Lauritzenstokes4778
05); the visceral fat weight and abdominal fat index of the test group were significantly higher than the control group (P less then 0.01); after the pioglitazone intervention, all blood lipid-related indexes in the rat model were significantly lower than before the intervention (P less then 0.05); skeletal muscle section staining results showed that the number of lipid droplets in skeletal muscle of rat model was significantly reduced after pioglitazone intervention; and pioglitazone intervention can significantly increase the mRNA and protein expression levels of p-ACC, GLUT7, PGC-1α, and CPT1 genes in the skeletal muscles of experimental rats (P less then 0.05). Accordingly, it can be concluded that pioglitazone can play a role in treating insulin resistance by regulating the expression of related genes of AMPK, ACC, etc. in the AMPK signaling pathway. © 2020 The Author(s).Metabolic syndrome (Mets) is a major health hazard. The syndrome is strongly linked to cardiovascular disease. The objective of the current study was to address whether or not crocin could protect against experimentally-induced MetS in rats as well as the possible underlying mechanisms. A-1331852 clinical trial Animals were allocated into 4 groups. The first one served as control and was kept on regular food pellets and drinking water. The other three groups were subjected to experimental MetS. Induction of MetS was achieved by keeping rats on food pellets containing 3% NaCl; and drinking water enriched with 10% fructose. The first and second groups were daily gavaged with saline. The third and fourth groups were daily administered crocin 5 and 10 mg/kg, respectively. The treatment continued for 12 consecutive weeks. Crocin significantly reduced body weight gain and adiposity index as compared to MetS group. Also, crocin protected against the occurrence of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance as indicated by controlled values of HOMA-IR. Crocin protected against MetS-induced dyslipidemia as well as the rise blood pressure. These beneficial effects were accompanied by enhanced serum levels of PPARγ & AMPK and inhibited serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α. In conclusion, crocin protects against experimentally-induced MetS. This can be attributed, at least partly, to activation of PPARγ and AMPK as well as inhibiting inflammation. © 2020 The Author.Background and Objectives Cissus quadrangularis Linn, is a rich bioresource for folk and traditional medicines from ancient times till date. The present study aimed to investigate the free radical scavenging and anticancer efficacy in vitro of the ethanolic and methanolic extract from the aerial parts of Cissus quadrangularis (L). Material and Methods In vitro cell-free antioxidant analyses were performed for the ethanolic extract of Cissus quadrangularis (L). (EECQ) and methanolic extract of Cissus quadrangularis (L). (MECQ) using different free radical scavenging assays includes DPPH, nitric oxide, superoxide, metal chelation, and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging assays. In vitro leukemic cytotoxic assessment by MTT assay was performed both EECQ and MECQ extract against HL-60 cell lines. Results Strong antioxidant effects were recorded in EECQ and MECQ in all the cell-free models. The ethanolic extract exhibited a significant dose-dependent free radical activity in comparison with methanolic extracts. The EECQ and MECQ possess pronounced anticancer efficacy against leukemic cells HL-60 with an IC50 value of 36 μg/mL and 40 μg/mL respectively. Conclusion Present data indicates the presence of marked antioxidant and anticancer behaviors in the extracts of aerial portions of Cissus quadrangularis (L). extracts. Thus, Cissus quadrangularis (L). poses as a promising safe chemopreventive plant to combat cancer. © 2020 The Author(s).This study was carried out to determine the biochemical and molecular potential effects of Zn-ONPs sub-lethal toxicity on the hormonal profile of Oreochromis niloticus (O. niloticus). One hundred and fifty O. niloticus juvenile female were used in this experiment; Ninety for determination of LC50 and other 60 fish were divided into 3 groups with 20 fish each (two replicate in each group). Group I used as control group whereas other groups treated with 1/20 and 1/30 of LC50 respectively for 4 days. Serum, pituitary gland, hepatic, pancreatic and muscular tissues were obtained for hormonal and molecular evaluation. Serum growth hormone (GH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), tetraiodothyronine (T4), follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), testosterone and insulin hormones were significantly decreased with a significant increase in both Adrenocorticosteroid hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels with no change in serum glucagon levels. On molecular levels there were a significant down regulation in transcriptional levels of GH, Insulin like growth factor I (IGF-I), insulin and Insulin receptor-A (IRA genes. These results suggested that, hormonal and molecular alterations can be used as an early biomarkers for Zn-ONPs toxicity in fish. © 2020 The Authors.To investigate the effects of knocking out the Sperm associated antigen6 (Spag6) gene on the auditory system of mice, the heterozygous type Spag6 knockout mouse model built in the previous period was used for mating and breeding, and homozygous type Spag6 gene knockout mouse (Spag-/-), heterozygous type Spag6 gene knockout mouse (Spag+/-) and wild type mouse (Spag+/+) were obtained. PCR technology was used to verify mouse models with different genotypes. After verification, the hearing threshold responses of Spag+/+ and Spag-/- genotype mice were detected. The localization of Spag6 gene in the basal membrane of the cochlea of the inner ear was detected by immunofluorescence staining. The changes of middle ear tissues were observed by H.E. staining sections. The relative expression of Prestin gene and Pgrn gene in different age mice was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR. The relative expression of Prestin gene was detected by western blot. The results showed that Spag-/- mice had hearing impairment compared with Spag+/+ mice.