Upregulation of Neural Precursor Cell Expressed Developmentally Downregulated 4-1 is Associated with Poor Prognosis and Chemoresistance in Lung Adenocarcinoma / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The E3 ubiquitin ligase neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated 4-1 (NEDD4-1) negatively regulates phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) protein levels through polyubiquitination and proteolysis, but its significance in lung cancer is still unclear. This study investigated the expression and the role of NEDD4-1 in tumor development and chemosensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma (ADC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively investigated the expression and significance of NEDD4-1, PTEN, and p-Akt proteins in 135 paired ADC and adjacent noncancerous tissue specimens using immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, we evaluated the relationship between NEDD4-1 expression and clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis. The effects of small interfering RNA against NEDD4-1 on proliferation and chemosensitivity were examined in A549 cells in vitro using 3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl) -2-(4-sulfophenyl)- 2H-tetrazolium method. The ability of migration and invasion of A549 cells was tested by transwell assay. Moreover, reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting analyses were used to determine the expression of NEDD4-1, PTEN, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt activity, and its downstream target proteins.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>NEDD4-1 protein was significantly upregulated in lung ADC tissues, whereas it was weak or negative in normal lung epithelial cells. The expression of NEDD4-1 in ADC (78.5%, 106/135) was significantly much higher than that in adjacent normal lung tissue (13.3%, 29/135, P < 0.01), and it was associated with lymph node metastasis, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, and chemotherapy resistance. PTEN expression was downregulated in lung ADC (60.7% vs. 100.0% in noncancerous specimens, P = 0.007), and was negatively correlated with lymph node metastasis, histological variants, clinical stage, chemoresistance. In addition, expression of p-Akt in ADC tissues (71.1% 96/135) was much higher than that in adjacent lung epithelial cells (6.7%, 9/135, P < 0.01). Kaplan-Meier and multivariate analysis demonstrated that expressions of NEDD4-1 and PTEN were both independent risk factors for survival in patients with lung ADC. NEDD4-1 knockdown in vivo decreased proliferation, migration, and invasion and improved chemosensitivity to cisplatin and paclitaxel in A549 cells. NEDD4-1 knockdown also significantly enhanced PTEN expression and inhibited p-Akt activity and downstream target proteins.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>NEDD4-1 upregulation may contribute to the progression of lung ADC. NEDD4-1 may regulate the proliferation, invasion, migration, and chemoresistance of lung ADC cells through the PI3K/Akt pathway, suggesting that it may be regarded as a therapeutic target for the treatment of lung ADC.</p>

Efficacy observation on acupuncture and moxibustion combined with hot compress of TCM herbs for scleroderma / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the clinical efficacy and safety of surrounding needle, moxibustion and hot compress of TCM herbs for localized scleroderma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-two cases of localized scleroderma were randomly divided into an acupuncture + herb group (23 cases, group A) and a heparin sodium group (19 cases, group B). Both the two groups were orally administrated with centella triterpenes tablets and vitamin E, group A was additionally treated with surrounding needle at local area, moxibustion at affected site and Hegu (LI 4), Zu sanli (ST 36) as well as hot external application of "hot compress herbs" at local location, while group B was treated with external application of heparin sodium cream. Both the two groups were treated for consecutive 6 months, and scores of skin sclerosis, joint pain and function were compared before and after the treatment. Also the efficacy and safety of TCM syndrome were assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with that before the treatment, the scores of skin sclerosis, joint pain and joint function in the group A after treatment were significantly decreased (all P < 0.01), the score of skin sclerosis in the group B was improved (P < 0.05), and the three types of score in the group A was obviously lower than those in the group B (both P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 86.4% (19/22) in the group A, which was superior to 52.6% (10/19) in the group B (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The surrounding needle, moxibustion and external application of "hot compress herbs" could improve skin sclerosis in patients with localized scleroderma, which has obvious efficacy and relative safety.</p>

