Esophageal and Gastric Dysmotilities are Associated with Altered Glucose Homeostasis and Plasma Levels of Incretins and Leptin

Effects and Components of Herb Pair Huanglian-Banxia on Diabetic Gastroparesis by Network Pharmacology

Diabetic gastroparesis (DGP) is a serious and chronic complication of long-standing diabetes mellitus, which brings a heavy burden to individuals and society. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is considered a complementary and alternative therapy for DGP patients. Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma, HL) and Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma, BX) combined as herb pair have been frequently used in TCM prescriptions, which can effectively treat DGP in China. In this article, a practical application of TCM network pharmacological approach was used for the research on herb pair HL-BX in the treatment of DGP. Firstly, twenty-seven potential active components of HL-BX were screened from the TCMSP database, and their potential targets were also retrieved. Then, the compound-target network and PPI network were constructed from predicted common targets, and several key targets were found based on the degree of the network. Next, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were conducted to obtain several significantly enriched terms. Finally, the experimental verification was made. The results demonstrated that network pharmacological approach was a powerful means for identifying bioactive ingredients and mechanisms of action for TCM. Network pharmacology provided an effective strategy for TCM modern research.

The mechanism of esophagus dysmotility in diabetes and research progress of relating treatments

Introduction: Esophagus dysmotility is a crucial risk factor of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is one of the most common diseases in digestive medicine globally. This review emphasizes the mechanisms of esophagus dysmotility in diabetes and summarizes more targeted treatments for these patients to avoid the overuse of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).Areas covered: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a clear factor that must not be neglected in the development of GERD. Previous studies have preliminarily researched the esophagus deterioration in diabetes. However, the multi-faceted mechanisms of esophagus dysmotility in diabetes need more studies. Besides, targeted treatments for these patients rather than conventional PPIs are urgently needed.Expert opinion: The treatments for GERD patients with diabetes should be further explored. Pharmacological approaches such as prokinetic agents, psychotherapy can be adopted. Meanwhile, it's feasible to explore non-drug treatments. For example, Electroacupuncture (EA) at Zusanli (ST-36) may be effective to protect the networks of intestinal cells of Cajal (ICCs) in diabetes. More effective approaches should be explored to achieve individualized treatment for these patients.

The Effects of Low-Dose and High-Dose Decoctions of Fructus aurantii in a Rat Model of Functional Dyspepsia

BACKGROUND Fructus aurantii is a flavonoid derived from Citrus aurantium (bitter orange) that is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat gastric motility disorders. This study aimed to investigate the effects of low-dose and high-dose decoctions of Fructus aurantii in a rat model of functional dyspepsia (FD). MATERIAL AND METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats (n=90) were divided into nine study groups: the control group, the FD model group, the domperidone-treated (Domp) group, the low-dose raw Fructus aurantii (FA-L) group, the high-dose raw Fructus aurantii (FA-H) group, the low-dose Fructus aurantii with stir-fried wheat bran (Bran-L) group, the high-dose Fructus aurantii with stir-fried wheat bran (Bran-H) group, the low-dose Fructus aurantii with stir-fried wheat bran and honey (Honey-L) group, and the high-dose Fructus aurantii with stir-fried wheat bran and honey (Honey-H) group. The FD rat model was established by semi-starvation, followed by tail damping, stimulation, and forced exercise with fatigue. Change in weight, rate of gastric emptying and intestinal propulsion, and serum levels of leptin, motilin, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), gastrin, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), ghrelin, and cholecystokinin were compared between the groups. RESULTS In the FD model group, weight, rate of gastric emptying and intestinal propulsion significantly decreased, the expression of leptin, VIP and CGRP increased, and expression of motilin, gastrin, ghrelin, and cholecystokinin significantly decreased. Treatment with low-dose Fructus aurantii with stir-fried wheat bran significantly reversed these effects. CONCLUSIONS In the rat model of FD, low-dose Fructus aurantii with stir-fried wheat bran increased gastrointestinal motility and gastrointestinal hormone levels.

Adipocytes-released Peptides Involved in the Control of Gastrointestinal Motility

The present review focuses on adipocytes-released peptides known to be involved in the control of gastrointestinal motility, acting both centrally and peripherally. Thus, four peptides have been taken into account: leptin, adiponectin, nesfatin-1, and apelin. The discussion of the related physiological or pathophysiological roles, based on the most recent findings, is intended to underlie the close interactions among adipose tissue, central nervous system, and gastrointestinal tract. The better understanding of this complex network, as gastrointestinal motor responses represent peripheral signals involved in the regulation of food intake through the gut-brain axis, may also furnish a cue for the development of either novel therapeutic approaches in the treatment of obesity and eating disorders or potential diagnostic tools.

