Astragaloside IV Prevents Obesity-Associated Hypertension by Improving Pro-Inflammatory Reaction and Leptin Resistance

Jiang, Ping,Ma, Dufang,Wang, Xue,Wang, Yongcheng,Bi, Yuxin,Yang, Jinlong,Wang, Xuebing,Li, Xiao Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 2018 Molecules and cells Vol.41 No.3

Low-grade pro-inflammatory state and leptin resistance are important underlying mechanisms that contribute to obesity-associated hypertension. We tested the hypothesis that Astragaloside IV (As IV), known to counteract obesity and hypertension, could prevent obesity-associated hypertension by inhibiting pro-inflammatory reaction and leptin resistance. High-fat diet (HFD) induced obese rats were randomly assigned to three groups: the HFD control group (HF con group), As IV group, and the As IV + ${\alpha}$-bungaratoxin (${\alpha}-BGT$) group (As IV+${\alpha}-BGT$ group). As IV ($20mg{\cdot}Kg^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$) was administrated to rats for 6 weeks via daily oral gavage. Body weight and blood pressure were continuously measured, and NE levels in the plasma and renal cortex was evaluated to reflect the sympathetic activity. The expressions of leptin receptor (LepRb) mRNA, phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (p-STAT3), phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (p-PI3K), suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) mRNA, and protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) mRNA, pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA and neuropeptide Y (NPY) mRNA were measured by Western blot or qRT-PCR to evaluate the hypothalamic leptin sensitivity. Additionally, we measured the protein or mRNA levels of ${\alpha}7nAChR$, inhibitor of nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ kinase subunit ${\beta}/nuclear$ factor ${\kappa}B$ ($IKK{\beta}/NF-KB$) and pro-inflammatory cytokines ($IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$) in hypothalamus and adipose tissue to reflect the anti-inflammatory effects of As IV through upregulating expression of ${\alpha}7nAChR$. We found that As IV prevented body weight gain and adipose accumulation, and also improved metabolic disorders in HFD rats. Furthermore, As IV decreased BP and HR, as well as NE levels in blood and renal tissue. In the hypothalamus, As IV alleviated leptin resistance as evidenced by the increased p-STAT3, LepRb mRNA and POMC mRNA, and decreased p-PI3K, SOCS3 mRNA, and PTP1B mRNA. The effects of As IV on leptin sensitivity were related in part to the up-regulated ${\alpha}7nAchR$ and suppressed $IKK{\beta}/NF-KB$ signaling and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hypothalamus and adipose tissue, since co-administration of ${\alpha}7nAChR$ selective antagonist ${\alpha}-BGT$ could weaken the improved effect of As IV on central leptin resistance. Our study suggested that As IV could efficiently prevent obesityassociated hypertension through inhibiting inflammatory reaction and improving leptin resistance; furthermore, these effects of As IV was partly related to the increased ${\alpha}7nAchR$ expression.

Astragaloside IV Prevents Obesity-Associated Hypertension by Improving Pro-Inflammatory Reaction and Leptin Resistance

Ping Jiang,Dufang Ma,Xue Wang,Yongcheng Wang,Yuxin Bi,Jinlong Yang,Xuebing Wang,Xiao Li 한국분자세포생물학회 2018 Molecules and cells Vol.41 No.3

Low-grade pro-inflammatory state and leptin resistance are important underlying mechanisms that contribute to obesityassociated hypertension. We tested the hypothesis that Astragaloside IV (As IV), known to counteract obesity and hypertension, could prevent obesity-associated hypertension by inhibiting pro-inflammatory reaction and leptin resistance. High-fat diet (HFD) induced obese rats were randomly assigned to three groups: the HFD control group (HF con group), As IV group, and the As IV + α-bungaratoxin (α-BGT) group (As IV+α-BGT group). As IV (20 mg·Kg-1·d-1) was administrated to rats for 6 weeks via daily oral gavage. Body weight and blood pressure were continuously measured, and NE levels in the plasma and renal cortex was evaluated to reflect the sympathetic activity. The expressions of leptin receptor (LepRb) mRNA, phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (p-STAT3), phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (p-PI3K), suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) mRNA, and protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) mRNA, pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA and neuropeptide Y (NPY) mRNA were measured by Western blot or qRT-PCR to evaluate the hypothalamic leptin sensitivity. Additionally, we measured the protein or mRNA levels of α7nAChR, inhibitor of nuclear factor κB kinase subunit β/nuclear factor κB (IKKβ/NF-KB) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) in hypothalamus and adipose tissue to reflect the anti-inflammatory effects of As IV through upregulating expression of α7nAChR. We found that As IV prevented body weight gain and adipose accumulation, and also improved metabolic disorders in HFD rats. Furthermore, As IV decreased BP and HR, as well as NE levels in blood and renal tissue. In the hypothalamus, As IV alleviated leptin resistance as evidenced by the increased p-STAT3, LepRb mRNA and POMC mRNA, and decreased p-PI3K, SOCS3 mRNA, and PTP1B mRNA. The effects of As IV on leptin sensitivity were related in part to the up-regulated α7nAchR and suppressed IKKβ/NF-KB signaling and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hypothalamus and adipose tissue, since co-administration of α7nAChR selective antagonist α-BGT could weaken the improved effect of As IV on central leptin resistance. Our study suggested that As IV could efficiently prevent obesityassociated hypertension through inhibiting inflammatory reaction and improving leptin resistance; furthermore, these effects of As IV was partly related to the increased α7nAchR expression.