Protective effect of wenfei huayin recipe on lung of rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mechanism of Wenfei Huayin Recipe (WHR) in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The COPD model was induced by modified fumigating method and intra-tracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide. Then reformed COPD model of cold-phlegm retention in Fei syndrome type. All the model rats were randomly divided into two groups, the model group and the treated group, treated respectively with WHR and saline for 14 successive days. Besides, a blank group without any intervention was set up for control. The general condition, weight growth rate, pathological changes of lung tissue under light microscope, ultrastructure under electron microscope, arterial blood gas analysis and levels of interleukin 4 (IL-4), interleukin 8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in lung homogenate by radio-immunity assay were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the treated group, as compared with the control group, the symptoms of aversion to cold, swarming, wheezing, the degree of epithelial cell degeneration and necrosis, the inflammatory cell infiltration and the volume of cilia lodging, sloughing, and bullae of lung were lessened and weight growth rate was higher (P<0.01). Moreover, the treated group was superior to the control group in decreasing levels of PaCO2, IL-4, IL-8, TNF-alpha and increasing PaO2, IFN-gamma and IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio (P<0.01 or P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>WHR can correct the Th1/Th2 imbalance and inhibit the inflammatory reaction, displaying an important role in improving the airway function and structure in COPD rats.</p>

Effects of drug cupping therapy on immune function in chronic asthmatic bronchitis patients during protracted period / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>UNLABELLED</b>To observe the clinical effect of drug cupping therapy (DCT, cupping therapy with pingchuan ointment made by the authors themselves in the cups) on chronic asthmatic bronchitis (CAB) during the protracted period, and explore its effect on immune function.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-seven patients were randomly divided into two groups:the treated group (n=40) treated by orally taken Liuwei Dihuang Pill (LDP) and DCT and the control group (n=37) with LDP and common cupping therapy without drug in cups. The changes of T-lymphocyte subset, levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin (IL), immunoglobulin (Ig), complement 3 and 4 (C3 and C4) were detected before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was higher in the treated group than that in the control group (90.0% vs. 59.5%, P < 0.01). The levels of CD4+, CD4+ /CD8+, IL-2, IFN-gamma, C3, C4, IgA, IgG and IgM increased, while the levels of IgE, IL-4, IL-10 and CD8+ decreased after treatment in both groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), the improvements were better in the treated group than that in the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DCT shows better curative effects than that of common cupping therapy without drug, it could improve the cellular and humoral immunity in CAB patients.</p>

Clinical study on treatment of liver fibrosis in patients of hepatitis B by kangxian baogan decoction / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical effect and therapeutic mechanism of Kangxian Baogan Decoction (KXBGD) on liver fibrosis caused by chronic hepatitis B.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eight-one patients with chronic hepatitis B were divided into two groups randomly. The 54 patients in the treated group were treated by KXBGD and the 27 patients in the control group were treated by conventional liver protecting treatment. Serum levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen type III (PC III), collagen type IV (C-IV), laminin (LN), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured before and after treatment, meanwhile, liver function and pathological changes of liver tissues were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate in the treated group was significantly higher than that in the control group. Serum levels of HA, PC III, C-IV, LN, TGF beta 1 and TNF-alpha in the treated group obviously reduced after treatment, and the liver function got better with significant difference as compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Pathological examination of liver biopsy showed that the fibrous tissue in the liver reduced.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>KXBGD has a definite effect of anti-liver fibrosis.</p>

Effect of tongxinluo capsule on plasma endothelin and calcitonin gene related peptide in patients with unstable angina pectoris / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Tongxinluo capsule (TXLC) on the patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients of UAP were divided into two groups, the treated group (n = 60) was treated with TXLC and the Danshen group (n = 30) was treated with composite Danshen tablet. The plasma endothelin (ET) and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) were measured before and after treatment. Data were compared between the two groups and also compared with those measured in 20 healthy subjects for control.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>ET level was higher and CGRP level lower significantly in UAP patients than that in healthy subjects significantly (P < 0.05). After TXLC treatment, ET significantly lowered (P < 0.01) and CGRP increased (P < 0.05). But in the Danshen group after treatment, the former decreased (P < 0.05), while the latter remained unchanged (P > 0.05). The effect of TXLC was better than that of composite Danshen tablet.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TXLC is an effective drug for UAP treatment, which could efficiently regulate the ET and CGRP metabolism and ameliorate the degree of myocardial ischemia damage.</p>