Can vitamin B6 alleviate the adverse reactions of quadruple anti-Helicobacter pylori regimen? : randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin B6 is an essential water-soluble vitamin for humans. It is often used to prevent a variety of neuropathies, relieve vomiting, and relieve symptoms such as hand and foot neuritis. AIM: To evaluate whether vitamin B6 can alleviate the adverse reactions caused by the quadruple anti-Helicobacter pylori treatment regimen containing minocycline and metronidazole. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 280 patients with H. pylori infection were randomly placed into one of two treatment groups-the conventional treatment group and the vitamin B6 supplement treatment group-for 2 weeks. The primary endpoint was the total incidence of adverse reactions up to 2 weeks after treatment initiation. The study was designed according to CONSORT Medicinal Interventions. And it was registered with Chinese Clinical Trial Registry under the number ChiCTR2100053833. RESULTS: In terms of efficacy, vitamin B6 does not affect the efficacy of conventional regimen. In the vitamin B6 supplement treatment group, the incidence of adverse reactions was 56.92%, which was significantly lower than the 74.62% observed in the conventional treatment group. In addition, the severity of adverse reactions was also significantly reduced. The proportion of moderate to severe central nervous system symptoms decreased from 58.7 to 14.63%. And, the proportion of moderate to severe gastrointestinal reactions decreased from 33.33 to 0%. We speculate that the mechanism of vitamin B6 of reducing adverse reaction may be related to the production of GABA in the brain. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin B6 can alleviate adverse reactions of the quadruple anti-H. pylori regimen containing minocycline and metronidazole.

Calebin-A prevents HFD-induced obesity in mice by promoting thermogenesis and modulating gut microbiota.

Background and aim: Obesity is one of the complications of sedentary lifestyle and high-calorie food intake which become a global problem. Thermogenesis is a novel way to promote anti-obesity by consuming energy as heat rather than storing it as triacylglycerols. Over the last decade, growing evidence has identified the gut microbiota as a potential factor in the pathophysiology of obesity. Calebin A is a non-curcuminoid novel compound derived from the rhizome of medicinal turmeric with putative anti-obesity effects. However, its ability on promoting thermogenesis and modulating gut microbiota remain unclear. Experimental procedure: C57BL/6J mice were fed either normal diet or high-fat diet (HFD) supplement with calebin A (0.1 and 0.5%) diet for 12 weeks. The composition of the gut microbiota was assessed by analyzing 16S rRNA gene sequences. Results and conclusion: Mice treated with calebin A shows a remarkable alteration in microbiota composition compared with that of normal diet-fed or HFD-fed mice and is characterized by an enrichment of Akkermansia, Butyricicoccus, Ruminiclostridium_9, and unidentified_Ruminococcaceae. We also explored that calebin A reduce the weight and blood sugar of mice that are induced by HFD, and show a dose-dependent reaction. Moreover, calebin A decreases the weight of white, beige, and brown adipose tissue, and also restores liver weight. In cold exposure experiments, calebin A can better maintain rectal temperature through thermogenesis. In summary, calebin A has a good thermogenesis function and is effective in anti-obesity. It can be used as a novel gut microbiota modulator to prevent HFD-induced obesity.

[Mechanism of Cordyceps militaris against non-small cell lung cancer: based on serum metabolomics].

This study investigated the potential mechanism of Cordyceps militaris(CM) against non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) based on serum untargeted metabolomics. Specifically, Balb/c nude mice were used to generate the human lung cancer A549 xenograft mouse model. The tumor volume, tumor weight, and tumor inhibition rate in mice in the model, cisplatin, Cordyceps(low-, medium-, and high-dose), and CM(low-, medium-, and high-dose) groups were compared to evaluate the influence of CM on lung cancer. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS) was used for the analysis of mouse serum, SIMCA 13.0 for the compa-rison of metabolic profiles, and MetaboAnalyst 5.0 for the analysis of metabolic pathways. According to the pharmacodynamic data, the tumor volume and tumor weight of mice in high-dose CM group and cisplatin group decreased as compared with those in the model group(P<0.05 or P<0.01). The results of serum metabolomics showed that the metabolic profiles of the model group were significantly different from those of the high-dose CM group, and the content of endogenous metabolites was adjusted to different degrees. A total of 42 differential metabolites and 7 differential metabolic pathways were identified. In conclusion, CM could significantly inhibit the tumor growth of lung cancer xenograft mice. The mechanism is the likelihood that it influences the aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, the metabolism of D-glutamine and D-glutamate, metabolism of alanine, aspartate, and glutamate, metabolism of glyoxylate and dicarboxylic acid, biosynthesis of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan, arginine biosynthesis as well as nitrogen metabolism. This study elucidated the underlying mechanism of CM against NSCLC from the point of metabolites. The results would lay a foundation for the anticancer research and clinical application of CM.

