Metabolic disturbance of short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins to zebrafish larva

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are widely produced chemicals. Short-chain CPs (SCCPs) and medium-chain CPs (MCCPs) were listed as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and candidate POPs under the Stockholm Convention, respectively. The present study explored the developmental toxicity and metabolic disruption caused by SCCPs and MCCPs in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae. CPs exposure at environmentally relevant levels caused no obvious phenotypic changes with zebrafish larvae except that the body length shortening was observed after exposure to CPs at 1-200 μg/L for 7 day post fertilization. A further metabolomic approach was conducted to explore the early biological responses of developmental toxicity induced by CPs at low dose (1, 5, and 10 μg/L). The results of metabolic disorder, pathway analysis and chronic values indicated that, compared with SCCPs, MCCPs exhibited more risks to zebrafish larvae at low doses. Lipid metabolism was markedly affected in SCCPs exposure group, whereas MCCPs primarily disturbed lipid metabolism, amino acid, and nucleotide metabolisms. Compare with SCCPs, the relatively higher lipid solubility, protein affinity and metabolic rate of MCCPs can probably explain why MCCP-mediated metabolic disruption was significantly higher than that of SCCP. Notably, SCCPs and MCCPs have the same potential to cause cancer, but no evidence indicates the mutagenicity. In summary, our study provides insight into the potential adverse outcome for SCCP and MCCP at low doses.

Transformation process and phytotoxicity of sulfamethoxazole and N4-acetyl-sulfamethoxazole in rice

Sulfonamide antibiotics, extensively used in human and veterinary therapy, accumulate in agroecosystem soils through livestock manure and sewage irrigation. However, the interaction between sulfonamides and rice plants remains unclear. This study investigated the transformation behavior and toxicity of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and its main metabolite, N4-acetyl-sulfamethoxazole (NASMX) in rice. SMX and NASMX were rapidly taken up by roots and translocated acropetally. NASMX showed higher accumulating capacity, with NASMX concentrations up to 20.36 ± 1.98 μg/g (roots) and 5.62 ± 1.17 μg/g (shoots), and with SMX concentrations up to 15.97 ± 2.53 μg/g (roots) and 3.22 ± 0.789 μg/g (shoots). A total of 18 intermediate transformation products of SMX were identified by nontarget screening using Orbitrap-HRMS, revealing pathways such as deamination, hydroxylation, acetylation, formylation, and glycosylation. Notably, NASMX transformed back into SMX in rice, a novel finding. Transcriptomic analysis highlights the involvements of cytochrome P450 (CYP450), acetyltransferase (ACEs) and glycosyltransferases (GTs) in these biotransformation pathways. Moreover, exposure to SMX and NASMX disrupts TCA cycle, amino acid, linoleic acid, nucleotide metabolism, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways of rice, with NASMX exerting a stronger impact on metabolic networks. These findings elucidate the sulfonamides' metabolism, phytotoxicity mechanisms, and contribute to assessing food safety and human exposure risk amid antibiotic pollution.

Potential for NPY receptor-related therapies for polycystic ovary syndrome: an updated review

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disease that can cause female infertility and bring economic burden to families and to society. The clinical and/or biochemical manifestations include hyperandrogenism, persistent anovulation, and polycystic ovarian changes, often accompanied by insulin resistance and obesity. Although its pathogenesis is unclear, PCOS involves the abnormal regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and the abnormal activation of GnRH neurons. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is widely distributed in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and functions as the physiological integrator of two neuroendocrine systems, one governing feeding and the other controlling reproduction. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have focused on the improvement of the reproductive and metabolic status of PCOS through the therapeutic application of NPY and its receptors. In this review, we summarize the central and peripheral regulation of NPY and its receptors in the development of PCOS and discuss the potential for NPY receptor-related therapies for PCOS.

