[Meta-analysis of supplemented Zhenwu decoction for treating congestive heart-failure].

The paper was to systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy of supplemented Zhenwu decoction for treating congestive heart-failure. Three foreign language databases including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase and four Chinese databases including CBM, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang Database were retrieved from their establishment to July 2016 for all randomized control trials(RCTs) on supplemented Zhenwu decoction in treatment of congestive heart-failure. The references in the included RCTs were also traced. Literature selection and information extraction was completed and screened by two independent reviewers, and Meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 software. Totally 13 clinical RCTs were included in this study, involving 982 patients. Meta-analysis results showed that as compared with western medicine alone, the total effective rate of heart function could be improved by applying supplemented Zhenwu decoction based on the western medicine[RR=1.16, 95%CI (1.10, 1.22)], with increased ejection fraction[MD=7.12, 95%CI= (3.98,10.27)], increased cardiac activity index[MD=6.92, 95%CI (5.21, 8.62)], increased stroke volume [MD=11.18, 95%CI (6.04, 16.33)], and increased heart index[MD=0.50, 95%CI (-0.29, 1.30)]. Supplemented Zhenwu decoction combined with routine treatment could improve the clinical symptoms of congestive heart-failure. However, due to the low quality in methodology and reports as well as small sample size of included RCTs in this study, more randomized double-blind trials with a large sample size are still required to verify the efficiency of supplemented Zhenwu decoction for treating congestive heart-failure.

The different expression of immune-related cytokine genes in response to velogenic and lentogenic Newcastle disease viruses infection in chicken peripheral blood.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an important pathogen hazardous to poultry industry, and the pathogenicity of NDV strains varies with different virulence. Peripheral blood serves as an important producer and carrier of viruses and cytokines in NDV infection. In order to explore the difference of cytokine expression in the peripheral blood between velogenic strain and lentogenic strain infection, NDV virulent strain F48E9 and vaccine strain Lasota were used to infect specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens separately, and peripheral blood was collected on 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, and 21 days post-infection (d.p.i.). Real-time PCR was then used to detect the expression of six kinds of immune-related cytokine genes. For the F48E9 group, a sharp increase of the expression of interferon-alpha (IFN-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-16 and IL-18 was observed on 3 d.p.i. before the NDV blood peak (7 d.p.i.), followed by a rapid decline to the level lower than that of control group, then the expression of IFN-α increased slowly and reached or exceeded the level of control group in the later phase of the infection, while the expression of IFN-γ, IL-16, and IL-18 fluctuated at the level of control group for the rest of study period. The increase of IL-2 expression was not obvious, and no increase of IL-15 expression was noted. For the Lasota (vaccine) group, the picture was quite different, a sharp increase of IFN-γ (but not IFN-α), IL-2 was observed on 7 d.p.i. before the NDV blood peak (10 d.p.i.). On the contrary, there was no dramatic increase of IL-16 and IL-18. Interestingly, in contrast to the F48E9 group, there was an increase of IL-15 on day 10 d.p.i., but it remained modest. There was also an increase of IFN-α on day 21 d.p.i. Our results revealed that infection with NDV strains of different virulence was associated with distinct cytokine expression patterns in peripheral blood, modulation of cytokine responses may play a key role in mediation of NDV pathogenesis.

[A case-control study on association of SULT1A1 polymorphism, smoked meat intake with breast cancer risk].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of smoked meat intake, SULT1A1 polymorphism as well as their combined effects with breast cancer risk. METHODS: A total of 400 newly diagnosed breast cancer cases from a cancer hospital in Sichuan province and 400 healthy controls from participants of physical examination in a hospital in Chengdu city were recruited from May 2007 to July 2009. A valid questionnaire was designed to collect their demographic characteristics and breast cancer risk factors. Daily intake of foods was collected using semi-quantitative frequency questionnaire and then the daily intake of smoked meat was calculated and transformed to energy-adjusted smoked meat intake by the residual method. Gene sequencing was used to analyze SULT1A1 Arg213His genotypes. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). RESULTS: The energy-adjusted daily intake of smoked meat (Median (P25, P75)) was 8.65 (3.63, 18.44) g/d in cases and 4.44 (0.19, 8.71) g/d in controls. The frequency of SULT1A1 variant allele was 14.75% (59/400) among cases and 12.75% (51/400) among controls. High energy-adjusted daily intake of smoked meat (≥ 4.44 g/d) was significantly associated with breast cancer risk among premenopausal (OR = 2.31, 95%CI: 1.46 - 3.66) and postmenopausal subjects (OR = 3.13, 95%CI: 1.89 - 5.17). High energy-adjusted daily intake of smoked meat combined with carrying SULT1A1 variant allele elevated breast cancer risk among premenopausal (OR = 3.31, 95%CI: 1.66 - 6.62) and postmenopausal subjects (OR = 3.81, 95%CI: 1.79 - 8.10). CONCLUSION: High smoked meat intake contributes to high risk of breast cancer. SULT1A1 variant allele increases breast cancer risk among subjects who were exposed to high smoked meat intake.

