Brucellosis is an important bacterial zoonosis in humans and domestic animals. Brucella spp. are taken up, and survive within non-professional and professional phagocytes. In common belief, diabetes mellitus increases susceptibility to pathogenic infection. In this study, Brucella (B.) abortus was inoculated into a diabetic animal model, db/db mice, in order to show the course of brucellosis in diabetic state. The liver proliferation, bacterial burden of the liver, level of cytokines in serum and macrophage migration into liver, were investigated at 14 days post-infection. In comparison with the uninfected control mice, the results revealed that the weight of the liver of infected db/db mice was higher but with lower bacterial load in this organ. The level of MCP-1 mRNA expression in the liver was lower, the levels of IL-12p70, IL-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ in serum was significantly higher and the macrophages migration was significantly lower in infected mice than in the control group. In conclusion, this present study suggested that MCP-1 suppression by B. abortus infection may inhibit the macrophages migration, and consequently may induce to abrogate the bacterial survival in db/db mouse liver. Furthermore, the increased inflammatory cytokines may contribute to inhibition of B. abortus proliferation in diabetic mice.

Sappanchalcone, a biologically active compound isolated from Caesalpinia sappan L., is reported to exert a variety of biological activities, such as neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory actions and inhibitory effect on antigen-induced beta hexosaminidase release. However, the vascular protective effects of this compound are not fully understood. The present study examined the effects of sappanchalcone in suppressing cell adhesion molecules expression in high glucose stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Sappanchalcone significantly decreased 25 mM high glucose-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression in a dose-dependent manner. Sappanchalcone also significantly inhibited the formation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, we found that the vascular protective effects of sappanchalcone were linked to the up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 expression in HUVEC. The effects of sappanchalcone on the high glucose-induced expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were partially reversed by treatment of the cells with an inhibitor of HO-1, tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP). Based on these results, these findings suggest that sappanchalcone-induced HO-1 expression plays a key role in the vascular protective effects of sappanchalcone in HUVEC.

In this study, we observed anti-diabetic effects of acid hydrolyzed silk peptides, where the amount of peptides in the total amino acid mixture was strictly regulated. Using in vitro diabetes models, silk peptide-containing amino acid mixtures of 5.60% (G5), 11.30% (G10), 14.50% (G15), and 20.50% (G20) were examined separately in order to determine whether they have biological activities. According to our results, a cytoprotective effect was observed following treatment of interleukin-1β in RINm5f pancreas β-cells. As a consequence, Bax, a pro-apoptotic gene, was down-regulated, while Bcl-2, a pro-survival gene, was retained at normal level. Results of the 4’,6-diamidino-2-phentylindole (DAPI) staining assay confirmed that G20 has a better cytoprotective effect. Insulin release from RINm5f cells showed a significant increase following treatment with G5-G20, suggesting that silk peptide effectively regulated and induced insulin production. Single treatment with G5-G20 resulted in enhanced glucose uptake in L6 skeletal muscle cells. In addition, a higher amount of each group inhibited the activity of α-glucosidase. In summary, these data suggest that silk peptide may have an anti-diabetic effect through protection of pancreas β-cells and enhancement of insulin release, which showed a close association with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM), and can improve glucose uptake, which was the major target for therapy of Type 2 diabetes. Taken together, we concluded that acid hydrolyzed silk peptides can be used effectively for control of blood sugar metabolism via improvement of the problematic indices of Type 1 and Type 2 DM.

Proteinuric conditions demonstrate structural and compositional changes of the foot processes and slit diaphragms between podocytes. β-Catenin in podocytes serves as an adapter protein anchoring P-cadherin of slit diaphragms to actin filaments of the podocyte cytoskeleton. To investigate the effect of ginseng total saponin (GTS) on pathologic changes of podocyte P-cadherin/β-catenin unit induced by diabetic conditions, we cultured mouse podocytes under: 1) normal glucose (5 mM, = control); 2) high glucose (HG, 30 mM); 3) advanced glycosylation end products (AGE)-added; or 4) HG plus AGE-added conditions and treated with GTS. In confocal imaging, β-catenin colocalized with P-cadherin predominantly at intercellular junction area. However, diabetic conditions relocalized and concentrated both molecules at perinuclear cytoplasmic area. In Western blotting, diabetic conditions, especially HG plus AGE-added condition, also decreased cellular β-catenin protein levels at 6, 24, and 48 hours. GTS improved such quantitative and qualitative changes of β-catenin. These findings imply that HG plus AGE have an influence on the redistribution and amount of P-cadherin/ β-catenin unit of podocytes, which can be reversed by GTS.

