Gastroprotective effects of Kangfuxin against water-immersion and restraint stress-induced gastric ulcer in rats: roles of antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and pro-survival.

Context: Kangfuxin (KFX) is widely used for the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcer; however, more research is needed to determine the protective mechanisms of KFX in ameliorating gastric ulcer.Objective: To investigate the efficacy and potential mechanism of Kangfuxin liquid (KFX) in water-immersion and restraint stress (WIRS)-induced gastric ulcer.Materials and methods: Seventy rats were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 10) as follows: the control group (normal saline, i.g.), the model group (normal saline, i.g.), the KFX groups (2.5, 5 and 10 mL/kg, i.g.), the omeprazole group (20 mg/kg, i.p.) and Sanjiuweitai Granules group (1850 mg/kg, i.g.). The WIRS model was applied to induce stress ulcers after 7 days of drug administration. Afterwards, rats were sacrificed at 10 h induced by WIRS.Results: Pre-treatment with KFX (5,10 mL/kg) could effectively reduce the area of gastric ulcers and improve the pathological changes of ulcerated tissue. Moreover, KFX (5,10 mL/kg) increased the prostaglandin E2 (52%) and cyclooxygenase-1 (30%) levels, and improved malondialdehyde (54%), superoxide dismutase (58%), catalase (39%), and nitric oxide (11%) and TNF-α (9%), IL-6 (11%), MMP-9 (54%) and MMP-2 (53%) of ulcer tissue. Furthermore, pre-treatment with KFX dramatically increased IGF-1, PTEN, and Akt protein expression.Conclusions: Our results suggest that KFX has protective effects on WIRS-induced gastric ulcer via inflammatory reactions, oxidative stress inhibition, and pro-survival action, which were the results of activating the IGF-1/PTEN/Akt signalling pathway. Our results provide evidence of KFX for treating gastric ulcer.

Earthworm extract attenuates silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis through Nrf2-dependent mechanisms.

Silicosis is an occupational pulmonary fibrosis caused by inhalation of silica (SiO2) and there are no ideal drugs to treat this disease. Earthworm extract (EE), a natural nutrient, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptosis effects. The purpose of the current study was to test the protective effects of EE against SiO2-induced pulmonary fibrosis and to explore the underlying mechanisms using both in vivo and in vitro models. We found that treatment with EE significantly reduced lung inflammation and fibrosis and improved lung structure and function in SiO2-instilled mice. Further mechanistic investigations revealed that EE administration markedly inhibited SiO2-induced oxidative stress, mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in HBE and A549 cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Nrf2 activation partly mediates the interventional effects of EE against SiO2-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Our study has identified EE to be a potential anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic drug for silicosis.

[Life-threatening hyponatremia provoked by alternative treatment. An occurrence in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia with no indication for treatment]. / Livstruende hyponatriaemi udløst af alternativ behandling. Et tilfaelde hos en patient med ikkebehandlingskraevende kronisk lymfatisk leukaemi.

Alternative medicine is a heterogeneous group of treatments which has become increasingly popular in cancer patients in the Western world in recent years. We describe a 77-year-old female with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, who developed severe hyponatremia during treatment with alternative medicine given by a general practitioner over a 3-year-period. From a hematological point of view, there was no need for this expensive treatment as the disease was stable with a normal hemoglobin and thrombocyte count and no B-symptoms. The case illustrates a need for better control of the alternative practitioners and for the adverse reactions to their treatments by the National Health Service.

Homeopathic pathogenetic trials of Acidum malicum and Acidum ascorbicum.

Two homeopathic pathogenetic trials (HPTs, provings), of identical design were conducted: of Acidum malicum 12 cH and Acidum ascorbicum 12 cH. Each trial included 20 healthy volunteers. Both were of double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, four period crossover design, with two sequences. 'Healthy' was defined in terms of SF-36 scores, medical judgement and blood tests. All volunteers had regular interviews with the same supervisor. No serious adverse reactions occurred. The causal relationship of each symptom with treatment was judged, blind, by the volunteer, the supervisor and a 9-item pathogenetic index. For Acidum malicum 79 symptoms were identified by the supervisor, 57 were included in the final analysis, 22 occurred in verum treatment periods. For Acidum ascorbicum, of 55 symptoms, 39 were included in the analysis. 16 occurred in verum treatment periods.