Carteolol triggers senescence via activation of β-arrestin-ERK-NOX4-ROS pathway in human corneal endothelial cells in vitro

Carteolol is a commonly-used topical medication for primary open-angle glaucoma. However, long-term and frequent ocular application of carteolol entails its residuals at low concentration in the aqueous humor for a long duration and may exert latent toxicity in the human corneal endothelial cells (HCEnCs). Here, we treated the HCEnCs in vitro with 0.0117% carteolol for 10 days. Thereafter, we removed the cartelolol and normally cultured the cells for 25 days to investigate the chronical toxicity of carteolol and the underlying mechanism. The results exhibited that 0.0117% carteolol induces senescent features in the HCEnCs, such as increased senescence-associated β-galactosidase positive rates, enlarged relative cell area and upregulated p16^INK4A and senescence-associated secretory phenotypes, including IL-1α, TGF-β1, IL-10, TNF-α, CCL-27, IL-6 and IL-8, as well as decreased Lamin B1 expression and cell viability and proliferation. Thereby, further exploration demonstrated that the carteolol activates β-arrestin-ERK-NOX4 pathway to increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) production that imposes oxidative stress on energetic metabolism causing a vicious cycle between declining ATP and increasing ROS production and downregulation of NAD⁺ resulting in metabolic disturbance-mediated senescence of the HCEnCs. The excess ROS also impair DNA to activate the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway of ATM-p53-p21^WAF1/CIP1 with diminished poly(ADP-Ribose) polymerase (PARP) 1, a NAD⁺-dependent enzyme for DNA damage repair, resulting in cell cycle arrest and subsequent DDR-mediated senescence. Taken together, carteolol induces excess ROS to trigger HCEnC senescence via metabolic disturbance and DDR pathway.

Metabolic profiling disturbance of PM2.5 revealed by Raman spectroscopy and mass spectrometry-based nontargeted metabolomics

Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) is an important risk factor affecting human health. Therefore, a quick method for finding metabolic targets in situ in ambient fine particulate matter is crucial. In this study, the impact of PM_2.5 on human lung epithelial cells (A549) was investigated by Raman spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS)-based nontargeted metabolomics analysis. Raman detection indicated that exposure to PM_2.5 reduced the levels of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and nucleotides. Metabolomics results not only demonstrated a significant decrease of the aforementioned metabolites but also added some important metabolite information that could not be detected by Raman spectroscopy. Our study demonstrated that Raman spectroscopy was an in situ, real-time, and rapid detection method for detecting metabolites, especially suitable for the assignment of phenylalanine/tyrosine and nucleotides, which play important roles in cellular growth. Moreover, the metabolic profiling changes observed upon PM_2.5 treatment mainly involved phenylalanine, tyrosine metabolism, purine and pyrimidine metabolism, and energy metabolism, clearly demonstrating that PM_2.5 can inhibit the synthesis of protein and DNA/RNA and reduce cellular energy supplies, further influencing cellular proliferation and other activities.

Triticonazole enantiomers induced enantioselective metabolic phenotypes in Fusarium graminearum and HepG2 cells

The management of Fusarium head blight relies heavily on triazole fungicides. Most of triazole fungicides are chiral, and their enantioselective effects on metabolic phenotypes are poorly understood. Herein, we analyzed the bioactivity of triticonazole against Fusarium graminearum, and ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics was used to assess the metabolic disturbances of triticonazole enantiomers in Fusarium graminearum and human hepatocarcinoma cells. Results indicated that the bioactivity of R-triticonazole was 4.28-fold higher than its antipode since it bound stronger with fungal CYP51B and induced more abnormal metabolic processes of Fusarium graminearum, including lipid metabolism, glycolysis, and amino acid metabolism. In human hepatocarcinoma cells, pathways of "alanine, aspartic acid and glutamate metabolism" and "pyruvate metabolism" were disturbed significantly by R-triticonazole; "phenylalanine metabolism" and "taurine-hypotaurine metabolism" were abnormal in the exposure of S-triticonazole. These results suggested that R- and S-triticonazole could affect different metabolic pathways of human hepatocarcinoma cells, and the massively use of inefficient S-triticonazole should be avoided. Our data will help to better understand the enantioselectivity of chiral pesticides and provide a reference for the development of green pesticides.