Oropharyngeal Dysphagia and Diabetes Mellitus: Screening of 200 Type 1 and Type 2 Patients in Cairo, Egypt

BACKGROUND

Although diabetes mellitus is a well-researched systemic endocrinal disease, literature is scarce addressing the co-occurrence of oropharyngeal dysphagia with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this work was to screen Egyptian diabetic patients for symptoms suggestive of oropharyngeal dysphagia using the validated Arabic version of the Eating Assessment Tool (A-EAT-10).

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

200 Egyptian adult diabetic patients, aged from 18 to 59 years participated in the study. The inclusion criteria were being diabetic patients of type 1 or type 2. Patients were asked to complete the A-EAT-10 questionnaire.

RESULTS

Age progression and being female were found to be risk factors for dysphagia among diabetic patients participating in this study. The most common symptom among diabetic patients who complained of dysphagia was "I cough when I eat."

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests the presence of oropharyngeal swallowing problems among patients with diabetes mellitus.

Alignments of endocrine, anthropometric, and metabolic parameters in type 2 diabetes after intervention with an Okinawa-based Nordic diet

Background

An Okinawa-based Nordic diet with moderately low carbohydrate content and high fat and protein content has been shown to improve anthropometry and metabolism in type 2 diabetes.

Objective

The objectives of this study were to measure plasma or serum levels of hormones regulating energy metabolism and metabolic control, that is, cholecystokinin (CCK), Cortisol, C-peptide, ghrelin, glucagon, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), insulin, leptin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), polypeptide YY (PYY), resistin, and visfatin after this diet intervention, and to determine partial correlations between hormonal levels and anthropometric and metabolic responses.

Design

A total of 30 patients (17 women) with type 2 diabetes, mean age 57.5 ± 8.2 years, and body mass index (BMI) 29.9 ± 4.1 kg/m² were served the diet for 12 weeks. Fasting hormones were measured by Luminex and enzyme–linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before study start and after 12 and 28 weeks, along with anthropometric and metabolic parameters.

Result

The levels of CCK (P = 0.005), cortisol (P = 0.015), C-peptide (P = 0.022), glucagon (P = 0.003), GLP-1 (P = 0.013), GIP (P < 0.001), insulin (P = 0.004), leptin (P < 0.001), and PYY (P < 0.001) were lowered after dietary intervention. These reduced levels only remained for PYY at week 28 (P = 0.002), when also ghrelin (P = 0.012) and visfatin (P = 0.021) levels were reduced. Changes of glucose values correlated with changed levels of C-peptide and PYY (P < 0.001), insulin (P = 0.002), and PAI-1 (P = 0.009); changes of triglyceride values with changed levels of C-peptide, insulin, and PYY (P < 0.001) and PAI-1 (P = 0.005); changes of insulin resistance with changes of leptin levels (P = 0.003); and changes of BMI values with changed levels of C-peptide, insulin, and leptin (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Okinawa-based Nordic diet in type 2 diabetes has significant impact on the endocrine profile, which correlates with anthropometric and metabolic improvements.

Bidirectional Relationship between Gastric Emptying and Plasma Glucose Control in Normoglycemic Individuals and Diabetic Patients

Gastric emptying and glycemic control pathways are closely interrelated processes. Gastric chyme is transferred into the duodenum with velocities depending on its solid or liquid state, as well as on its caloric and nutritional composition. Once nutrients enter the intestine, the secretion of incretins (hormonal products of intestinal cells) is stimulated. Among incretins, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has multiple glycemic-regulatory effects that include delayed gastric emptying, thus triggering a feedback loop lowering postprandial serum glucose levels. Glycemic values also influence gastric emptying; hyperglycemia slows it down, and hypoglycemia accelerates it, both limiting glycemic fluctuations. Disordered gastric emptying in diabetes mellitus is understood today as a complex pathophysiological condition, with both irreversible and reversible components and high intra- and interindividual variability of time span and clinical features. While limited delays may be useful for reducing postprandial hyperglycemias, severely hindered gastric emptying may be associated with higher glycemic variability and worsened long-term glycemic control. Therapeutic approaches for both gastric emptying and glycemic control include dietary modifications of meal structure or content and drugs acting as GLP-1 receptor agonists. In the foreseeable future, we will probably witness a wider range of dietary interventions and more incretin-based medications used for restoring both gastric emptying and glycemic levels to nearly physiological levels.