Network pharmacology-based mechanism of Sijunzi Decoction in treatment of colorectal cancer / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective:To explore the potential target and signaling pathway of Sijunzi Decoction in treating Colorectal Cancer (CRC) with network pharmacology.Methods:The Traditional Chinese Medicine System Platform (TCMSP) and Swiss Target Prediction database were adopted to establish the database of Sijunzi Decoction effective ingredients and targets. Therapeutic Target Database (TTD), Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, Drugbank and GeneCards were used to build the CRC target database. The common gene names of target proteins were checked in Uniprot database. The STRING database was applied to analyze the interactions between the targets and the DAVID was used for the enrichment analysis on gene ontology (GO) biological process and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway. The network topology results were analyzed by Cytoscape 3.7.1 software.Results:134 active compounds of Sijunzi Decoction were gained, and PPI includes 125 targets protein (TP53,AKT1,IL-6,et al.). The 516 cellular biological processes, 53 cellular component and 98 molecular function were obtained through GO biological process enrichment analysis. The result of KEGG pathway enrichment showed that PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway and FoxO signaling pathway were the main pathways.Conclusion:Sijunzi Decoction is mainly used to treat CRC by regulating key proteins such as TP53,AKT1, IL-6 and interfering with signal pathways such as PI3K-Akt, TNF and FoxO, reflecting the characteristics of Sijunzi Decoction in the treatment of CRC with multi-component,multi-target and multi-pathway characters.

Effect of Jianpi Bushen Sequential Formula on Adjuvant Chemotherapy of Colon Cancer: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

BACKGROUND@#The side effects of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and myelosuppression reduce the cancer patients' adherence to chemotherapy. Many Chinese patients choose Chinese medicine (CM) during chemotherapy to reduce side effects; however, the evidence is lacking. The efficacy of a CM herbal treatment protocol, Jianpi Bushen Sequential Formula (, JBSF) will be evaluated on chemotherapy completion rate among patients with colon cancer.@*METHODS@#A multi-center double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted on 400 patients with colon cancer who will receive 8 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and capecitabine (CAPEOX). Patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive the JBSF or placebo formula. The primary outcome is the overall chemotherapy completion rate. The secondary outcomes include individual chemotherapy completion rate, 4-cycle completion rate of chemotherapy, time to treatment failure, relative dose intensity and treatment toxicity. Follow-up visits will be scheduled before every and after last chemotherapy.@*DISCUSSION@#This study will provide evidence on whether JBSF can improve the chemotherapy completion rate and reduce side effects among patients with colon cancer. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT03716518).

Choice of resin cement shades for a high-translucency zirconia product to mask dark, discolored or metal substrates

PURPOSE: The aim was to study the masking ability of high-translucency monolithic zirconia and provide guidance in selecting resin luting cements in order to mask discolored substrates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 160 high-translucency zirconia specimens were divided into 32 groups depending on their thickness and shades. Using five shades of try-in paste, the specimens were luted onto the sub strates (Co-Cr, precious-metal, opaque porcelain-sintered Co-Cr, opaque porcelain-sintered precious-metal, and 5M3-shade zirconia). All CIELAB color parameters were measured and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Zirconia shade and thickness and try-in paste shade affected CIELAB color parameters (P=.000) in different substrates groups, and there were interactions among these factors (P=.000). All five try-in paste shades can be chosen to achieve ΔE values of zirconia with 1.2 – 1.5 mm for masking dark-tooth-like 5M3-shade and zirconia with 1.5 mm for masking precious-metal groups < 2.6. Only suitable try-in paste shades were used, can ΔE values that less than 2.6 be achieved when applied translucent monolithic zirconia with 0.7–1.0 mm for masking dark-tooth-like 5M3-shade and zirconia with 0.7 – 1.2 mm for masking precious-metal groups. CONCLUSION: Choosing suitable resin cement shades is necessary for high-translucency monolithic zirconia to achieve ideal masking ability (ΔE < 2.6) on the dark-tooth.

Efficacy of Zaozhu Yinchen Recipe for Treating Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis and its Effect on Free Fatty Acid and TNF-alpha / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the efficacy of Zaozhu Yinchen Recipe (ZZYCR) on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients, and to explore its effect on serum free fatty acid (FFA) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 120 patients with NASH were randomly assigned to the treatment group (60 cases, treated with ZZYCR, one dose per day) and the control group (60 cases, treated with Silibin Meglumine Tablets, 20 mg each time, thrice per day). The therapeutic course for all was 24 weeks. Serum levels of ALT and AST activities, TC and TG levels were detected before and after treatment. Peritoneal CT was performed in all patients, and CT ratios of liver and spleen calculated. NAFLD activity score (NAS) and degree of hepatic fibrosis were assessed using pathological examinations of liver tissue, and efficacy also evaluated. Serum contents of FFA and TNF-alpha were also detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with before treatment in the same group, activities of ALT and AST, serum levels of TC, TG, FFA, and TNF-alpha, NAS, scores of symptoms and signs all obviously decreased, degree of hepatic fibrosis was obviously improved in the two groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). These changes were more obviously seen in the treatment group (P < 0.05). After 24-week treatment, the total effective rate and total clinical efficacy were 80.00% (48/60 cases) and 85.00% (51/60 cases) in the treatment group, obviously higher than those in the control group [60.00% (36/60 cases) and 73.33% (44/60 cases) respectively], with significant difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ZZYCR could improve the clinical efficacy of NASH patients, and its mechanism might be associated with inhibiting serum levels of FFA and TNF-alpha.</p>

Treatment of HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B by xiaoyao powder combined with interferon-alpha: a clinical observation / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the efficacy of Xiaoyao Powder (XYP) combined with interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) in treating HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and the effect on their quality of life (QOL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 193 patients with HBeAg-positive CHB confirmed by liver biopsy were randomly assigned to 2 groups, Group A (94 cases) and Group B (99 cases). IFN-alpha1b was subcutaneously injected to patients in Group A at the dose of 50 microg, thrice per week. Those in Group B additionally took XYP. The therapeutic course for all was 24 weeks. Clinical efficacy was observed by assessing ALT restoration rate, HBeAg negative rate, HBeAg conversion rate, HBV DNA negative rate, complete response rate, partial response rate, and symptoms integral. The evaluation of QOL was performed by using chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ) score. Adverse reaction occurrence rate was observed in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Better effects were obtained in Group A on ALT restoration rate, HBeAg negative rate, HBV DNA negative rate, complete response rate, partial response rate, TCM symptoms integral, the total effective rate of TCM sysmptoms, CLDQ score, and adverse reaction rates, showing statistical difference when compared with Group B (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>XYP could elevate the efficacy of TCM symptoms of HBeAg-positive CHB patients and anti-viral effect, improve their QOL, and reduce adverse reaction of IFN-alpha.</p>