Low-dose PCB126 exposure disrupts cardiac metabolism and causes hypertrophy and fibrosis in mice

The residue of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) exists throughout the environment and humans are subject to long-term exposure. As such, the potential environmental and health risk caused by low-dose exposure to PCBs has attracted much attention. 3, 3', 4, 4', 5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126), the highest toxicity compound among dioxin-like-PCBs, has been widely used and mass-produced. Cardiotoxicity is PCB126's crucial adverse effect. Maintaining proper metabolism underlies heart health, whereas the impact of PCB126 exposure on cardiac metabolic patterns has yet to be elucidated. In this study, we administered 0.5 and 50 μg/kg bw of PCB126 to adult male mice weekly by gavage for eight weeks. Pathological results showed that low-dose PCB126 exposure induced heart injury. Metabolomic analysis of the heart tissue exposed to low-dose PCB126 identified 59 differential metabolites that were involved in lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Typical metabolomic characteristic of cardiac hypertrophy was reflected by accumulation of fatty acids (e.g. palmitic, palmitoleic, and linoleic acid), and disturbance of carbohydrates including D-glucose and intermediates in TCA cycle (fumaric, succinic, and citric acid). Low-dose PCB126 exposure increased glycine and threonine, the amino acids necessary for the productions of collagen and elastin. Besides, PCB126-exposed mice exhibited upregulation of collagen synthesis enzymes and extracellular matrix proteins, indicative of cardiac fibrosis. Moreover, the expression of genes related to TGFβ/PPARγ/MMP-2 signaling pathway was perturbed in the PCB126-treated hearts. Together, our results reveal that low-dose PCB126 exposure disrupts cardiac metabolism correlated with hypertrophy and fibrosis. This study sheds light on the underlying mechanism of PCBs' cardiotoxicity and identifies potential sensitive biomarkers for environmental monitoring.

Metabolic disturbance affects postoperative cognitive function in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass

OBJECTIVES

Postoperative delirium is a common neuropsychiatric syndrome after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We aimed to assess and compare clinical outcomes of CABG patients with delirium with a specific focus on the blood biochemical parameters.

METHODS

This investigation was carried out on the 90 eligible patients undergoing CABG. Delirium was measured using the Neecham confusion scale and assessed patients were divided into two groups of delirium (n = 43) and non-delirium (n = 47). Preoperative variables and intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were compared.

RESULTS

Delirium patients were older (p = 0.003) and had longer intubation time (p = 0.003). Non-delirium patients obtained a significantly higher Neecham confusion score (p = 0.001), and delirium patients experienced a hyperglycemic state at intraoperative (p = 0.004), intubation (p = 0.03), and extubation time (p = 0.02). Lower value of pH was seen at intubation (p = 0.03) and extubation periods (p = 0.001) in delirium group. A significant difference in base excess was observed between two groups at intubation (p = 0.04) and extubation periods (p = 0.004). Potassium level showed a significant decrease in delirium group at intubation (p = 0.01) and extubation periods (p = 0.001). Multivariate regression indicated that aging (OR = 1.08, p = 0.01), narcotic consumption (OR = 3.27, p = 0.05), DM (OR = 3.03, p=0.03), and prolonged intubation (OR = 1.18, p = 0.03) are predictors of delirium. Postoperative hyperglycemia (OR = 1.01, p = 0.002), low pH value (OR = 2.62, p = 0.02), and low potassium level (OR = 3.25, p = 0.03) are associated with development of delirium.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative metabolic disturbance and electrolyte imbalances are closely related to the development of delirium after CABG and need to be considered more carefully. Aging, DM, and preoperative use of narcotics are strong predictors of delirium following CABG.

Impact of self-reported walking habit on slower decline in renal function among the general population in a longitudinal study: the Japan Specific Health Checkups (J-SHC) Study

BACKGROUND

Association between physical activity and decline in renal function among the general population is not fully understood.

