Vegetable Extracts as Therapeutic Agents: A Comprehensive Exploration of Anti-Allergic Effects.

Food allergies are common worldwide and have become a major public health concern; more than 220 million people are estimated to suffer from food allergies worldwide. On the other hand, polyphenols, phenolic substances found in plants, have attracted attention for their health-promoting functions, including their anti-allergic effects. In this study, we examined the potential inhibitory effects of 80% ethanol extracts from 22 different vegetables on the degranulation process in RBL-2H3 cells. Our aim was to identify vegetables that could prevent and treat type I allergic diseases. We found strong inhibition of degranulation by extracts of perilla and chives. Furthermore, we verified the respective efficacy via animal experiments, which revealed that the anaphylactic symptoms caused by ovalbumin (OVA) load were alleviated in OVA allergy model mice that ingested vegetable extracts of perilla and chives. These phenomena were suggested to be caused by induction of suppression in the expression of subunits that constitute the high-affinity IgE receptor, particularly the α-chain of FcεR I. Notably, the anti-allergic effects of vegetables that can be consumed daily are expected to result in the discovery of new anti-immediate allergenic drugs based on the components of these vegetables.

Inhibition of Colorectal Cancer Cell Proliferation by Treatment with Itadori Leaf Extract.

Treatment with itadori extract inhibited the growth of mouse colon cancer cells (Colon-26) in mice. In addition, it induced DNA fragmentation and caspase 3/7 activation in Colon-26 cells, suggesting potent induction of apoptosis. Itadori extracts are rich in neochlorogenic acid and rutin and also contain quercetin and piceatannol. These polyphenols are thought to be involved in the observed DNA fragmentation and caspase 3/7 activation in colon cancer cells and may thus have anticancer effects. There is hence scope for development of the leaf of itadori, which currently has only a few known uses, as a novel anti-tumor therapeutic.

Bayesian network analysis of long-term oncologic outcomes of open, laparoscopic, and robot-assisted radical cystectomy for bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: To understand the long-term oncologic outcomes of open radical cystectomy (ORC) versus laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) versus robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) for bladder cancer (BCa). Therefore, we performed the conventional meta-analysis and network meta-analysis to evaluate the long-term oncologic outcomes of ORC, LRC, and RARC for BCa. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Medline, and Web of science was performed up until July 1, 2021. Long-term oncologic outcomes include the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate, the 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate, and the 5-year cancer specific-survival (CSS) rate. The Bayesian network analysis has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020208396). RESULTS: We found that 10 articles (including 3228 patients) were included in our Bayesian network analysis. No significant differences were found between ORC, LRC, and RARC in long-term oncologic outcomes in either direct meta-analysis or network meta-analysis. Therefore, the clinical effects of 5-year OS, RFS, and CSS of RARC, LRC, and ORC are similar. But LRC may be ranked first in 5-year OS, RFS, and CSS compared to other surgical approaches by probabilistic analysis ranking via Bayesian network analysis. CONCLUSION: We found that there were no statistical differences in the 3 surgical approaches of RAPC, LPC, and OPC for Bca in long-term oncologic outcomes by direct meta-analysis. However, Subtle differences between these surgical approaches can be concluded that LRC may be a better surgical approach than RARC or ORC in long-term oncologic outcomes by probabilistic analysis ranking via Bayesian network analysis. Moreover, we need a large sample size and more high-quality studies to improve and verify further.

Systematic review on the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Both genetic and environmental factors play roles in pathogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and susceptibility may be modified by functional polymorphisms in folate metabolic genes, such as methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). We here aimed to evaluate associations of MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms with ESCC. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Chinese Biomedical Database and 2 evaluators independently reviewed all the articles identified according to predetermined criteria. RESULTS: A total of 15 case-control studies published between 2001 and 2010 were included. When all the studies were pooled, the crude odds ratio (95% CI) of ESCC for individuals carrying MTHFR 677 CT and TT genotypes, as compared to CC, were 1.39 (1.11-1.75) and 1.79 (1.31-2.43), respectively. Individuals with MTHFR 1298CC showed non-significantly increased risk of ESCC, with an OR (95%CI) of 3.31 (0.90-12.17). In smokers, a significantly increased risk of ESCC was observed for those with the MTHFR 677T allele (OR (95% CI)=2.2 (1.31-2.41)). Chinese carrying MTHFR 677T and MTHFR 1298C alleles had a greater increase in ESCC risk than other ethnicities. CONCLUSIONS: The present meta-analysis provided evidence that MTHFR 677CT/TT plays a carcinogenic role in ESCC, and its effect is modified by tobacco and ethnicity. The small number of subjects with the MTHFR 1299C allele genotype in published studies limits conclusions regarding this polymorphism.