Solidago chilensis Meyen hydroalcoholic extract reduces JNK/I kappa B pathway activation and ameliorates insulin resistance in diet-induced obesity mice

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Hydroalcoholic extract of Solidago chilensis (Sc) is employed in popular medicine to treat inflammatory disease. The low-grade proinflammatory state and the activation of serine/threonine kinases in adipose tissue, like c-jun kinase (JNK) and IKK, and transcription factors, have an important role in obesity-associated insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to further investigate the effects of the Sc extract on glucose homeostasis in diet-induced obesity mice. Male Swiss mice were randomized to three groups: a control group (C) fed with standard laboratory chow; a group with an experimental high-fat diet (HFD); and a group fed with a high-fat (45% kcal from fat) diet + extract of Sc (via intraperitoneal, 3 mg/kg) (ScHFD). The dietary treatment lasted for eight weeks. Subsequently, the expression and phosphorylation of proteins of interest in the liver, hypothalamus and skeletal muscle were evaluated by Western blot analysis. Body weight, epididymal fat pad mass and liver triglycerides were higher in HFD than in control mice, but these parameters were reduced by intraperitoneal administration of the extracts (3 mg/kg) to the HFD group. AKT phosphorylation stimulated by insulin in the liver, hypothalamus and skeletal muscle was higher in ScHFD as compared with HFD mice. Additionally, liver expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and fatty acid synthase were lower in ScHFD as compared with HFD mice. Nuclear factor kappa B, p-I kappa B and p-JNK levels were higher in HFD when compared with control mice, but they were lowered by treatment with extract (ScHFD). In addition, in db/db mice, Sc extract also improved liver AKT phosphorylation stimulated by insulin and reduced PEPCK expression. The data presented herein show that Sc improves AKT activation. This effect may be promoted by reduction of the proinflammatory pathway in the liver and hypothalamus. Therefore, systemic action of the Sc components may contribute to improve obesity-associated pathophysiology.2361011471155Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2017 Report: GOLD Executive Summary.

This Executive Summary of the Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of COPD (GOLD) 2017 Report focuses primarily on the revised and novel parts of the document. The most significant changes include: i) the assessment of COPD has been refined to separate the spirometric assessment from symptom evaluation. ABCD groups are now proposed to be derived exclusively from patient symptoms and their history of exacerbations; ii) for each of the groups A to D, escalation strategies for pharmacological treatments are proposed; iii) the concept of de-escalation of therapy is introduced in the treatment assessment scheme; iv) nonpharmacologic therapies are comprehensively presented and; v) the importance of comorbid conditions in managing COPD is reviewed