Bufalin suppresses ovarian cancer cell proliferation via EGFR pathway.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that bufalin exerts antitumor effects through various mechanisms. This study aimed to determine the antineoplastic mechanism of bufalin, an extract of traditional Chinese medicine toad venom, in ovarian cancer. METHODS: The 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), and colony formation assays were used to investigate the antiproliferative effect of bufalin on the ovarian cancer cell line SK-OV-3. Molecular docking was used to investigate the combination of bufalin and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein. Western blotting was performed to detect the expression of EGFR protein and its downstream targets. RESULTS: Bufalin inhibited the proliferation of SK-OV-3 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Bufalin was confirmed to combine with EGFR protein using molecular docking and downregulate expression of EGFR. Bufalin inhibited phosphorylation of EGFR, protein kinase B (AKT), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). CONCLUSION: Bufalin suppresses the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells through the EGFR/AKT/ERK signaling pathway.

Efficient biogenesis of Cu2O nanoparticles using extract of Camellia sinensis leaf: Evaluation of catalytic, cytotoxicity, antioxidant, and anti-human ovarian cancer properties.

At the moment, metallic nanoparticles especially copper nanoparticles are administrated for the cure of different disorders, such as tumor and cancer. In recent years, many chemotherapeutic supplements have been formulated by copper nanoparticles. In the present study, copper nanoparticles were prepared and synthesized in aqueous medium using Camellia sinensis leaf extract. The as-prepared Cu2O nanoparticles was thoroughly characterized using XRD, FT-IR, FESEM, EDX, TEM and X-ray elemental mapping techniques. The as-synthesized Cu2O/C. sinensis NPs applied as novel nanocatalyst for the synthesis of annulated fused pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidinones via a one-pot, three-component condensation of a barbituric acid, aromatic aldehydes, and malonitrile or ethylcyanoacetate under mild condition at 25 °C. Main properties of this facile method are the involves an easy work-up procedure, avoidance of hazardous or polluting chemicals, significant yields under mild conditions, and one-pot reaction. We assessed the anti-human ovarian cancer potentials of these nanoparticles against Caov-3, SW-626, and SK-OV-3 cell lines. For investigating the antioxidant activities of CuCl2⋅2H2O, C. sinensis, and copper nanoparticles, the DPPH free radical test was used. For the determining of anti-human ovarian cancer properties of CuCl2⋅2H2O, Camellia sinensis leaf aqueous extract, copper nanoparticles, and Carboplatin (Standard positive control), MTT assay was used on normal (HUVECs) and human ovarian cancer (Caov-3, SW-626, and SK-OV-3) cell lines. Copper nanoparticles had high cell death and anti-human ovarian cancer properties against Caov-3, SW-626, and SK-OV-3 cell lines. Among the above cell lines, the best result was gained in the cell line of SW-626. According to the above findings, it looks copper nanoparticles green-synthesized by Camellia sinensis leaf aqueous extract have the potential to be used as a chemotherapeutic material for human ovarian cancers.