METHODS

This is a longitudinal study on subjects who participated in the Japanese nationwide Specific Health Checkup program between 2008 and 2014. The exposure of interest was baseline self-reported walking habit. The outcomes were annual change and incidence of 30% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Changes in eGFR were compared using a linear mixed-effects model. Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the association between self-reported walking habit and 30% decline in eGFR.

RESULTS

Among 332,166 subjects, 168,574 reported walking habit at baseline. The annual changes in eGFR [95% confidence interval (CI)] among subjects with and without baseline self-reported walking habit were - 0.17 (- 0.19 to - 0.16) and - 0.26 (- 0.27 to - 0.24) mL/min/1.73 m²/year, respectively (P for interaction between time and baseline self-reported walking habit, < 0.001). During a median follow-up of 3.3 years, 9166 of 314,489 subjects exhibited 30% decline in eGFR. The incidence of 30% decline in eGFR was significantly lower among subjects with self-reported walking habit after adjustment for potential confounders including time-varying blood pressure, body mass index, lipid profile, and hemoglobin A1c, with hazard ratio (95% CI) of 0.93 (0.89-0.97). Sensitivity analysis restricted to subjects with unchanged self-reported walking habit from baseline or analysis with time-varying self-reported walking habit yielded similar results.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-reported walking habit was associated with significantly slower decline in eGFR. This association appeared to be independent of its effects on metabolic improvement.

Alpha-lipoic acid ameliorates tauopathy-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis, and behavioral deficits through the balance of DIAP1/DrICE ratio and redox homeostasis: Age is a determinant factor

Tauopathies belong to a heterogeneous class of neuronal diseases resulting in the metabolic disturbance. A disulfide natural compound of Alpha-Lipoic acid (ALA) has shown numerous pharmacologic, antioxidant, and neuroprotective activities under neuropathological conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of ALA on the tauopathy-induced oxidative disturbance and behavioral deficits. The transgenic Drosophila model of tauopathy induced by human tau^R406W using GAL4/UAS system and effects of ALA (0.001, 0.005, and 0.025 % w/w of diet) on the neuropathology of tau in younger (20 days) and older (30 days) adults were investigated via biochemical, molecular, behavioral and in-situ tissue analyses. Expression of apoptosis-related proteins involving Drosophila Cyt-c-d (trigger of intrinsic apoptosis) and DrICE (effector caspase) were upregulated in both ages (20 and 30 days) and DIAP1 (caspase inhibitor) has reduced only in older model flies compared to the controls. Remarkably, all doses of ALA increased DIAP1 and glutathione (GSH) as well as reducing Cyt-c-d and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the younger flies compared to the model flies. Moreover, the higher doses of ALA were able to decrease thiol concentrations, to increase total antioxidant capacity, and to improve the behavioral deficits (locomotor function, olfactory memory, and ethanol sensitivity) in the younger flies. On the other hand, only a higher dose of ALA was able to decrease DrICE, Cyt-c-d, LPO, and thiol as well as increasing antioxidant capacity and decreasing ethanol sensitivity (ST50, RT50) in the older flies. TUNEL assay showed that all doses of ALA could potentially increase the DIAP1/DrICE ratio and exert anti-apoptotic effects on younger, but not on the older adults. Furthermore, data obtained from the in-situ ROS assay confirmed that only a higher dose of ALA significantly decreased the ROS level at both ages. Our data showed that an effective neuroprotective dose of ALA and its mechanism of action on this model of tauopathy could potentially be influenced by longevity. Moreover, it was shown that ALA prevents apoptosis and decreases the redox homeostasis, and this partially explains the mechanism by which ALA diminishes behavioral deficits.