Genetic analysis revealed LX4 genotype strains of avian infectious bronchitis virus became predominant in recent years in Sichuan area, China.

Between 2008 and 2010, 19 strains of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) were isolated from the vaccinated chicken flocks in Sichuan province, China. The S1 genes of the isolates were amplified and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the 19 isolates and 37 reference IBV strains can be grouped into eight genotypes. Although IBVs of Taiwan-I type, massachusetts type, and proventriculitis type were isolated, but most isolates were LX4 genotype. Homology analysis of the sequences of S1 genes of the 19 isolates and 37 reference IBV strains revealed that the identity of the nucleotides and amino acid sequences of the S1 genes between the 15 LX4-type isolates and other IBV strains were 71.9-99.3% and 72.1-99.1%, respectively, while those of the analyzed IBV of LX4 type were 96.0-99.9% and 94.3-99.8%, respectively. The results from this study and other published results in the GenBank database showed that isolates circulating in Sichuan province in recent years were mainly LX4 genotype, which is the predominant genotype circulated in China in recent years.

Polymorphic catechol-O-methyltransferase gene, soy isoflavone intake and breast cancer in postmenopausal women: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Genetic polymorphism Val158Met of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) may contribute to estrogen-induced carcinogenesis of breast cancer. Soy isoflavones possesses chemical structure similar to endogenous estrogen and may promote the carcinogenesis of breast cancer. This study was to investigate the relationship between the polymorphism of COMT, soy isoflavones, and breast cancer in postmenopausal women. METHODS: In total, 176 patients newly diagnosed histopathologically with breast cancer were recruited from May 2007 to July 2009, and 176 age-matched cancer-free women as controls were selected from a community-based physical check-up population at the same period. The food-frequency questionnaire was used to collect information on soy food intake. Allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) was employed to analyze genetic polymorphism Val158Met of COMT. Adjusted odd ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated by multivariable nonconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: The proportion of susceptible genotype (COMT-LL) in breast cancer patients was significantly higher than that in the controls. After adjusting selected risk factors, the aOR and 95% CI of COMT-LL were 3.14 (1.48-6.66) as compared with those of COMT-HH genotype. The intake of soy isoflavones had a negative correlation with breast cancer in a dose-dependent manner (Chi2 = 28.26, P < 0.001). The women with high intake of soy isoflavones (> or = 16.26 mg/d) and carrying susceptible genotype (COMT-LL), as compared with the women carrying the COMT-HH + COMT-HL genotypes and consuming low level of soy isoflavones (< 16.26 mg/d), had no significantly increased risk for breast cancer [ aOR (95% CI) = 1.66 (0.52-5.24)]. CONCLUSIONS: In postmenopausal women, carrying COMT-LL genotype may increase the risk for breast cancer, and soy isoflavones intake may protect them from breast cancer. But there may be no interaction between intake of soy isoflavones and COMT-LL genotype.

Potential Protective and Therapeutic Roles of the Nrf2 Pathway in Ocular Diseases: An Update.

Nuclear factor- (erythroid-derived 2-) like 2 (Nrf2) is a regulator of many processes of life, and it plays an important role in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic responses and in cancer. This review is focused on the potential mechanism of Nrf2 in the occurrence and development of ocular diseases. Also, several Nrf2 inducers, including noncoding RNAs and exogenous compounds, which control the expression of Nrf2 through different pathways, are discussed in ocular disease models and ocular cells, protecting them from dysfunctional changes. Therefore, Nrf2 might be a potential target of protecting ocular cells from various stresses and preventing ocular diseases.