Empathetic nursing with mindful cognitive therapy for fatigue, depression, and negative emotions in leukemia patients undergoing long-term chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Leukemia is a broad term for blood cell cancer. Leukemia is divided into acute or chronic, depending on cell differentiation. Leukemia patients are prone to adverse reactions during chemotherapy, such as anxiety, depression, and even suicide, affecting prognosis. As a nursing model developed by three well-known cognitive psychologists, empathetic nursing with mindfulness cognitive therapy (ENMCT) can effectively reduce anxiety and depression and improve the quality of life in patients with chronic disease. AIM: To explore the effect of ENMCT on cancer-induced fatigue, hope level, and negative emotions in patients with long-term leukemia chemotherapy. METHODS: A total of 103 patients with long-term leukemia chemotherapy diagnosed and treated in our hospital from July 2017 to October 2019 were enrolled and randomly assigned to observation and control groups using the random number table approach. Fifty-one patients in the control group received routine nursing, while 52 patients in the observation group received empathic nursing with mindfulness cognitive therapy. After three months of nursing care, cancer-induced fatigue was measured with the Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS), hope level with the Herth Hope Index (HHI), and negative emotion with the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA)/Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD). Self-management (Chinese Strategies Used by People to Promote Health) was also recorded. RESULTS: The observation group's total scores in behavior, cognition, emotion, feeling, and PFS were lower than the control group after the intervention (P < 0.05). Keeping close contact with others, the attitude of taking positive actions, the attitude toward reality and future, and the total HHI score were higher in the observation group than the control group (P < 0.05). The observation group's HAMA and HAMD scores were lower than the control group (P < 0.05). The observation group's positive attitude, self-decision, and self-relief scores were greater than the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Empathetic nursing with cognitive mindfulness therapy is beneficial in improving cancer-related fatigue, negative emotions, expectation level, and self-management ability in patients with long-term leukemia chemotherapy.

Porous SiO2 -coated ultrasmall selenium particles nanospheres attenuate cerulein-induce acute pancreatitis in mice by downregulating oxidative stress.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential therapeutic role of porous SiO2 -coated ultrasmall selenium particles nanospheres (Se@SiO2 nanospheres) pretreatment in acute pancreatitis (AP) and to investigate the related mechanism. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were randomized to the normal control (CON) group, the AP (induced by cerulein injection) (CAE) group, and AP pretreated with Se@SiO2 nanocomposites at 1 and 2 mg/kg (CAE + 1 or 2 mg/kg Se@SiO2 ) groups, respectively. Serum levels of amylase and lipase, inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-1ß and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (Cr) were measured, and histopathology was performed to examine the tissue samples of the pancreas, lungs, kidneys and liver. Immunofluorescence assay of reactive oxygen species (ROS), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling were conducted, and levels of MPO, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and glutathione were evaluated. Finally, Western blot analysis was used to evaluate protein expressions of Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1, TLR4, MyD88 and p-p65 in pancreatic tissue. RESULTS: Se@SiO2 nanospheres alleviated pathological damage to the pancreas, and reduced pancreatic enzymes and inflammatory cytokines. Injury to other organs such as the liver, lungs and kidneys was also alleviated, as indicated by decreased ALT, AST, BUN, and Cr levels as well as improved histopathology. Moreover, Se@SiO2 nanospheres reduced oxidative stress, and ultimately inhibited TLR4/ MyD88/p-p65 pathway and increased the protein expressions of NQO1, Nrf2, and HO-1. CONCLUSION: Se@SiO2 nanospheres may alleviate AP by relieving oxidative stress and targeting the TLR4/Myd88/p-p65 and NQO1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathways.

Analysis of curcuminoids and volatile components in 160 batches of turmeric samples in China by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is a popular herbal medicine worldwide. Curcuminoids and volatile constituents are its major bioactive components. To improve the quality control of turmeric, we determined the contents of three main curcuminoids in 160 batches of turmeric samples collected from five major production areas of China by HPLC, and analyzed the volatile components by GC/MS. The results indicated that samples with red cross sections (2.75 ±â€¯0.82 mg/g) contained significantly higher amounts of curcuminoids than samples with yellow sections (1.23 ±â€¯0.60 mg/g) (p < 0.001). This result was consistent with empirical standard of TCM pharmacists. The contents of curcuminoids in samples from Hainan (4.51±0.25%), Guizhou (3.17±0.41%), and Sichuan (2.25±0.54%) were relatively high and consistent. Moreover, the GC/MS profiles of turmeric may be affected by storage and processing. This study sets a good example for comprehensive quality control of herbal medicines.

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) induces caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma ASTC-a-1 cells.

BACKGROUND: Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a semi-synthetic derivative of artemisinin, isolated from the traditional Chinese herb Artemisia annua, is recommended as the first-line anti-malarial drug with low toxicity. DHA has been shown to possess promising anticancer activities and induce cancer cell death through apoptotic pathways, although the molecular mechanisms are not well understood. METHODS: In this study, cell counting kit (CCK-8) assay was employed to evaluate the survival of DHA-treated ASTC-a-1 cells. The induction of apoptosis was detected by Hoechst 33258 and PI staining as well as flow cytometry analysis. Collapse of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim) was measured by dynamic detection under a laser scanning confocal microscope and flow cytometry analysis using Rhodamine123. Caspase-3 activities measured with or without Z-VAD-fmk (a broad spectrum caspase inhibitor) pretreatment by FRET techniques, caspase-3 activity measurement, and western blotting analysis. RESULTS: Our results indicated that DHA induced apoptotic cell death in a dose- and time-dependent manner, which was accompanied by mitochondrial morphology changes, the loss of DeltaPsim and the activation of caspase-3. CONCLUSION: These results show for the first time that DHA can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis via caspase-3-dependent mitochondrial death pathway in ASTC-a-1 cells. Our work may provide evidence for further studies of DHA as a possible anticancer drug in the clinical treatment of lung adenocarcinoma.