Anti-fibrosis effects of polysaccharide of Prismatomeris tetrandra on silicosis rats / 中草药

Objective: To investigate the anti-fibrosis effects of polysaccharide of Prismatomeris tetrandra on the silicosis rats and the underlying mechanism. Methods: The experimental silicosis rat model was established by oropharyngeal aspiration method. Forty male adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: saline group and modeling group. The experimental fibrosis of silicosis was induced by dripping 1 mL of 50 mg/mL SiO2 onto the oropharynx of rats of the modeling group. After modeling, the modeling group were randomly divided into one model group with SiO2 and three polysaccharide groups with SiO2 plus low, medium, and high dose of polysaccharide of P. tetrandra, eight rats per group. One day after modeling, rats in three polysaccharide groups were administered with the polysaccharide at a dose of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg, respectively, daily for 56 d, meanwhile, the saline group and the model group were given the same amount of saline daily for 56 d. The rats were then sacrificed at the 56th day of the experiment and lung tissues were collected. The pathological changes and fibrosis of the lung tissues were observed by HE staining and Masson staining. Real-time quantitative PCR method was used to detect the mRNA expression of epithelial calcium adhesion protein (E-cadherin) and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in lung tissue; Western blotting method was used to measure the levels of E-cadherin, α-SMA, and Vimentin in lung tissue. Results: There were no significant differences in body weight between groups. Compared with the saline group, the alveolar inflammation and the pulmonary fibrosis were aggravated, the lung/body coefficient was increased, the levels of α-SMA mRNA and α-SMA protein were significantly increased, the mRNA and protein expression level of E-cadherin was decreased markedly, and the level of Vimentin was increased significantly in the model group. Compared with the model group, the alveolar inflammation and the pulmonary fibrosis were alleviated, the lung/body coefficient was decreased, the levels of E-cadherin mRNA and protein were increased markedly, the levels of α-SMA mRNA and protein expression were decreased sharply, and the levels of Vimentin were decreased significantly in the polysaccharide groups. Conclusion: The polysaccharide of P. tetrandra exhibited the anti-fibrosis effects on silicosis by reducing silicosis-induced lung injury and slowing down the process of pulmonary fibrosis.

Repurposing vitamin D for treatment of human malignancies targeting tumor microenvironment

Tumor cells along with a small proportion of cancer stem cells exist in a stromal microenvironment consisting of vasculature, cancer-associated fibroblasts, immune cells and extracellular components. Recent epidemiological and clinical studies strongly support that vitamin D supplementation is associated with reduced cancer risk and favorable prognosis. Experimental results suggest that vitamin D not only suppresses cancer cells, but also regulates tumor microenvironment to facilitate tumor repression. In this review, we have outlined the current knowledge on epidemiological studies and clinical trials of vitamin D. Notably, we summarized and discussed the anticancer action of vitamin D in cancer cells, cancer stem cells and stroma cells in tumor microenvironment, providing a better understanding of the role of vitamin D in cancer. We presently re-propose vitamin D to be a novel and economical anticancer agent.

Effect of Chuanhuang No. 1 recipe on renal function and micro-inflammation in phase 3 chronic kidney disease patients / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Chuanhuang No.1 Recipe (CHR) on renal function and micro-inflammation in phase 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 60 phase 3 CKD patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (treated by CHR) and the control group (treated by Losartan Potassium), 30 in each group. All patients received basic treatment. Patients in the treatment group took CHR decoction, 400 mL each time, one dose per day, while those in the control group took Losartan Potassium, 50-100 mg per day. All medication lasted for 24 weeks. Changes of serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum uric acid (UA), 24 h urinary protein excretion (24 h U-pro), urinary microalbumin (U-Alb), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and serum IL-6 were detected and compared before and after treatment. Efficacy was also compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with before treatment, SCr and BUN significantly decreased in the treatment group (P<0.05, P<0.01); eGFR in- creased (P<0.05). Only UA obviously decreased in the control group (P<0.05), but with no obvious change in SCr, BUN, or eGFR. Compared with before treatment, 24 h U-pro decreased after treatment in the treatment group (P<0.05), but with less decreased level when compared with the control group. U- Alb was also significantly decreased in the control group (P<0.01). There was statistical difference in 24 h U-pro and U-Alb between the two groups after treatment (P<0.05). Compared with before treatment, hs-CRP obviously decreased after treatment in the two groups, but serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 obviously decreased only in the treatment group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was obviously higher in the treatment group than in the control group (70.00% vs. 43.33%, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CHR could efficiently improve the renal function of phase 3 CKD patients and alleviate the micro-inflammation.</p>

Observations on the Efficacy of Medicated Thread Moxibustion plus Needle Picking Therapy for Sciatica / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To compare the efficacies of medicated thread moxibustion plus needle picking therapy versus medication for sciatica.Method Seventy sciatica patients were randomly allocated to a treatment group of 35 cases and a control group of 35 cases. The treatment group received medicated thread moxibustion on Zusanli (ST36), three cones once daily and needle picking at Yanglingquan (GB34) and Huantiao (GB30), once daily. The control group took quick-acting sciatica pills, two pills twice daily. One course of treatment consisted of 10 days in both groups. The therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups of patients after two consecutive courses of treatment.Result Posttreatment pain score decreased more markedly in the treatment group (P<0.01). The total efficacy rate was 88.6% in the treatment group and 57.1% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Medicated thread moxibustion plus needle picking therapy for sciatica is more effective in relieving pain and raising the total efficacy rate.