[Relationship between estrogen-biosynthesis gene (CYP17, CYP19, HSD17beta1) polymorphisms and breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the polymorphism of estrogen-biosynthesis genes (CYP17, CYP19, HSD17beta1) and risk of breast cancer. METHODS: A matched case-control study was designed. From May 2007 to July 2008, 200 pairs of subjects with and without breast cancer were enrolled, who were matched by age and menstruation status. Demographical characteristics, dietary factors and reproductive factors were investigated by questionnaire. CYP17 locus 1931 (T-->C), CYP19 codon 264 (Arg-->Cys) and HSD17beta1 locus 1954 (A-->G) were identified by AS-PCR (allele-specific PCR). The gene-gene interaction were analyzed with the MDR model (multifactor dimensionality reduction). Based on the results of MDR model, an unconditional logistic regression model was simulated to estimate the ORs of interaction factors and other risk factors. RESULTS: The main effect of CYP17, CYP19 and HSD17beta1 susceptible genotypes were not correlated to breast cancer (OR approximately 1, P > 0.05). The positive interaction effect between CYP17 (T 1931C) and HSD17beta1 (A1954G) was discovered by MDR model with a statistically significant difference (Sign test, P = 0.05). The model's testing balance accuracy was 56.00%, and crossing validation consistency was 10/10. Multivariable unconditional logistic regression showed that after adjusting BMI, intake of estrogen, age of first birth, number of abortion and period of breast feeding, the interaction item of CYP17 (T1931C) and HSD17beta1 (A1954G) was strongly and positively correlated to breast cancer (OR = 2.52, 95%CI = 1.54 to 4.11). CONCLUSION: The estrogen-biosynthesis genes CYP17 (T1931C) and HSD17beta1 (A1954G) polymorphism may jointly increase the risk of breast cancer.

Soy isoflavones, CYP1A1, CYP1B1, and COMT polymorphisms, and breast cancer: a case-control study in southwestern China.

CYP1A1, CYP1B1, and COMT are key enzymes involved in estrogen metabolism. Soy isoflavones, phytoestrogens found in soy foods, may modify the activity of these enzymes. A case-control study was conducted to assess the associations between soy isoflavone intake and the CYP1A1 Ile462Val, CYP1B1 Val432Leu, and COMT Val158Met polymorphisms and breast cancer, as well as their combined effects on breast cancer. A total of 400 newly diagnosed breast cancer cases and 400 healthy controls were recruited. Participants' daily intake of soy isoflavones (DISI [mg/day]) was calculated and transformed to energy-adjusted DISI by the residual method. Gene sequencing was used to analyze CYP1A1, CYP1B1, and COMT polymorphisms. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated by conditional logistic regression. A strong protective dose-dependent effect of energy-adjusted DISI on breast cancer was found in both pre- and postmenopausal women (P(trend) < 0.05). Among all women and in the postmenopausal subgroup, COMT Met/Met and CYP1B1 Leu/Leu susceptible genotype carriers had higher risk of breast cancer (aORs > 1, OR 95% CIs exclude 1). In premenopausal women, only carrying CYP1B1 Leu/Leu was associated with breast cancer risk (aOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.11-3.79). Carrying CYP1A1 Val/Val was related to breast cancer risk only among all women. A stratified analysis was performed at two levels of energy-adjusted DISI, with wildtype homozygous genotypes and low energy-adjusted DISI as the reference. In the high energy-adjusted DISI subgroup, carrying the CYP1B1 Leu/Leu genotype did not affect breast cancer risk in either all women or in the menopausal subgroups, compared with the reference. Overall, in Han Chinese women, carrying CYP1A1 Val/Val and COMT Met/Met appears to be associated with breast cancer risk, especially in postmenopausal women. CYP1B1 susceptible genotypes (Val/Leu or Leu/Leu) also contribute to increased breast cancer risk, regardless of menopausal status, but high soy isoflavone intake may reduce this risk.