As a chemical extensively used in industrial areas and formed during heating of carbohydrate-rich foods and tobacco, acrylamide (ACR) has been demonstrated to exert a variety of systemic toxic effects including hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. In the present study, we investigated the effect of curcumin, a natural polyphenolic compound in a popular spice known as turmeric, on the hepatic and renal impairment caused by ACR exposure to 40 mg/kg for 4 weeks in rats. The administration of curcumin at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg to ACR-intoxicated rats significantly decreased the serum levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, creatinine, and urea; improved the histological changes of liver and kidney caused by ACR; reduced the number of apoptotic cells; as well as relieved ACR-induced hepatic and renal oxidative stress. Moreover, curcumin inhibited the CYP2E1 overexpression induced by ACR in the liver and kidney tissues. Therefore, curcumin could be applied as a potential strategy for the intervention of ACR-induced systemic toxicity. The inhibition of CYP2E1 might be involved in the protection of curcumin against ACR-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.

Background and Objective. As a recommended option for 43 diseases by the World Health Organization, electroacupuncture is also being used to treat some others in China. Diet-related intestinal flora imbalance can induce atherosclerosis. This study aims to evaluate how electroacupuncture copes with atherosclerosis through regulating intestinal flora. Methods. In this study, general rabbit conditions, vascular histology, metabolites, and intestinal flora structures were analyzed. Integrated analysis of metabolomics and 16S rRNA sequencing were performed. All the rabbits were randomly divided into four groups. The rabbit model of atherosclerosis was established. The histopathological change in the common carotid artery was assessed by HE staining and the structural change in the flora by 16S rRNA sequencing. HPLC-TOF-MS and Agilent MPP 12.1 were integrated to identify and screen out differential metabolites. Correlational analyses of every differential metabolite with intestinal flora were integrated on Omicshare platform. Results. Atherosclerotic rabbits showed obvious changes in general conditions, significant fibrous cap and necrotic center on carotid artery, abnormal intestinal bacteria structure, and metabolites levels. Electroacupuncture improved the conditions, reduced lipid deposition on the carotid artery wall, diversified intestinal flora, and normalized host metabolism. Integrated analysis showed that 149 altered metabolites were related to 22 intestinal flora, among which eight intestinal floras and 21 metabolites have relationships with atherosclerosis. Conclusion. Electroacupuncture can effectively reverse atherosclerosis through manipulating the structural feature of intestinal flora to influence the host metabolites. The possible mechanisms involved activating signal pathways through host metabolites or affecting the activity of cardiovascular-related enzymes, or regulating host lipid metabolism directly.

ObjectiveTo observe adiponectin receptor-1 expression in vascular walls of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and the effect of fosinopril on it. Methods Fourteen weeks old male SHR were randomly divided into three groups: SHR group, fosinopril 10 mg group and fosinopril 20 mg group; 14-week old male Wistar-kyoto rats (WKY) were regarded as the control group. After 8 weeks, blood pressure, serum adiponectin was detected; the ratio of media/lumen radius was detected by using hematoxylin-eosin, the expression of adiponectin receptor 1 on the vascular walls were tested by immunohistochemistry. Results As compared to SHR group, the ratio of wallthickness to lumen radio, the serum levels of adiponectin with total fosinopril were increased (P < 0.05), and the expression of adiponectin receptor 1 was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Conclusions Fosinopril can reduce the levels of blood pressure, increase the levels of serum adiponectin and the expressioin of adiponecin receptor-1 on the aorta in hypertension rats.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Hedyotis diffusa Willd extract (HDWE) on gouty arthritis in rats.Method: Monosodium urate (MSU) crystal was injected into the ankle joint of rats to establish a rat model of gouty arthritis. HDWE (4.8, 9.6 and 19.2 g/kg) was administered to the rats treated with MSU crystals. The walking behavior of the rats was observed daily, and the gait score was calculated to evaluate the Oswestry disability index of rats. Levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in lavage fluid of articularcavities were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The synovial tissues of joint of control, model and 19.2 g/kg HDWE group rats were obtained and NLRP3 inflammasome was analysed by Western blot.Results: The results showed that HDWE ameliorated the symptoms of gouty arthritis and gait score in rats significantly (p < 0.05). Further pharmacological experiments showed that all doses of HDWE decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α (p < 0.05), and inhibited NLRP3, caspase-1, ASC, IL-1β and IL-18 protein expressions of the lavage fluid of articular cavities in MSU crystal-treated rats (p < 0.01).Conclusion: The results indicate that HDWE exhibits a significant effect in ameliorating gouty arthritis via inhibition NLRP3  inflammasome, and thus is a potential new drug choice for the treatment of gouty arthritis. Keywords: Hedyotis diffusa, Caspase, Gouty arthritis, Inflammatory cytokines, NLRP3 inflammasom