Co-administration of berberine/gypenosides/bifendate ameliorates metabolic disturbance but not memory impairment in type 2 diabetic mice

Cognitive impairment is a well-known complication of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) characterized by cellular insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and metabolic disturbances. Berberine, gypenosides and bifendate are traditional Chinese herbal medicines with multiple pharmacological activities including anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant, metabolism improvement and memory improvement. To investigate whether they have synergistic effect on T2DM metabolic syndrome and associated memory impairment, we measured in this study the effect of a low dose of berberine/gypenosides/bifendate (BGB) co-administration on metabolism and memory performance of T2DM model mice. We found that BGB co-administration ameliorated metabolic abnormalities of both high-fat diet/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T2DM mice and db/db mice. However, it did not alleviate memory impairment in either type of T2DM model mice. Since neither berberine, gypenosides nor bifendate alone at the low dose is effective, we presume that BGB co-administration has synergistic action on T2DM metabolic syndrome. In addition, our findings suggest that higher doses of BGB might be required to ameliorate memory impairment than metabolic disturbance associated with T2DM.

The metabolic changes in the hippocampus of an atherosclerotic rat model and the regulation of aerobic training

Atherosclerosis has been associated with the progression of cognitive impairment and the effect of metabolic changes in the brain on cognitive function may be pronounced. The aim is to reveal the metabolic changes during atherosclerosis and clarify the possible role of exercise in regulating hippocampal metabolism. Hence, A rat model of atherosclerosis was established by high-fat diet feeding in combination with vitamin D3 intraperitoneal injection, then 4 weeks of aerobic exercise was conducted. Metabolomics based on GC-MS was applied to detect small molecules metabolites and western blot was used to detect the concentration of enzymes involved in metabolic changes in rat hippocampus. Compared to the control group, metabolites including xylulose 5-phosphate, threonine, succinate, and nonanoic acid were markedly elevated, whereas methyl arachidonic acid and methyl stearate decreased in the AS group, accompanied by a raised concentration of aldose reductase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase as well as a declined concentration of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase. After 4 weeks' aerobic exercise, the levels of succinic acid, branched chain amino acids, nonanoic acid, desmosterol, and aldose reductase decreased, whereas methyl arachidonic acid, methyl stearate, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate elevated in the hippocampus of the TAS group in comparison with the AS group. These results suggest that atherosclerosis could cause a severe metabolic disturbance, and aerobic exercise plays an important role in regulating atherosclerosis-induced disorder of glucose metabolism in the hippocampus.

Pitolisant protects mice chronically treated with corticosterone from some behavioral but not metabolic changes in corticosterone-induced depression model

PURPOSE

Histamine H₃ receptor ligands may have antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. They can also compensate for metabolic disorders, which affect glucose or triglyceride levels. In previous studies, we have shown that pitolisant, a histamine H₃ receptor antagonist/inverse agonist and σ1 receptor agonist, prevented the development of certain metabolic and depressive-like disorders in mice that have been treated chronically with olanzapine.

METHODS

As a continuation of our previous experiments, this study aimed to investigate the antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like activity of pitolisant in mice using the corticosterone-induced depression model. The forced swim and the elevated plus maze tests were used as behavioral endpoints. We also studied the effect pitolisant had on the level of acetoacetic acid in the urine as well as the glucose tolerance and body weight of the mice that had been administered corticosterone.

RESULTS

Pitolisant (10 mg/kg b.w.) did not prevent depressive-like behavior in mice during the chronic corticosterone administration but did counteract anxiety-like behavior, whilst fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) was shown to protect the mice from both of these behaviors. None of the treatments that were used in the study showed an effect on the locomotor activity of the mice. Pitolisant did not prevent an increase in acetoacetic acid levels in the urine, nor did it improve glucose tolerance in the tested mice.

CONCLUSION

Although literature data indicates that there is significant potential for finding an antidepressant and anti-diabetic drug among the histamine H₃ and σ1 receptor ligands, in our study, pitolisant was shown to only slightly compensate for corticosterone-induced abnormalities. However, further research will be required to study pitolisant's anxiolytic-like activity.

Reduction of cardiac and renal dysfunction by new inhibitor of DPP4 in diabetic rats

BACKGROUND

Increased mortality due to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been associated with renal and/or cardiovascular dysfunction. Dipeptidyl dipeptidase-4 inhibitors (iDPP-4s) may exert cardioprotective effects through their pleiotropic actions via glucagon-like peptide 1-dependent mechanisms. In this study, the pharmacological profile of a new iDPP-4 (LASSBio-2124) was investigated in rats with cardiac and renal dysfunction induced by T2DM.