The ethanol extract isolated from Weiqi Decoction induces G₂/M arrest and apoptosis in AGS cells / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effects of the ethanol extract isolated from Weiqi Decoction (WQD-EE) on AGS cell proliferation and apoptosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>By using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detectors (HPLC-UV) assay and MTT method, the main compounds in WQD-EE and cell viability were detected. And cell cycle distributions were determined by flow cytometry with propidium iodine (PI) staining while apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry with annexin V/PI double staining. Finally, caspase-3 activities were measured by colorimetric method and protein expression was determined by Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HPLC analysis showed that naringin (35.92 μg/mg), nobiletin (21.98 μg/mg), neohesperidin (17.98 μg/mg) and tangeretin (0.756 μg/mg) may be the main compounds in WQD-EE. WQD-EE not only inhibited AGS and MCF 7 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, but also blocked cell cycle progression at G2/M stage as well as inducing cell apoptosis at concentrations triggering significant inhibition of proliferation and cell cycle arrest in AGS cells. While at 0.5 mg/mL, WQD-EE significantly increased caspase-3 activity by 2.75 and 7.47 times at 24 h and 48 h, respectively. Moreover, WQD-EE in one hand reduced protein expressions of p53 and cyclin B1, and in other hand enhanced protein expressions of cytochrome c and Bax. Protein levels of Bcl-2, Fas L and Fas were not significantly affected by WQD-EE.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>WQD-EE inhibits AGS cell proliferation through G2/M arrest due to down-regulation of cyclin B1 protein expression, and promotes apoptosis by caspase-3 and mitochondria-dependent pathways, but not by p53-dependent pathway.</p>

Clinical features and treatment of acute clenbuterol poisoning in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study clinical features, treatment and curative effects in children with acute clenbuterol poisoning, in order to provide a basis for early diagnosis and treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 28 hospitalized children with acute clenbuterol poisoning in April 2011 were retrospectively studied.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 28 patients, there were 15 males and 13 females, aged 1 to 13 years (mean age 6.5±4.8 years). Vomiting, palpitations and limb shaking were found as main clinical manifestations in the patients. Main changes of blood biochemical included hypokalemia, lactic acidosis, hyperglycemia, hypsocreatinkinase. Snus tachycardia and S-T segment depression were observed on ECG. Patients' symptoms were gradually alleviated after 12-78 hours by use of beta blockers, potassium supplement, protecting the heart and other symptomatic and supportive treatment. Blood biochemical indexes were improved after 48 hours of admission. All of the patients were cured after 5 days. The symptoms of the patients do not longer occur during a follow up of half a month.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Acute clenbuterol poisoning is characterized by vomiting, palpitations, limb shaking, hypokalemia, lactic acidosis and tachycardia in children. An early effective treatment of this disease can improve prognosis in children.</p>

Cohort study of hyperbaric oxygention (HBO) in controlling hypermyotonia caused by spinal cord injury / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical effects of hyperbaric oxygention (HBO) in treating hypermyotonia caused by spinal cord injury (SCI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From March 2009 to April 2011, 80 patients with hypermyotonia caused by SCI were divided into treatment group and control group, with 40 cases in each group. There were 49 males and 31 females with an average age of (34.12 +/- 6.61) years (ranged, 17 to 60) in the study. Course of disease was from 14 to 30 d with an average of (20.16 +/- 5.08) d. The patients of the treatment group were treated with HBO, rehabilitation exercise and baclofen medication. With pressure of HBO was 2ATA, the treatment project including mask oxygen-inspiration for 20 minutes and resting 5 min, repeating 3 circulations as once, once every day and 10 times as a course of treatment, a total of 6 courses. In the control group, the patients were only treated with rehabilitation exercise and baclofen medication. Course of treatment was same with treatment group. The muscular tensions of patients were evaluated according to method of Modified Ashworth scale (MAS) at 3 courses and 6 courses after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 3 courses of treatment,5 cases were effective in treatment group and 4 cases were effective in control group. There was no significant difference between two groups. After 6 courses of treatment, 24 cases were effective and 5 cases were obvious effective in treatment group; 14 cases were effective and 2 cases were obvious effective in control group. Clinical effect of treatment group was better than that of control group after 6 courses of treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HBO was effective to controlling hypermyotonia caused by SCI, it can be used widely as a routine adjuvant therapy in clinic, but adequate course of treatment is necessary.</p>

