin, amylase activity, liver glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activity and decreased content of HG and liver TG; CT25 exhibited decreased activities of gastric lipase (LPS), enteric trypsin and pepsin, and increased content of total cholesterol (T-CHO) and glucose in plasma in compariosn to RM25, accompanied with no significant change in growth performance. Therefore, largemouth bass exhibited tolerance to a 5% inclusion of RM in the feed without compromising their growth, digestion and metabolic functions. The incorporation of 5% RM, equivalent to a supplemental 0.062% CT, had regulatory effects on the digestion and metabolism of largemouth bass while improving feed utilization. There was an interaction among anti-nutritional factors in RM, with synergistic effect being evident at low RM levels, whereas antagonism more promient at high levels of RM.

Microalgal Macular Pigment Alleviated the Pathogenic Process in the Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic ApoE-deficient Mice

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the fastest growing epidemics in human history and characteristic is insulin resistance (IR), and endocrine disorder that promoted to decline in insulin production and inhibit cellular effects. Patients with T2DM would lead to many complications such as diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic foot, atherosclerosis, vascular inflammation, and hepatogenous diabetes due to hyperglycemia. Even after using medical treatment and lifestyle modifications, it is still hard to achieve the goal of reducing blood glucose to an optimal level. Microalga Chlorella sp., a unicellular green alga that has been used as a health food and nutritional product in the last few decades. Macular pigment (MP) produced by Chlorella sp. consists of rich lutein and zeaxanthin, which are regarded as the antioxidants to hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress. MP is widely used in eye health care, however, few studies focused on scientifically exploring the protection mechanism of MP on diabetes mellitus. Therefore, this study aimed to explore MP extracted from Chlorella on reducing retinopathy and atherosclerosis damages in the diabetic apolipoprotein E deficient mice (ApoE−/−) with high-fat diet feeding and streptozotocin treatment. The results show that MP supplement could significantly reduce glucose tolerance, IR, inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 levels, and the serum level of disease markers, i.e., triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TCHO), glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in the diabetic ApoE−/− mice. In addition, the expression levels of cellular antioxidant enzymes were significantly increased and the adhesion factors as well as MAPK pathway proteins in renal tissues were significantly reduced after MP supplementation. The pathological changes of pancreatic islet morphology, hepatic lipid accumulation, outer nuclear layer and aortic plaque of the diabetic ApoE−/− mice were significantly alleviated by MP supplement. At present, most MP products are derived from marigold, Calendula offcinalis, in the market. However, microalgae cultivation includes the advantages on no seasonal limit, no competition, high yield and carbon reduction compared with other plants. In summary, the microalgal MP improved IR, ameliorated atherosclerosis, and alleviated retinopathy in the diabetic ApoE−/− mice. Consequently, the microalgal MP is potentially to be a healthy food ingredient for the biological effcacy of scavenging free radicals and stabilizing blood glucose. This work was supported by the grants of NSTC 110-2312-B-A49-001-MY3, NSTC 112-2811-B-A49 -501, NSTC 112-2811-B-A49 -503, NSTC 112-2321-B-A49 -018 and NSTC 112-2321-B-A49-005, from the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), Taiwan. This work was also financially supported by the “Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices (IDS2B)” from The Featured Areas Research Center Program within the framework of the Higher Education Sprout Project of the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Ministry of Education (MOE), Taiwan. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Dietary phosphorus requirement of bullfrog Aquaranacatesbeiana

This experiment investigated the dietary phosphorus (P) requirement of bullfrogs Aquaranacatesbeiana. Six diets containing available P (AP) levels of 0.29% (the control group), 0.47%, 0.65%, 0.88%, 1.06% and 1.24% were formulated and fed to bullfrogs for 56 days. As dietary AP level increased from 0.29% to 1.24%, weight gain rate increased and then decreased, reaching the highest at the AP level of 0.88% (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, content of crude protein in the whole-body was significantly increased in bullfrogs fed the 0.88% AP diet (P < 0.05). Content of crude lipid in the whole-body was significantly decreased in bullfrogs fed the 0.65%, 0.88%, 1.06% and 1.24% AP diets compared to those fed the 0.29% and 0.47% AP diets (P < 0.05). Bullfrogs fed the 0.65%, 0.88%, 1.06%, and 1.24% AP diets had higher content of serum P than those fed the 0.29% and 0.47% AP diets (P < 0.05). Activity of glutamic pyruvic transaminase in the serum was significantly decreased in bullfrogs fed the 0.88%, 1.06% and 1.24% AP diets compared to those fed the 0.29% and 0.47% AP diets (P < 0.05). Bullfrogs fed the 0.65%, 0.88%, 1.06% and 1.24% AP diets had lower contents of total cholesterol in the liver and triglycerides in the serum than the control group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, bullfrogs fed the 0.47%, 0.65%, 0.88% and 1.06% AP diets had higher total antioxidant capacity in the serum than the control group (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, contents of P and calcium in the whole-body were significantly increased in bullfrogs fed the 0.65%, 0.88%, 1.06% and 1.24% AP diets (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, bullfrogs fed the 0.88%, 1.06% and 1.24% AP diets had lower expression of sodium-dependent phosphate transporter in the intestine and kidney, and higher expression of hormone-sensitive triglyceride lipase in the liver (P < 0.05). Bullfrogs fed the 0.88% and 1.06% AP diets had higher the mucosal fold height than those fed the 0.29% and 1.24% AP diets (P < 0.05). Compared to those fed the 0.29% and 1.24% AP diets, the abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria Serratia and Acinetobacter in the intestine was decreased in bullfrogs fed the 0.88% AP diet. Using the weight gain rate, feed efficiency, whole-body and serum P content as evaluation indicators, the AP requirements of bullfrogs was 0.82% to 0.89%.