METHODS

T2DM was induced in rats by 2 weeks of a high-fat diet followed by intravenous injection of streptozotocin. Metabolic disturbance and cardiac, vascular, and renal dysfunction were analyzed in the experimental groups.

RESULTS

Sitagliptin and LASSBio-2124 administration after T2DM induction reduced elevated glucose levels to 319.8 ± 13.2 and 279.7 ± 17.8 mg/dL, respectively (p < 0.05). LASSBio-2124 also lowered the cholesterol and triglyceride levels from 76.8 ± 8.0 to 42.7 ± 3.2 mg/dL and from 229.7 ± 25.4 to 100.7 ± 17.1 mg/dL, in diabetic rats. Sitagliptin and LASSBio-2124 reversed the reduction of the plasma insulin level. LASSBio-2124 recovered the increased urinary flow in diabetic animals and reduced 24-h proteinuria from 23.7 ± 1.5 to 13.3 ± 2.8 mg (p < 0.05). It also reduced systolic and diastolic left-ventricular dysfunction in hearts from diabetic rats.

CONCLUSION

The effects of LASSBio-2124 were superior to those of sitagliptin in the cardiovascular systems of T2DM rats. This new prototype showed promise for the avoidance of comorbidities in a T2DM experimental model, and thus may constitute an innovative therapeutic agent for the treatment of these conditions in the clinical field in future.

Metabolic and endocrinal effects of N-desmethyl-olanzapine in mice with obesity: Implication for olanzapine-associated metabolic changes

Clinical use of the antipsychotic drug olanzapine (OLA) is associated with metabolic side effects to variable degrees. N-desmethyl-olanzapine (DMO) is one major metabolite of OLA, but its potential involvement in the metabolic responses remains unclear. Here we examined whether DMO can directly impact the metabolic, endocrinal and inflammatory parameters under conditions of metabolic disturbance. DMO administration (2 mg/kg, i.g.) to high-fat diet induced obesity mice for 4 weeks induced a remarkable loss of body weight and fat mass. DMO improved insulin resistance and energy expenditure in mice, but had no significant effects on dyslipidemia or hepatic steatosis. Moreover, DMO induced morphological changes in the white adipose tissue, accompanied by reduced interleukin-1β (IL-1β) production and increased UCP1 expression. These findings demonstrate that DMO is devoid of the metabolic side effects commonly observed for OLA during obesity, which suggests that the N-desmethyl metabolism may function to regulate the metabolic responses to OLA.

Evidence for an association of serum melatonin concentrations with recognition and circadian preferences in patients with schizophrenia

Melatonin, a neuro-differentiation factor, may play a role in the neurodevelopmental origins of schizophrenia. Cognitive impairment and decreased melatonin are reported in schizophrenia; however, the relationship between them remains unclear. We hypothesised that patients with schizophrenia would have lower concentrations of circulating melatonin than healthy controls and that melatonin levels would be associated with cognitive impairment. This study included 47 patients with schizophrenia and 40 healthy controls (HC). Serum melatonin concentrations were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scales (PANSS), The Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Stroop and Oktem verbal memory processes (VMPT) tests were applied. Patients with schizophrenia had lower levels of melatonin compared to the HC group (p = 0.016), also after controlling for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.024). In patients with schizophrenia, melatonin concentrations were associated with higher BMI (rho = 0.34, p = 0.01) and lower MEQ score (rho = -0.29, p = 0.035). The patient sample was split into low and high melatonin categories by using the median melatonin concentration in HC as the cut-off. Patients in the low melatonin group had poorer performance in VMPT-Recognition (p = 0.026) and Stroop-Colour Error (p = 0.032). Notwithstanding its limitations, the findings of this exploratory study suggest that decreased serum melatonin concentrations observed in schizophrenia might also be associated with cognitive impairment and circadian preferences. Future studies are required to investigate the role of melatonergic pathways in patients with schizophrenia.