Periodontal disease induces an increased incidence of tooth loss, particularly in cases with an associated loss of alveolar bone and periodontal ligaments. In this study, alveolar bone loss was detected by micro-computed tomography (CT) following exposure to E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mouse model. A 10 mg/ml dosage of E. coli LPS was applied between the first, second and third molars of the mice three times a week for 10 weeks. The loss of periodontal ligaments and alveolar processes was then evaluated by micro-CT using two and three dimensional microstructure morphometric parameters. In the diabetic mice, E. coli LPS induced the destruction of periodontal ligaments and loss of alveolar process spaces. The distances between periodontal ligaments were significantly widened in the STZ-LPS group compared with the untreated STZ group. The 10 mg/ml exposure to E. coli LPS in the STZ mice also resulted in a significant decrease in the alveolar bone volume fraction. The results of our study suggest that alveolar bone loss can be readily detected by volumetric micro-CT analysis as an increase in the distance between periodontal ligaments and in the alveolar process length.

The goal of this study was to examine the ameliorative effects of black ginseng(BG) in male obese diabetic C57BLKS/ J-db/db mice. Ten-week-old male db/db mice were administrated 300 ㎎/㎏ of F-BG daily for 6 weeks, The db/db mice where corresponded to the normal group and db/db mice which were the diabetic positive group were not provided BG treatment. The supressive effects of treatment were examined on serum lipids levels, which included total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol and nonesterified fatty acid. Also, weight changes and the relative weight of liver and kidney, organ pathological investigation were measured. The effects of treatment were assessed by comparing the results of the db/db mice that received BG for 6 weeks with that of the diabetic positive group. Significant differences in several biological parameters such as HDL level(p<0.05), TG level(p<0.05) and NEFA level(p<0.05) were observed for the BG group. BG treatment increased the HDL level and decreased the NEFA level, which could ameliorate hyperlipidemia or blood circulation.

This study was carried to investigate the antidiabetic metabolism effect of water extract Cordyceps Militalis(C.M.) in Streptozotocin(STZ) induced diabetic rats. Diabetes were induced by intravenous injection of STZ at a dose of 42mg/kg,b.w. dissolved in citrate buffer. The water extract of C.M. was orally administrated once a day for 7 days at a dose of 500mg/kg,b.w(body weight). or 1,000mg/kg.b.w. The content serum glucose was significantly decreased in C.M. treated group compared to the those of STZ-control group. The content of hepatic glycogen and activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase(G-6-PDH), glucokinase(GK) were significantly increased, but activity of glucose-6-phoshatase(G-6-Pase) was significantly decreased in C.M. treated group compared to the those of STZ-control group. These results indicated that water extract of C.M. would have antidiabetic metabolism effect in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

To identify the treatment effect of lactic acid bacteria for diabetes, the treatment effects of a single administration of acarbose (a diabetes treatment drug) or lactic acid bacteria, and the mixture of acarbose and lactic acid bacteria on diabetes in a type 1 diabetes animal model, were studied. In this study, streptozotocin was inoculated into a Sprague-Dawley rat to induce diabetes, and sham control (Sham), diabetic control (STZ), STZ and composition with live cell, STZ and composition with heat killed cell, STZ and composition with drugs (acarbose) were orally administered. Then the treatment effect on diabetes was observed by measuring the body weight, blood glucose, and serum lipid. For the histopathological examination of the pancreas, the Langerhans islet of the pancreas was observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining, and the renal cortex, outer medullar, and inner medullar were also observed. The induced diabetes decreased the body weight, and the fasting blood glucose level decreased in the lactic-acid-bacteriaadministered group and the mixture-administered group. In addition, the probiotic resulted in the greatest decrease in the serum cholesterol level, which is closely related to diabetes. Also, the hematoxylin and eosin staining of the Langerhans islet showed that the reduction in the size of the Langerhans islet slowed in the lactic-acid-bacteria-administered group. The histopathological examination confirmed that the symptoms of diabetic nephropathy decreased in the group to which viable bacteria and acarbose were administered, unlike in the group to which dead bacteria was administered. The mixture of lactic acid bacteria and acarbose and the single administration of lactic acid bacteria or acarbose had treatment effects on the size of the Langerhans islet and of the kidney histopathology. Thus, it is believed that lactic acid bacteria have treatment effects on diabetes and can be used as supplements for the treatment of diabetes.

