Vanillic Acid Ameliorates Cationic Bovine Serum Albumin Induced Immune Complex Glomerulonephritis in BALB/c Mice

HIF Stabilizer Desidustat Protects against Complement-Mediated Diseases

Complement cascade is a defence mechanism useful for eliminating pathogenic microorganisms and damaged cells. However, activation of alternative complement system can also cause inflammation and promote kidney and retinal disease progression. Inflammation causes tissue hypoxia, which induces hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) and HIF helps the body to adapt to inflammation. In this study, we investigated the effect of HIF stabilizer desidustat in complement-mediated diseases. Oral administration of desidustat (15 mg/kg) was effective to reduce the kidney injury in mice that was induced by either lipopolysaccharide (LPS), doxorubicin or bovine serum albumin (BSA)-overload. Complement activation-induced membrane attack complex (MAC) formation and factor B activity were also reduced by desidustat treatment. In addition, desidustat was effective against membranous nephropathy caused by cationic BSA and retinal degeneration induced by sodium iodate in mice. C3-deposition, proteinuria, malondialdehyde, and interleukin-1ß were decreased and superoxide dismutase was increased by desidustat treatment in cBSA-induced membranous nephropathy. Desidustat specifically inhibited alternative complement system, without affecting the lectin-, or classical complement pathway. This effect appears to be mediated by inhibition of factor B. These data demonstrate the potential therapeutic value of HIF stabilization by desidustat in treatment of complement-mediated diseases.

Gastroprotective effect of vanillic acid against ethanol-induced gastric injury in rats: involvement of the NF-κB signalling and anti-apoptosis role

BACKGROUND

Vanillic acid (VA; 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid) is a flavouring agent found in various natural sources such as olives, fruits, and green tea. While VA exhibits numerous pharmacological effects, its potential protective effects against gastric injury warrants further investigation. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to elucidate investigate the gastroprotective properties of VA against ethanol-induced gastric injury.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Rats were orally administered either saline or VA at different doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day), with omeprazole (20 mg/kg) serving as a positive control, for fourteen consecutive days before ethanol administration. Blood and gastric tissue samples were collected one hour after ethanol administration for biochemical, molecular, and histological analyses. Pre-treatment with VA before ulcer induction alleviated both macroscopic and microscopic damage. It also increased antioxidant glutathione levels and decreased malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase activity, along with reducing inflammatory markers such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Additionally, VA pre-treatment reversed the elevation of Bax mRNA expression and gastric caspase-3 levels induced by gastric damage. It also mitigated the reduction in Bcl-2 mRNA expression.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that VA exerts protective effects against ethanol-induced gastric injury in rats. It achieves this by augmenting gastric antioxidant capacity and mitigating oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptotic damage.

Yi Shen An, a Chinese traditional prescription, ameliorates membranous glomerulonephritis induced by cationic bovine serum albumin in rats

CONTEXT

Yi Shen An (YSA) is an investigational composite of traditional Chinese medicine (Reference: 2010L000974) for the treatment of renal disease.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the protective effects of YSA against membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with cationic bovine serum albumin (C-BSA) to create a model of MGN. Then, rats were orally treated with YSA at doses of 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 g/kg for 35 successive days; prednisone (5 mg/kg) was used as a positive control. At the end of the experimental period, we performed a series of tests, including 24 h urinary protein, and biochemical, immunological, antioxidative, coagulation indices, and histopathological examination.

RESULTS

YSA-1 g/kg significantly lowered urinary protein from 68.37 to 30.74 mg (p < 0.01). Meantime, total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) recovered from 66.26 and 20.51 g/L to 76.08 and 35.64 g/L (p < 0.01), respectively. YSA removed the deposition of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and complement 3c (C3c), prevented inter-capillary cell hyperplasia on the glomerular basement membrane (GBM), and reduced electron-dense deposits and fusion of podocytes. In addition, serum IgG and superoxide dismutase were significantly elevated. In contrast, malondialdehyde, total cholesterol, triglyceride, circulating immune complex (CIC), and immunoglobulin M decreased in the YSA-treated group. Moreover, the blood coagulation dysfunction was adjusted.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate YSA may exert a therapeutic effect against MGN through the inhibition of CIC formation, and the removal of IgG and C3c deposition from the GBM, thus supporting the development of further clinical trials.

