Neuroprotective effects of kukoamine A on 6-OHDA-induced Parkinson's model through apoptosis and iron accumulation inhibition / 中草药·英文版

Objective: Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra (SN). Our previous study demonstrated kukoamine A (KuA) to exhibit strong neuroprotective effects through antioxidative stress, and autophagy in MPTP/MPP

Thalidomide-based Regimens for Elderly and/or Transplant Ineligible Patients with Multiple Myeloma: A Meta-analysis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Thalidomide is an immunomodulatory and anti-angiogenic drug that has shown promise in patients with myeloma. Trials comparing efficacy of standard melphalan and prednisone (MP) therapy with MP plus thalidomide (MPT) in transplant-ineligible or elderly patients with multiple myeloma (MM) have provided conflicting evidence. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the efficacy and toxicity of thalidomide in previously untreated elderly patients with myeloma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Medline, the Cochrane Controlled Trials register, conference proceedings of the American Society of Hematology (1995-2014), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (1995-2014), and CBM, VIP, and CNKI databases were searched for randomized control trials with the use of the medical subject headings "MM " and "thalidomide ". Trials were assessed by two reviewers for eligibility. Meta-analysis was conducted using a fixed effects model. Sensitivity analysis was performed to test the robustness of the findings.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Overall, seven trials were identified, covering a total of 1821 subjects. The summary hazard ratio (thalidomide vs. control) was 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72-0.94) for overall survival (OS), and 0.65 (95% CI: 0.58-0.73) for progression-free survival, in favor of thalidomide treated group. The risk ratio of complete response with induction thalidomide was 3.48 (95% CI: 2.24-5.41). A higher rate of III/IV adverse events were observed in MPT arm compared with the MP arm. However, analysis of sub-groups administering anticoagulation as venous thromboembolism prophylaxis suggested no difference in relative risk of thrombotic events between two arms (RR = 1.47, 95% CI: 0.43-5.07, P = 0.54). Further analysis of trials on the treatment effects of MPT versus MP on adverse events-related mortality showed no statistical difference between two arms (RR = 1.24, 95% CI: [0.95-1.63], P = 0.120).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Thalidomide appears to improve the OS of elderly and/or transplant-ineligible patients with MM when it is added to standard MP therapy.</p>

Evaluation of the wound-healing activity and anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extracts from Acorus calamus l.

In folklore medicine, Acorus calamus has been used as a wound-healing agent for thousands of years; however, there have been few scientific reports on this activity so far. Now, we explored deeply the wound-healing effect of aqueous extracts from the fresh roots and rhizomes of A. calamus in vivo, as well as anti-inflammatory activity in vitro, so as to provide scientific evidence for the traditional application. The wound-healing effect was determined by the image analysis techniques and the histological analysis in the excisional wounding test, and the anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by the real-time RT-PCR techniques in the lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cells test. Aqueous extracts, administered topically at the dose range from twice to thrice in a day, could enhance significantly the rate of skin wound-healing. Moreover, the extracts could effectively inhibit the mRNA expressions of inflammatory mediators induced by lipopolysaccharide in RAW 264.7 cells. These results showed significantly the wound-healing activity of aqueous extracts in the animal model of excise wound healing, and anti-inflammatory activity in vitro.