Mushrooms including Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii are used as foods and employed as folk remedies for diabetes and inflammatroy diseases. This study analyzed anti-diabetic effects of Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii, which grows in some areas such as Gangwon-do and Jeju-do in Korea, as insulin-derived phosphorylation. When 100 ng/ml of IL-6, inflammatory cytokine was given to SK-hep1, HepG2, Akt phosphorylation by insulin was found to be remarkably reduced. In addition, metformin, Antidiabetics serving as positive control in liver was used. Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii used for analyzing anti-diabetic effects in this test didn’t give a great impact on the decrease in Akt phosphorylation by IL-6 at high concentration. However, fruit body in Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii inhibited the decrease in Akt phosphorylation by IL-6 according to the concentration. At the highest concentration 100㎍/ml, it had an effect of increasing Akt phosphorylation to 77%, which was decreased by 50% compared to the insulin treated group by IL-6. Therefore, Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii fruit body used in this test activated Akt phosphorylation inhibited by IL-6 and showed a possibility of significant anti-diabetic effects compared to positive control(metformin).

This study was carried to investigate the antidiabetic and lipid metabolism of water extract paecilomyces japonica(PJ) in Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Diabetes were induced by intravenous injection of STZ at a dose of 42mg/kg dissolved in citrate buffer. The water extract of paecilomyces japonica were orally administrated once a day for 7 days at a dose of 500mg/kg or 1,000mg/kg. The contents of serum glucose, triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol were significantly decreased in PJ treated group compared to the those of STZ-control group. The content of hepatic glycogen and activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase(G-6-PDH), glucokinase(GK) were significantly increased, but activity of glucose-6-phoshatase(G-6-Pase) was significantly decreased in PJ treated group compared to the those of STZ-control group. These results indicated that water extract of paecilomyces japonica would have antidiabetic and lipid metabolism effect in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

Carnosine is a dipeptide (β-alanyl-L-histidine) found in mammalian brain, eye, olfactory bulb and skeletal muscle at high concentrations. Its biological functions include antioxidant and anti-glycation activities. The objectives of this study were to investigate anti-diabetic effects of carnosine as determined by blood glucose levels in glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT), insulin level and serum biochemical and lipid levels in male C57BL/6J db/db mice. There were five experimental groups including normal (C57BL/6J), control (vehicle), and three groups of carnosine at doses of 6, 30, and 150 mg/kg b.w. Carnosine was orally administered to the diabetic mice everyday for 8 weeks. There was no significant difference in body weight changes in carnosine-treated groups compared to the control. The treatments of carnosine significantly decreased the blood glucose level in the diabetic mice compared with the control (p < 0.05) after 5 weeks. The treatments of carnosine also significantly decreased the blood glucose levels in GTT and ITT and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), compared with the control (p < 0.05). Carnosine at the dose of 6 mg/kg significantly decreased the serum insulin level compared to the control (p < 0.05). Carnosine significantly increased total proteins but significantly decreased lactate dehydrogenase and blood urea nitrogen compared with the control (p < 0.05). Carnosine also significantly decreased glucose, LDL, and triglyceride in the serum of diabetic mice compared to the control (p < 0.05). These results suggest that carnosine has a hypoglycermic effect resulting from reduction of glucose and lipid levels and that high carnosine-containing diets or drugs may give a benefit for controlling diabetes mellitus in humans.