Effects of Casein and Protein-free Diets on Endogenous Amino Acid Losses in Pigs

Zhang, Yongcheng,Li, Defa,Fan, Shijun,Piao, Xiangshu,Wang, Jitan,Han, In K. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2002 Animal Bioscience Vol.15 No.11

Quantification of endogenous amino acid loss at the terminal ileum is an essential means for calculation of the true amino acid digestibility of a feedstuff. Since nitrogen appeared in the determined diet or not could shift the results very much, also, none of digestibility markers could be recovered with 100% rate at the terminal ileum, the objectives of the present study were: (1) to determine endogenous amino acid losses when fed either a casein diet or a protein-free diet and (2) to examine the reliability of chromic oxide or acid insoluble ash in the protein-free diet. Six ileal-cannulated pigs ($65{\pm}1.85 kg$ BW) with a simple T-cannula in the terminal ileum were used in a replicated $3{\times}3$ Latin square designed trial, after allowed a 14 d recuperation period. Each test period ran for 12 days comprised of a 10 d adjustment period and a 2 d collection period. The endogenous AA losses of His, Ile, Lys, Cys, Thr, Val, Trp, Asp, Glu, and Ser from pigs fed the casein diet were significantly higher than those of the protein-free diet (p<0.05). No significant difference was found in the amount of endogenous amino acid loss when determined with the different markers in the protein-free diet (p>0.05). These data suggest that endogenous amino acid loss could be underestimated when a protein-free diet is used. A direct effect of dietary peptides on the endogenous amino acid loss was found when the casein diet was fed. Our results also indicate that acid insoluble ash can be used as an inert marker as an alternative to chromic oxide when measuring endogenous amino acid loss.

Fast Supplementary Voltage Control Strategy to Mitigate Catastrophic Trip-off Risk of Wind Turbines

Yin Lifu,Liu Yongcheng,Wang Zhuxiu,Xu Ang,Li Zhengtian,Lin Xiangning,Feng Zhongnan,Zhuo Yixin 대한전기학회 2022 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.17 No.6

There exists such a risk that Magnetic Control Reactor (MCR) type Static Var Compensator (SVC), which is widely used in wind farms, still outputs excessive reactive power after fault removal in the wind farm due to the slow regulating speed of MCR, leading to catastrophic trip-off problem of wind turbine. For the purpose of overcoming the shortage of MCR-type SVC on regulating speed and eff ectively controlling the transient over-voltage level of wind farm due to fault removal, an novel fast supplementary voltage control strategy for MCR-type SVC based on decision tree algorithm is proposed. The over-voltage level and trip-off risk of each wind turbine after fault removal is predicted by the proposed dynamic voltage security decision tree system. According to the predictions, appropriate capacitor banks are shed to lower the risk of wind turbine trip-off due to overvoltage, resulting from reactive power over-compensation. It can be proven with case studies that the proposed strategy is capable of reducing the risk of over-voltage in wind farms, accompanied by the excellent computational effi ciency.

Cardanol with a Covalently Attached Organophosphate Moiety as a Halogen-Free, Intrinsically Flame-Retardant PVC Bio-Plasticizer

Delong Hou,Songhang Wang,Jinming Chang,Zhou Xu,Qi Zeng,Zhonghui Wang,Yongcheng Yang,Jun Yan,Yi Chen 한국섬유공학회 2020 Fibers and polymers Vol.21 No.8

Plasticizers that enable flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are usually combustible, restricting the application ofPVC in fire-prone scenarios. In this context, intrinsically flame-retardant plasticizers displaying dual function continue to bethe focus of intensive research. Despite their efficiency, the majority of these dual-functional plasticizers previously reportedcontain halogen elements, which, once ignited, emanate toxic and potentially carcinogenic substances, along with toxic gasesand smoke, polluting the environment, damaging the biota, and threatening human health. Here, we report a strategy to obtaina halogen-free, intrinsically flame-retardant PVC bio-plasticizer that harnesses the phenolic hydroxyl of naturally occurringcardanol and covalent attachment of an organophosphate moiety. When combined with di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DOP),the organophosphate-containing cardanol is qualified as a co-plasticizer, while endowing the PVC materials with flameretardancy. Unlike inorganic flame-retardants, the engineered cardanol is compatible with PVC such that the mechanicalproperties of the PVC materials are not compromised. The rationale underlying the present effort may provide guidance fordeveloping sustainable alternatives to halogen-containing plasticizers to address the sustainability challenge now confrontingPVC industry.

UTrustDisk: An Efficient Data Protection Scheme for Building Trusted USB Flash Disk

( Yong Cheng ),( Jun Ma ),( Jiangchun Ren ),( Songzhu Mei ),( Zhiying Wang ) 한국인터넷정보학회 2017 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.11 No.4

Data protection of removable storage devices is an important issue in information security. Unfortunately, most existing data protection mechanisms are aimed at protecting computer platform which is not suitable for ultra-low-power devices. To protect the flash disk appropriately and efficiently, we propose a trust based USB flash disk, named UTrustDisk. The data protection technologies in UTrustDisk include data authentication protocol, data confidentiality protection and data leakage prevention. Usually, the data integrity protection scheme is the bottleneck in the whole system and we accelerate it by WH universal hash function and speculative caching. The speculative caching will cache the potential hot chunks for reducing the memory bandwidth pollution. We adopt the symmetric encryption algorithm to protect data confidentiality. Before mounting the UTrustDisk, we will run a trusted virtual domain based lightweight virtual machine for preventing information leakage. Besides, we prove formally that UTrustDisk can prevent sensitive data from leaking out. Experimental results show that our scheme`s average writing throughput is 44.8% higher than that of NH scheme, and 316% higher than that of SHA-1 scheme. And the success rate of speculative caching mechanism is up to 94.5% since the access pattern is usually sequential.