Incubator role of foreign venture capital: evidence from overseas listing of enterprises

This study uses the Granger-causality test and a sub-sample timevarying rolling window to explore the dynamic relationship between foreign venture capital (FVC) and overseas listing of Chinese enterprises (COLC), and takes into account the changes of legal environment and accounting standards. The results showed that from Q1 2012 to Q4 2014, the lower the FVC, the lower the COLC. From Q1 2008 to Q4 2008, the higher the FVC, the higher the COLC. Both positive and negative effects exist from COLC to FVC. Specifically, the more listed enterprises there are, the more foreign venture capitalists trust the potential of Chinese enterprises and the market. Thus, the corresponding FVC was high. Furthermore, the negative correlation between COLC and FVC was due to political factors and epidemics. Many enterprises improve their internationalization and profitability by attracting FVC to Chinese enterprises. Therefore, this study helps foreign investors achieve a greater return on investment in China and enables enterprises to improve their international reputations and realize overseas listings. In addition, the results can provide suggestions for the government to issue relevant measures conducive to maintaining the stability of the domestic market and the balanced development of domestic and foreign markets

Is economic policy uncertainty an excuse for corporate fraud?

AbstractThis study examines the dynamic relationship between economic policy uncertainty (EPU) and corporate fraud by using a sub-sample time-varying rolling window test. Corporate fraud is classified as fraud incidents (the number of corporate frauds) and fraud magnitude (the severity of corporate frauds). Based on this, we propose an EPU-Fraud Triangle model to evidence that EPU affects corporate fraud by acting on Pressure, Opportunity, and Rationalization. The empirical results show that corporations are more likely to engage in fraud during high EPU periods. Moreover, corporate fraud has positive impacts on EPU. As a result, this study suggests corporations consider fraud consequences and policy trends when making decisions. Additionally, government policymakers should analyze the causes of corporate fraud to develop appropriate policies. In addition, to minimize information asymmetries, investors should pay attention to corporate fraud and remain knowledgeable of national policy trends. Furthermore, the study can contribute to the smooth functioning of macroeconomics and reduce the probability of financial risks

Insulin receptor trafficking: consequences for insulin sensitivity and diabetes

Insulin receptor (INSR) has been extensively studied in the area of cell proliferation and energy metabolism. Impaired INSR activities lead to insulin resistance, the key factor in the pathology of metabolic disorders including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The mainstream opinion is that insulin resistance begins at a post-receptor level. The role of INSR activities and trafficking in insulin resistance pathogenesis has been largely ignored. Ligand-activated INSR is internalized and trafficked to early endosome (EE), where INSR is dephosphorylated and sorted. INSR can be subsequently conducted to lysosome for degradation or recycled back to the plasma membrane. The metabolic fate of INSR in cellular events implies the profound influence of INSR on insulin signaling pathways. Disruption of INSR-coupled activities has been identified in a wide range of insulin resistance-related diseases such as T2DM. Accumulating evidence suggests that alterations in INSR trafficking may lead to severe insulin resistance. However, there is very little understanding of how altered INSR activities undermine complex signaling pathways to the development of insulin resistance and T2DM. Here, we focus this review on summarizing previous findings on the molecular pathways of INSR trafficking in normal and diseased states. Through this review, we provide insights into the mechanistic role of INSR intracellular processes and activities in the development of insulin resistance and diabetes

Hypoglycemic Activity and the Potential Mechanism of the Flavonoid Rich Extract from Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep. in KK-Ay Mice

This study investigated the active principles, hypoglycemic activity and potential mechanisms of the flavonoid rich extract from Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep. (SS-EtOAc) in KK-Ay diabetic mice. An off-line semipreparative LC-NMR and LC-UV-ESIMS protocol was performed to determine 13 flavonoids from SS-EtOAc. SS-EtOAc administrated orally to the KK-Ay mice significantly increased their sensibility to insulin, reduced fasting blood-glucose levels and blood lipid indexes such as triglyceride and cholesterol. Moreover, SS-EtOAc exhibited a strong effect of stimulation on GLUT4 translocation by 2.7 fold in L6 cells. However, the selective AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor Compound C can completely inhibit the activation of the AMPK pathway and prevent the GLUT4 translocation caused by SS-EtOAc. In vivo, phosphorylation of the AMPK expression in the liver and skeletal muscle was measured. The results showed phosphorylation of the AMPK had been improved and GLUT4 expression had been also enhanced. In this paper we conclude that, SS-EtOAc seems to have potential beneficial effects on the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with the probable mechanism of stimulating GLUT4 translocation modulated by the AMPK pathway

Antidiabetic Effect of Methanolic Extract from Berberis julianae

We have investigated the antidiabetic effect and mechanism of methanolic extract of Berberis julianae Schneid. (BJSME) in STZ induced Type 2 diabetes mellitus mice. T2DM mice were induced by high fat diet and low dose streptozotocin (STZ). BJSME was orally administrated at the doses of 60, 120, and 240 mg/kg/d, for 21 days. Metformin was used as positive control drug. Food intake, body weight, plasma glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, insulin tolerance test, insulin, and blood-lipid content were measured. The effects of BJSME on the glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation in L6 myotubes and the GLUT4 protein expression in skeletal muscle as well as phosphorylation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in liver and muscle were examined. In vitro and in vivo results indicate that BJSME increased GLUT4 translocation by 1.8-fold and BJSME significantly improved the oral glucose tolerance and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of serum and reduced body weight, glucose, and other related blood-lipid contents. The BJSME treatment also stimulated the phosphorylation of AMPK. Thus, BJSME seems to possess promising beneficial effects for the treatment of T2DM with the possible mechanism via stimulating AMPK activity