The prevalence, metabolic disturbances and clinical correlates of recent suicide attempts in Chinese inpatients with major depressive disorder

BACKGROUND

Metabolic disturbances have been correlated with suicidality, but little is known about the association between suicide risk and metabolic disturbances among individuals with depression. This study was to evaluate the prevalence and clinical correlations, especially cardio-metabolic associated factors of recent suicide attempts in Chinese patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

METHODS

A total of 288 MDD inpatients were recruited. Their clinical and demographic data together with plasma glucose, lipid and thyroid function parameters were collected. Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) were rated for most of the patients.

RESULTS

Of these MDD inpatients, 20.14% had attempted suicide during the past 1 month. Compared to those who had not attempted suicide, the suicide attempters had a significantly longer duration of illness, lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, lower total cholesterol, and more psychotic symptoms. However, all these significant results did not survive after the bonferroni correction (all p > 0.05). A logistic regression analysis indicated that suicide attempts were associated with the lower total cholesterol and more psychotic symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support the hypothesis of the association of low plasma cholesterol level and recent suicidal attempts in patients with MDD.

A novel experimental approach for liver analysis in rats exposed to Bisphenol A by means of LC-mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy

An innovative complementary approach using a liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometer method and infrared spectroscopy is proposed for measuring internal biological exposure to dangerous chemical contaminants and for monitoring biochemical changes in target organs. The proposed methodologies were validated and applied in the case of rats exposed to low-doses of Bisphenol A (BPA). A liquid chromatographic method coupled to a tandem mass spectrometer was used in order to measure BPA concentration in rat livers. BPA was detected at different levels in all liver samples from BPA-treated rats, although the exposure dose was the same in all treated animals, and also from control rats, highlighting the difficulties in eliminating external uncontrolled exposure and the need for internal biological monitoring. Fourier Transform Infrared analysis was applied to detect structural changes occurring in several molecules (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates and nucleic acids) as well as the presence of specific metabolic processes. The spectroscopic analyses clearly demonstrated a different lipid composition more than an evident lipid accumulation and a glycogen accumulation decrease, revealing a metabolic disturbance in livers with a normal histological aspect. These results demonstrated the potential of an integrated approach based on mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy to evaluate at an early stage the hepatotoxic effect of BPA exposure in an animal model. This approach can be usefully exploited in all the investigations aimed to provide better information concerning the interrelationships between contaminant exposure, dose, and health effects.

The histamine H3 receptor inverse agonist pitolisant reduces body weight in obese mice

The pharmacological profile of pitolisant, a histamine H₃ receptor antagonist/inverse agonist, indicates that this compound might reduce body weight and metabolic disturbances. Therefore, we studied the influence of pitolisant on body weight, water and sucrose intake as well as metabolic disturbances in the high-fat and high-sugar diet-induced obesity model in mice. To induce obesity, male CD-1 mice were fed a high-fat diet consisting of 40% fat blend for 14 weeks, water and 30% sucrose solution available ad libitum. Glucose tolerance test was performed at the beginning of week 15. Insulin tolerance was tested the day after. At the end of study, plasma levels of triglycerides and cholesterol were determined. Pitolisant at dose of 10 mg/kg bw (ip) was administrated during 14 days, starting from the beginning of week 13. Metformin at dose of 100 mg/kg bw (ip) was used as reference drug. Mice fed with high-fat diet and sucrose solution showed more weight gain throughout the 12-week period of inducing obesity. Animals fed with high-fat diet and treated with pitolisant (for the next 14 days) showed significantly less weight gain than mice from the control group consuming a high-fat feed. In the group treated with pitolisant, glucose levels were significantly lower than glucose levels of control obese mice after glucose load. The plasma triglyceride levels in pitolisant-treated mice were significantly lower compared with those in control obese group. In conclusion, pitolisant has a favorable influence of body weight and improves glucose tolerance and the lipid profile in obese mice.