Metabolomics study of anti-inflammatory action of Radix Paeoniae Rubra and Radix Paeoniae Alba by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the anti-inflammatory effect of Radix Paeoniae Rubra and Radix Paeoniae Alba by animal experiment and metabolimic analysis.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>To establish the rats model of toes swelling caused by carrageenan, study the anti-inflammatory effect of Radix Paeoniae Rubra and Radix Paeoniae Alba. The serum samples were analyzed by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS), to find out the potential identification biomarker by PLS-DA.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Both of the extracts of Radix Paeoniae Rubra and Radix Paeoniae Alba have good effects of inhibition to swelling caused by carrageenan in 0.5-1 h, and the extract of Radix Paeoniae Rubra also show significant inhibition in 2-3 h. Glutathione( GSH), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha), prostaglandinE3 (PGE3), leukotrieneA4 (LTA4), prostaglandinE2 ( PGE2) are proven to be significant expressed biomarkers. Radix Paeoniae Rubra and Radix Paeoniae Alba may have great influence on PGF2alpha and PGE3. There was also significant difference between the effects of Radix Paeoniae Rubra and Radix Paeoniae Alba, which suggested the difference of anti-inflammatory between the two herbs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results of metabolomics are related with the results of classic pharmaco- experiment, which is helpful for the further research of the mechanism of action of Radix Paeoniae Rubra and Radix Paeoniae Alba.</p>

Antiproliferative effects of essential oil of a compound Chinese herbal medicine Weiqi Decoction on AGS cells / 中西医结合学报

Objective: The main ingredients and the inhibitory effects of essential oil of a compound Chinese herbal medicine Weiqi Decoction (WQD) on AGS cell proliferation were to be investigated. Methods: Chemical compounds of WQD essential oil were detected by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. Cell viability was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium method. Cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry. Apoptosis and necrosis of AGS cells were determined by Hoechst 33342/propidium iodine staining. Results: Chemical analysis showed that the main ingredients of WQD essential oil were bornylene and 3-n-butylphthalide. Ligustilide, which is the effective compound of Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), was not detected in WQD essential oil. The essential oil inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and blocked cell cycle progression at G(2)/M stage. At the concentrations that resulted in significant inhibition of cell proliferation and cell cycle arrest, essential oil induced both apoptosis and necrosis. Conclusion: The results suggest that WQD essential oil contains some effective ingredients for treating chronic atrophic gastritis and functional dyspepsia, and also has an antiproliferative effect on AGS cells through cell cycle arrest and apoptosis promotion in vitro. Therefore, essential oil should be retained as much as possible during stewing this decoction.

Effect of light therapy combined with fluoxetine on winter attack depression / 中国康复理论与实践

@#ObjectiveTo observe the effect of light therapy combined with fluoxetine on winter attack depression.Methods68 patients of winter attack depression were divided randomly into the treatment group and control group with 34 cases in each group. Patients of the treatment group were treated by bright white light combined with fluoxetine (20 mg/d), but cases of the control group were treated only with fluoxetine. Therapeutic effects of two groups were evaluated with BDI, HAMD, and SCL-90 scales and traditional evaluation.ResultsPatients of the treatment group had a better effect than that of the control group (P<0.05).ConclusionLight therapy combined with fluoxetine has a good short and long term effect on winter attack depression, and can prevent from recurrence.

Study on effect of Cordyceps sinensis and artemisinin in preventing recurrence of lupus nephritis / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Cordyceps sinensis and artemisinin in preventing recurrence of lupus nephritis (LN).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-one LN patients, who had no activities by corticosterone and cyclophosphamide (CTX) impacting therapy were randomly divided into two groups. The 31 cases in the treated group were given Cordyceps powder 2-4 g/d before meal and artemisinin 0.6 g/d after meal in three portions orally taken for 3 years. The 30 patients in the control group were treated with tripterygiitotorum and/or Baoshenkang tablet. The consecutive observation lasted for 5 years to monitor the clinical manifestations of lupus and laboratory indexes including blood creatinine, creatinine clearance rate (CCr) and antinuclear antibodies (ANA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The therapeutic effect showed markedly effective in 26 cases (83.9%), effective in 4 (12.9%) and ineffective in 1 (3.2%) in the treated group, while in the control group, the corresponding numbers were 15 (50.0%), 8 (26.7%) and 7 (23.3%), the difference between the two groups in markedly effective rate was significant (P < 0.01). In the treated group, C3 level was stabilized at above 1.21 +/- 0.20 g/L, which was over the normal range, CCr was unchanged as compared before and after treatment, which was significantly different from that in the control group. Moreover, the side-effects occurred in the treated group was less.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cordyceps and artemisinin could prevent the recurrence of LN and protect kidney function.</p>