The effect of cinnamon on polycystic ovary syndrome in a mouse model.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent cause of anovulatory infertility and hyperandrogenism. Evidence favors insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia as the predominant, perhaps primary, defects in PCOS. The use of insulin-sensitizing drugs has been shown to improve both the reproductive and the metabolic aspects of PCOS. Cinnamon has been found to have insulin sensitizing effect and improve menstrual cyclicity in women with PCOS. The aim of this study was to determine the effect and mechanism of cinnamon on PCOS using a dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) induced PCOS mouse model. METHODS: Prepubertal C57BL/6 mice (age 25 days) were raised to developed into control group, DHEA group and DHEA plus cinnamon group for 20 days. The stages of the estrous cycle were determined based on vaginal cytology; metabolic characteristics were examined by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test, the serum levels of hormones (testosterone, insulin, LH, FSH, IGF-1, IGFBP-1) were checked using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, the ovarian morphology was observed by stained with hematoxylin and eosin. IGF-1 and IGFBP-1 expression in ovary were detected by immunohistochemical stain. RESULTS: Cinnamon restores the cyclicity and ovary morphology in PCOS mice model induced by DHEA. There are significant differences of serum level of total testosterone (0.033 ± 0.009 ng/ml), among control group, DHEA and cinnamon group (0.052 ± 0.011 ng/ml), and DHEA group (0.079 ± 0.015 ng/ml); There was an increasing tendency of serum FSH level from DHEA group (5.02 ± 0.31 ng/ml), DHEA and cinnamon group (5.81 ± 0.51 ng/ml), to control group (7.13 ± 0.74 ng/ml); and there was a decreasing trend of serum LH level from DHEA group (3.75 ± 0.57 ng/ml), DHEA and cinnamon group (1.35 ± 0.61 ng/ml), or control group (0.69 ± 0.34 ng/ml); serum insulin level is significantly higher in DHEA treated mice (1.61 ± 0.31 ng/ml) than control group (0.93 ± 0.19 ng/ml), or DHEA and cinnamon effect (1.27 ± 0.23 ng/ml) (p < 0.05). The DHEA group also has a higher serum IGF-1 level (0.35 ± 0.06 ng/ml) than control group (0.17 ± 0.04 ng/ml) or DHEA and cinnamon group (0.21 ± 0.05 ng/ml) (p < 0.05). While DHEA group has a lower IGFBP-1 level (5.5 ± 1.6 ng/ml) than control group (15.8 ± 2.1 ng/ml) or DHEA and cinnamon group (10.3 ± 2.5 ng/ml) (p < 0.05). Cinnamon also attenuates DHEA induced a higher IGF-1 and lower IGFBP-1 expression in ovary by immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary data suggest that cinnamon supplementation improves insulin resistance and may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of PCOS.

An evaluation system for financial compensation in traditional Chinese medicine services.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the major factors influencing financial compensation in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and prioritize what TCM services should be compensated for. DESIGN AND SETTING: Two structured questionnaires-a TCM service baseline questionnaire and a service cost questionnaire-were used to collect information from TCM public hospitals on TCM services provided in certain situations and service cost accounting. The cross-sectional study examined 110 TCM services provided in four county TCM public hospitals in Shandong province. From the questionnaire data, a screening index system was established via expert consultation and brainstorming. Comprehensive evaluation of TCM services was performed using the analytic hierarchy process method. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Weighted coefficients were used to measure the importance of each criterion, after which comprehensive evaluation scores for each service were ranked to indicate what services should receive priority for financial compensation. RESULTS: Economy value, social value, and efficacy value were the three main criteria for screening for what TCM services should be compensated for. The economy value local weight had the highest value (0.588), of which the profit sub-criterion (0.278) was the most important for TCM financial compensation. Moxibustion was tied for the highest comprehensive evaluation scores, at 0.65 while Acupuncture and Massage Therapy were tied for the second and third highest, with 0.63 and 0.58, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Government and policymakers should consider offer financial compensation to Moxibustion, Acupuncture, Massage Therapy, and TCM Orthopedics as priority services. In the meanwhile, it is essential to correct the unreasonable pricing, explore compensation methods, objects and payment, and revise and improve the accounting system for the costs of TCM services.

The effectiveness of an additional lingual infiltration in the pulpal anesthesia of mandibular teeth: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the effect of an additional lingual infiltration on the pulpal anesthesia of mandibular teeth. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Prospective clinical trials were searched from Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Pubmed, SCI, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Papers that met the inclusion criteria were accepted. Data was extracted by two investigators using a designed extraction form. The anesthetic efficacy of an additional lingual infiltration on the pulpal anesthesia of mandibular teeth was analyzed. RESULTS: Seven prospective randomized controlled trials were included. All subjects of these studies were volunteers with healthy pulps, without patients with pulpitis. Compared to buccal infiltration alone, an additional lingual infiltration following buccal infiltration is more likely to achieve a successful pulpal anesthesia in the mandibular incisor area, with a relative risk for success of 2.00 [1.08, 3.72] for 2% lidocaine and 1.32 [1.15, 1.51] for 4% articaine. For mandibular canines and premolars, the additional lingual infiltration following inferior alveolar nerve block did not enhance the anesthetic efficacy. In the mandibular molar area, no significant difference was found after an additional lingual infiltration with either 2% lidocaine or 4% articaine. CONCLUSION: An additional lingual infiltration following buccal infiltration can enhance the anesthetic efficacy compared with buccal infiltration alone in the mandibular incisor area. For mandibular canines, premolars, and molars, an additional lingual infiltration is not recommended, since no data exist to support such usage. Lingual infiltration of articaine in the mandibular teeth with pulpitis should be studied further.