High-fat diet-induced hyperglutamatergic activation of the hippocampus in mice: A proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study at 9.4T

The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term neurochemical alterations in the hippocampus of mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) while plasma leptin and corticosterone levels were monitored. Although metabolic disturbances induced by the excess intake of fat are assumed to cause depression, the relationship underlying dysfunctional adipose tissue, stress hormone release, and excitatory metabolism has not been fully understood yet. Four-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were separated into a HFD-fed group (n = 8) and low-fat diet-fed group (n = 8). Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to measure the long-term changes in neurochemicals in the hippocampus at 0, 5, and 10 weeks and blood samples were taken at the same time to assess plasma hormones levels. At the end of the experiment, magnetic resonance imaging was performed to quantify abdominal fat accumulation. At 10 weeks, corticosterone and leptin levels were significantly increased in the HFD group compared with the low-fat diet group. In addition, aspartate, glutamate, total choline, and N-acetylaspartic acid levels were significantly increased, but glutamine/glutamate ratios were substantially decreased at 10 weeks in the HFD group. These results were compatible with HFD-induced acute stress responses and changes in N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor-induced plasticity. These findings demonstrated that the long-term ingestion of a HFD induced hyperglutamatergic metabolism and altered glutamine-glutamate cycling. Therfore, it is suggested that hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysfunction and hyperglutamatergic activation in the hippocampus resulting from the HFD.

Effect of memantine on C-reactive protein and lipid profiles in bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND

Balance in the immune system plays roles in bipolar disorder (BD) and its metabolic co-morbidities. Memantine is an NMDA receptor antagonist with anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effects of memantine adjunct treatment on metabolic status of BD are unclear.

METHODS

During the 12 weeks period, a total of 191 BD patients were enrolled and split into valproate (VPA) + placebo and VPA + memantine (5mg/day) arms. The fasting plasma levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) and metabolic indices were assessed. BD patients were stratified according to their initial CRP level.

RESULTS

A cut-off value of initial CRP level of 2322ng/mL discriminated the waist circumference in these BD patients after 12-week VPA treatment. In the high CRP (> 2322ng/mL) group, patients in the VPA + memantine arm had a significantly decreased in their CRP (p= 0.009), total cholesterol (p= 0.002), LDL (p= 0.002) levels, BMI (p= 0.001), and waist circumference (p< 0.001), compared to those in the VPA + placebo arm. However, analysis of the low CRP group did not showed the effect.

LIMITATIONS

We recruited BD patients in depressed states and the sample size was relative small. The effects of the fixed dose of memantine on metabolic indices were 12-week follow up in BD patients treated with VPA.

CONCLUSIONS

BD patients with high initial CRP levels receiving memantine adjunct treatment have a reduced risk of inflammation and metabolic imbalance. Prospective studies are needed to confirm the long-term outcome for memantine adjunct therapy in BD patients.

Effects of Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Berit. on the metabolomic profiles of placenta and amniotic fluid in pregnant rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Banxia (BX) is the root of Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Berit. Its processed products, such as Jiang Banxia (JBX), have been clinically used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat vomiting, coughing, and inflammation. However, data for their safety for pregnant women are contradictory and confusing.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To further explore the safety of BX, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) metabolomics approach was used to evaluate the metabolic perturbation in pregnant rats caused by BX and JBX.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Placenta and amniotic fluid samples were collected from control Sprague-Dawley pregnant rats and exposed to BX suspension and JBX decoction (1.434g/kg/day). Samples were analyzed using LC-MS and GC-MS. The acquired MS data of above samples were further subjected to multivariate data analysis, and the significantly altered metabolites were identified. The associated pathways were constructed using MetaboAnalyst 3.0.

RESULTS

The weight and histopathology of the placenta from each group of rats had no definite difference. However, we found 20 differential endogenous metabolites that changed significantly in the placenta and amniotic fluid samples. The alterations of identified metabolites indicated a perturbation in glycerophospholipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism in pregnant rats exposed to BX and JBX.

CONCLUSION

In summary, this work suggested that oral administration of BX and JBX may induce disturbances in the intermediary metabolism in pregnant rats. This work contributes to further understanding the safety of BX and its processed products.