[Yacon root extract improves lipid metabolism in hyperlipidemic rats by inhibiting HMGCR expression and activating the PPARα/CYP7A1/CPT-1 pathway]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of yacon root extract on lipid metabolism in rats with hyperlipidemia (HLP) and its underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

SD rat models of HLP induced by high- fat diet feeding for 8 weeks were randomized into the model group, fenofibrate treatment group (27 mg/kg), and yacon extract treatment groups at doses of 5, 2.5 and 1.25 g/kg (n=10). The rats were given corresponding drug treatments via gavage for 8 weeks. After the treatments, the rats were observed for body weight changes, liver coefficient, liver pathology, and serum levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The mRNA and protein expressions of HMGCR, PPARα, CYP7A1, and CPT-1 in the liver were detected using RT-qPCR and Western blotting.

RESULTS

Compared with those in the model group, the rats treated with fenofibrate and 5 g/kg yacon root extract showed significantly slower body weight gain and lower liver coefficient (P < 0.05) with lower serum levels of TG, TC, and LDL- C (P < 0.05) but higher HDL- C level (P < 0.05). The HLP rat models showed obvious fatty degeneration and vacuolar changes in the liver, which were significantly alleviated by fenofibrate treatment and by treatment with yacon root extract in a dose-dependent manner. Both fenofibrate and 5 g/kg yacon root extract significantly lowered the mRNA and protein expression levels of HMGCR (P < 0.001) and increased the expressions of PPARα, CYP7A1, and CPT-1 in the liver of HLP rats (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Yacon root extract can reduce serum TG and TC levels in HLP rats possibly by inhibiting HMGCR expression and activating the PPARα/CYP7A1/CPT-1 signaling pathway, thereby promoting fatty acid β oxidation and bile acid metabolism.

[Application of Precision Nursing Based on Multidisciplinary Collaboration Model in Older Patients Undergoing Thoracoscopic Surgery for Lung Cancer]

Objective

To examine the application effect of precision nursing strategies based on multidisciplinary collaboration model in older patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer.

Methods

A total of 100 patients who were admitted to our hospital for thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer between July 2022 and March 2023 were prospectively enrolled for the study. They were assigned, with a random number table, to two groups, a control group receiving routine nursing care and an experimental group receiving nursing care based on multidisciplinary collaborative precision nursing strategies. Their lung function, anxiety and depression scores, and quality of life were assessed at three points of time, including upon admission, one week after surgery, and one month after surgery, and comparison was made between the two groups.

Results

There were significant differences in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) at the three time points ( F=156.787, P<0.001) and the ratio of FEV1 to forced vital capacity (FVC) (FEV1/FVC%) at the three time points ( F=25.587, P<0.001) between two groups. There were significant difference between the findings for FEV1, FEV1/FVC%, FVC, and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) indexes at 1 week and those at 1 month after surgery in the experimental group ( P<0.05). After the surgery, the pulmonary function of the experimental group was better than that of the control group. The anxiety and depression scores of the experimental group were lower than those of the control group, with the difference being statistically significant ( P<0.05), which suggested that the experimental group showed improvement in anxiety and depression in comparison with the control group. Regarding the quality of life, there were significant differences between the two groups in the scores for the functional dimension ( F=109.798, P<0.001), the symptom dimension ( F=106.936, P<0.001), other items ( F=78.798, P<0.001), and overall health dimensions ( F=174.307, P<0.001). At 1 week and 1 month after surgery, the experimental group had higher scores for the functional dimension and lower scores for the symptom dimension than the control group did, with the differences being statistically significant ( P<0.05). The overall health status of the experimental group was better than that of the control group.

Conclusion

Precision nursing strategies based on multidisciplinary collaboration model can effectively help improve the lung function, the mood, and the quality of life of patients in the short term, showing considerable promise for wide clinical application.