Effects of Short-, Medium-, and Long-Term Treatment Using Photobiomodulation Therapy Combined with Static Magnetic Field in Aging Rats.

(1) Background: We investigated the detrimental and protective effects of short-, medium, and long-term treatment with different doses of photobiomodulation therapy combined with static magnetic field (PBMT-sMF) during the aging process. (2) Methods: Rats were treated for 15, 30, and 60 weeks with 1, 3, 10, and 30 J of PBMT-sMF or a placebo control. In addition, eight young rats were not subjected to any procedure or treatment and were euthanized at six weeks old. Skin, muscle, bone, kidney, liver, and blood samples were analyzed. (3) Results: No differences between the groups in the morphology of the skin, muscle, and bone was observed. Glutamic pyruvic transaminase levels were increased in the placebo group after 30 and 60 weeks. Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase levels were also increased in the placebo group after 30 weeks. An increase in creatinine in the PBMT-sMF 3, 10, and 30 J groups compared with that in the young control group was observed. No significant difference in urea levels between the groups was noted. Vascular endothelial growth factor increased in the PBMT-sMF 10 and 30 J groups after 15 weeks of treatment and in the PBMT-sMF 3 J after 60 weeks. Finally, vascular endothelial growth factor decreased in the PBMT-sMF 30 J group after 30 weeks of treatment. (4) Conclusions: PBMT-sMF did not have detrimental effects on the skin, muscle, bone, kidney, or liver after short-, medium-, and long-term treatments in aging rats. In addition, PBMT-sMF may have protective effects on the muscle tissue in aging rats after short- and long-term treatment.

Influence of Dietary Probiotic and Alpha-Monolaurin on Performance, Egg Quality, Blood Constituents, and Egg Fatty Acids' Profile in Laying Hens.

This work was designed to evaluate the advantages of using multi-strain probiotics feed (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis and Clostridium butyricum) (PRO) and alpha-monolaurin (AML) on laying performance, criteria of egg quality, blood parameters, and yolk fatty acids' profile in laying hens. One hundred forty of Bovans brown laying hens at 45 weeks old (25th week of egg production) were randomly allocated into four groups, with seven replicates of five birds each in a complete randomized design. The first group was fed a basal diet without feed additives (0g/kg diet), and the second, third, and fourth groups received diets containing 1g PRO, 1g AML, and 1g PRO + 1g AML/kg diet, respectively. No significant impacts of PRO, AML, or their mixture on body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), or egg weight. Egg production, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were enhanced by 1g PRO/kg and /or 1g AML/kg supplementation in laying hen diets. Furthermore, egg shape index, eggshell thickness, and yolk color were statistically higher by PRO and AML supplementation at 55 weeks. However, oviduct, infundibulum, and uterus weights were significantly decreased by 1g PRO or/and 1g AML. Additionally, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL), glucose, and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) levels were decreased by PRO and AML supplementation. In conclusion, it seems that dietary inclusion with 1g PRO/kg, 1g of AML/kg, and 1g PRO + 1g AML improved egg production, egg mass, FCR, and yolk fatty acids profile and lowered total cholesterol and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in laying hens.

Synthesized pyrrole ester ameliorates adjuvant‑induced arthritis in Wistar rats by alleviating inflammation and downregulating the pro‑inflammatory cytokines.

Piperine is an amide alkaloid responsible for producing the pungent smell that comes from black pepper. Piperine has been explained to exhibit significant properties such as anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, and antihypertensive effects. The aim of the study was to synthesize pyrrole ester from piperine and evaluate its anti-arthritis effects in adjuvant-induced arthritis female Wistar rats. In this study, pyrrole ester (AU-5) was designed, synthesized and evaluated for ant-arthritic activity in adjuvant-induced arthritis Wistar rats. The synthesized pyrrole ester (AU-5) was administered in three selected doses (20, 10 and 5mg/kg) to the arthritic-induced model. The administered ester significantly inhibited the increase in arthritis index, paw and ankle joint swelling compared to the arthritic control group. Similarly, the treated rats exhibited a remarkable increase in body weight increase, improved haematological, biochemical, histopathological and radiological parameters. Moreover, the excess production of rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was noticeably attenuated in all AU-5-treated rats. However, the spleen index, tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were distinctly lowered compared to arthritic control rats. Moreover, AU-5 showed promising liver protection by lowering the level of liver function markers Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum. Henceforth, it might be concluded that AU-5 has an anti-arthritic effect which can be credited to the down regulation of inflammatory markers and the pro-inflammatory cytokines.