Safety Assessment of Vanillic Acid: Subacute Oral Toxicity Studies in Wistar Rats

OBJECTIVES

Vanillic acid (VA) is a flavoring agent, a phenolic acid, and an intermediary by-product formed during transformation of ferulic acid to vanillin. It has been investigated for diverse pharmacological actions and used in Chinese medicine for decades. However, there is no information in the literature about its mechanism of toxicity or safety with long-term use. The present study will not only supply information on its pharmacological profile but also encourage evidence-based pharmacotherapeutic use. Hence, we performed a subacute toxicity study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Test Guideline 407 (2008), 3 groups of rats were formed consisting of 12 rats (6 male and 6 female) in each group. For the subacute toxicity, the dose was chosen after a limit test was conducted. VA (1000 mg/kg/day) was orally administered for 2 weeks to the treatment group, whereas the control group received an equivalent volume of the vehicle. To assess reversibility, VA (1000 mg/kg/day, p.o.) was administered to the satellite group for 2 weeks and animals were observed for an additional 2 weeks after treatment. The adverse signs, variation in body weight, and mortality were evaluated throughout the study period. On days 15 and 29, blood was collected to evaluate essential biochemical and hematological parameters. The animals were subsequently weighed and sacrificed. The weights of internal organs were recorded; gross necroscopy and histopathological studies were performed.

RESULTS

The hematological parameters of the satellite group increased and the serum sodium level decreased after the treatment. Satellite groups showed no other major change in biochemical parameters when compared to the control group. In addition, relative organ weights, gross necropsy examinations and histopathological structure of the internal organs showed no major alterations.

CONCLUSION

VA showed no adverse effect on the process of leukopoiesis, erythropoiesis or on internal organs, as verified by hematological and biochemical evaluations, gross necropsy, and histopathological studies. The decrease in serum sodium is not considered as a major toxic effect.

Effect of targeted nutrition intervention on defecation and postoperative complications in patients undergoing radical resection for rectal cancer

AIM

To investigate the effect of targeted nutrition intervention on defecation, nutritional indicators and postoperative complications in patients undergoing radical resection for rectal cancer.

METHODS

One hundred and thirty patients who underwent radical resection for rectal cancer at Zhejiang Hospital were selected from January 2015 to December 2016. They were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, with 65 cases in each group. The control group underwent routine nutritional intervention, and the observation group was given targeted nutritional intervention. Defecation function, nutritional indexes, postoperative recovery and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Excellent recovery of defecation function was achieved in 23 (35.38%) patients and good recovery of defecation function was achieved in 27 (41.54%) patients in the observation group. The rate of excellent and good recovery of defecation function was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (76.92% vs 60%, P < 0.05). Time to postoperative exhaust (1.83 d ± 0.68 d vs 2.75 d ± 0.84 d), time to postoperative defecation (2.81 d ± 1.06 d vs 3.95 d ± 1.38 d), time to intake of semiliquid diet (9.84 d ± 1.26 d vs 11.72 d ± 1.58 d), and postoperative hospitalization time (16.27 d ± 1.53 d vs 18.49 d ± 2.14 d) were significantly shorter in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Serum total protein, albumin, prealbumin, hemoglobin and transferrin levels at 1 week after surgery were 68.35 g/L ± 13.63 g/L, 36.17 g/L ± 5.62 g/L, 0.29 g/L ± 0.08 g/L, 124.75 g/L ± 28.14 g/L and 1.97 g/L ± 0.51 g/L, respectively, in the observation group, which were significantly higher than those of the control group (56.32 g/L ± 10.66 g/L, 26.12 g/L ± 4.25 g/L, 0.18 g/L ± 0.04 g/L, 100.26 g/L ± 23.86 g/L and 1.56 g/L ± 0.35 g/L, respectively; P < 0.05). The incidence of pulmonary infection, urinary tract infection, wound healing, and anastomotic leakage was similar between the two groups (P > 0.05). The total complication rate in the observation group was 7.69%, which was lower than that of the control group (20%; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Targeted nutrition intervention can significantly improve the defecation function and nutritional indicators in patients with rectal cancer undergoing radical surgery, promote postoperative rehabilitation and reduce the incidence of complications.

Kidney disease models: tools to identify mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets

Acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are worldwide public health problems affecting millions of people and have rapidly increased in prevalence in recent years. Due to the multiple causes of renal failure, many animal models have been developed to advance our understanding of human nephropathy. Among these experimental models, rodents have been extensively used to enable mechanistic understanding of kidney disease induction and progression, as well as to identify potential targets for therapy. In this review, we discuss AKI models induced by surgical operation and drugs or toxins, as well as a variety of CKD models (mainly genetically modified mouse models). Results from recent and ongoing clinical trials and conceptual advances derived from animal models are also explored.