Bufalin serves as a pharmaceutic that mitigates drug resistance.

Intrinsic or acquired drug resistance of tumor cells is the main cause of tumor chemotherapy failure and tumor-related death. Bufalin (BF) is the main active monomer component extracted from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Toad venom (secretions of glands behind the ears and epidermis of bufo gargarizans and Bufo Melanostictus Schneider). It is a cardiotonic steroid with broad-spectrum anti-cancer effects and has been widely used against various malignant tumors in clinical practice. Pharmacological studies also found that BF has the effect of reversing drug resistance, which provides a new perspective for the application of Traditional Chinese Medicine as a chemosensitizer in cancer therapy. This article provides an extensive search and summary of published research on mitigating drug resistance to BF and reviews its potential mechanisms.

The Research Progress of Bufalin in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest cancers in the world with a five-year survival rate of less than 20%. Nonetheless, selecting an appropriate therapeutic agent to inhibit the development of hepatoma cells is still a challenge. Bufalin, a component of the traditional Chinese medicine Chansu, has been shown to inhibit the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of HCC through various signaling pathways. In addition, bufalin and sorafenib demonstrate a synergistic effect in cancer therapeutics. This review highlighted on several focal signaling pathways involved in the inhibitory effects of bufalin on HCC and its synergistic mechanisms with sorafenib. The immunotherapy effect of bufalin has also been discussed as a novel property.

Comparison of National Comprehensive Cancer Network and European Position Statement protocols for nodule management in low-dose computed tomography lung cancer screening in a general Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening often refers individuals to unnecessary examinations. This study aims to compare the European Position Statement (EUPS) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) protocols in management of participants at baseline screening round. METHODS: LDCT lung cancer screening was prospectively performed in a Chinese asymptomatic population aged 40-74 years. A total of 1,000 consecutive baseline LDCT scans were read twice independently. All screen-detected lung nodules by the first reader were included. The first reader manually measured the diameter of lung nodules (NCCN protocol), and the second reader semi-automatically measured the volume and diameter (EUPS volume and diameter protocols). The protocols were used to classify the participants into three management groups: next screening round, short-term repeat LDCT scan and referral to a pulmonologist. Groups were compared using Wilcoxon test for paired samples. Number of lung cancers by protocols was provided. RESULTS: Of the 1,000 participants (61.4±6.7 years old), 168 lung nodules in 124 participants were visually detected and manually measured in the first reading, and re-measured semi-automatically. Applying the NCCN protocol, EUPS volume and diameter protocol, the proportion of referrals among all participants was 0.6%, 1.9%, and 1.4%, respectively. The proportion of short-term repeat scans was 4.5%, 9.7% and 4.5%, respectively. Among the 10 lung cancer patients, one would have been diagnosed earlier if the EUPS volume protocol would have been followed. CONCLUSIONS: In a first round screening in a Chinese general population, the lower threshold for referral in the EUPS protocol as compared to the NCCN protocol, leads to more referrals to a pulmonologist, with the potential of earlier cancer diagnosis. The EUPS volume protocol recommends fewer participants to short-term repeat LDCT scan than the EUPS diameter protocol. Follow-up studies should show the impact of both protocols on (interval) cancer diagnosis.

[Process optimization for extraction and purification of polysaccharides from Cistanche deserticola].

In this study, taking Cistanche deserticola in Xinjiang as the experimental material, the optimal process for extracting polysaccharides from C. deserticola with water extraction was studied by using single factor and orthogonal experiment. Its effects on protein removal and polysaccharides retaining were investigated by using Sevag, enzymatic method or combination of these two methods, so as to determine the optimal method for protein removal from polysaccharides of C. deserticola; the decolorization and purification methods such as macroporous resin of AB-8 and activated Carbon were used to determine the optimal process. The results showed that the extraction rate of polysaccharides from C. deserticola was 18.40% during the optimal process of the water extraction as follows: extraction temperature 75 ℃, extraction time 165 min and solid-liquid ratio 1∶55. The protein removal rate can reach 31.40% and polysaccharide retention rate can reach 96.00% under the optimal protein removal process: temperature 50 ℃, time 2 h, and papain dosage 0.2%. The decolorization rate of activated Carbon and macroporous resin called AB-8 was 80.37% and 86.43%, and the recovery rate of polysaccharides was 77.05% and 91.93%, respectively, suggesting that macroporous resin was more suitable for decoloration. Macroporous resin named AB-8 increased the purity of the polysaccharide crude extract from 67.70% to 84.80% under the following conditions: concentration of the sample 4 g·L~(-1), concentration of the eluent 60% ethanol, and the flow rate 1 mL·min~(-1), showing significant purification effect.