The effects of Ganoderma lucidum on glucose uptake was studied in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells. Glucose uptake in muscle cell was increased about 6-fold compared to control by mushroom extract treatment. This increasing effect to the glucose uptake was observed in muscle cells cultured with or without insulin. The levels of phosphor-acetyl CoA carboxylase were upregulated by G. lucidum extract treatment in insulinstimulated and basal culture conditions. However, G. lucidum extract did not affect protein kinaseB/Akt(Akt) level. Furthermore, the expression of phosphor-AMPactivated protein kinase(AMPK) was also up-regulated. AMPK is another regulatory protein in the glucose uptake pathway and energy metabolism. Thus, the treatment of G. lucidum extract in skeletal muscle cells increased the phosphorylation levels of AMPK and acetyl-CoA carboxylase, showing that the increase of glucose uptake by G. lucidum extract might be mediated via the activation of AMPK signaling pathway

The investigation assessed the influence of Compositae plants consumption on the protein profile in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by injection of STZ (45 mg/kg body weight) into tail vein. The rats were randomly assigned to five groups: normal and STZ-control fed an AIN-93 diet, and groups whose diets were supplemented with l0% Compositae powder containing Artemisia iwayomogi (A. iwayomogi), Atracηlodes lancea (A. lancea) or Taraxacum mongolicum (T mongolicum). To observe the effects of Compositae plants in the animal model， the levels of protein in liver, kidney, lung, pancreas, and brain were determined after 4 weeks. The level of protein in kidney increased significantly in rats receiving the A. iwayomogi- and T mongolicum-supplemented diet compared to the STZcontrol group. The level of protein in lung was increased significantly in the A. iwayomogi-supplemented group. Bl00d glucose level correlated well with brain protein level but did not correlate with other protein levels. Also, blood glucose correlated inversely with kidney, lung and brain protein levels. It is suggested that supplementation with A. iwayomogi in diabetic rats leads elevates protein in kidney and lung.

목적: PRP(범안저레이저광응고술) 시행 전에 측정한 망막정맥충만시간의 절대치 뿐만 아니라, PRP 시행 전과 후에 그 변화량을 평가함으로써, 그 변화량과 신생혈관 진행과의 연관성을 규명하고자 하였다. 방법: 증식당뇨 망막병증으로 본원에서 PRP를 시행한 환자 중 PRP 전과 후에 형광안저촬영을 시행하였던 환자 32안을 주사형 레이저검안경을 이용한 형광안저촬영 시행 후 2주 내에 PRP를 시작하였고 PRP 시행 3~5개월 후에 다시 형광안저촬영을 시행하였다. 결과: 망막정맥충만 시간의 PRP 전 후의 변화는 안정화된 군에서는 -0.99±1.60초 감소하였고 불안정화된 군에서는 0.30±1.69초 증가하였으며 독립 T-검정상 망막정맥충만시간의 변화는 통계적으로 유의하였다(P

In this study, we assessed the effects of dietary supplementation with Ecklonia cava on blood glucose, lipid metabolism, and renal oxidative stress in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a normal rat group fed on a control diet and diabetic rats fed on a control diet or supplemented with powder (15% w/w) or water extract of Ecklonia cava (2.5% w/w). Diabetes was induced by a single injection of STZ (60 mg/kg, ip) in citrate buffer. The animals were fed ad libitum with the experimental diet and water for 5 weeks. Dietary supplementation of Ecklonia cava powder and water extract was shown to reduce blood glucose levels in the diabetic rats, and the water extract was more effective than the powder. Dietary supplementation with Ecklonia cava also reduced LDL cholesterol and increased HDL-cholesterol levels in the diabetic rats. Renal glutathione S-transferase activity was increased in the diabetic rats as compared to the normal rats, but reverted to near control values as the result of dietary supplementation with Ecklonia cava. These results show that Eklonia cava exerts an anti-diabetic effect by improving blood glucose concentrations, LDL/HDL-cholesterol ratios, and antioxidative effects on the kidney in diabetic rats.