Meta-Analysis of Astragalus-Containing Traditional Chinese Medicine Combined With Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer: Efficacy and Safety to Tumor Response.

This meta analysis evaluated the comparative safety and efficacy for the addition of Astragalus-based Chinese medicines combined with chemotherapy and chemotherapy alone for colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. Systematic literature search was performed by PubMed, EMBSAE, Ovid, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Chinese Science and Technology Journals (CQVIP), China Academic Journals (CNKI), and Chinese Biomedical Literature database. A total of 22 studies which reported on 1,409 subjects were identified. This meta-analysis indicated that the combination of Astragalus-based Chinese medicines and chemotherapy may increase the efficiency of tumor response rate (TRR) for the treatment of CRC patients (RR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.24-1.87; p < 0.0001), improve their life quality based on KPS (RR: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.85-3.42; p < 0.00001 and WMD: 10.96; 95% CI: 9.45-12.47; p < 0.00001), and reduce the adverse reactions, including neutropenia (RR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.44-0.62; p < 0.00001), anemia (RR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.34-0.70; p < 0.0001), thrombocytopenia (RR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.46-0.77; p = 0.0001), nausea and vomiting (RR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.46-0.68; p < 0.00001), diarrhea (RR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.40-0.75; p = 0.0001), and neurotoxicity (RR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.49-0.65; p < 0.00001). Hepatic dysfunction (RR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.53-1.09; p = 0.13) and renal dysfunction (RR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.51-1.76; p = 0.87) were similar between two groups. The results showed that Astragalus-based Chinese medicines combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of CRC may increase the efficiency of TRR, reduce chemotherapeutic agents-associated adverse reactions, and improve their life quality when compared with chemotherapy alone, but further randomized studies are warranted.

Identification of the Candidate Proteins Related to Oleic Acid Accumulation during Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Seed Development through Comparative Proteome Analysis.

Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) are an important oilseed crop, containing high contents of protein and fatty acids (FA). The major components of FA found in peanut oil are unsaturated FAs, including oleic acid (OA, C18:1) and linoleic acid (LOA, C18:2). Moreover, the high content of OA in peanut oil is beneficial for human health and long-term storage due to its antioxidant activity. However, the dynamic changes in proteomics related to OA accumulation during seed development still remain largely unexplored. In the present study, a comparative proteome analysis based on iTRAQ (isobaric Tags for Relative and Absolute Quantification) was performed to identify the critical candidate factors involved in OA formation. A total of 389 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified between high-oleate cultivar Kainong176 and low-oleate cultivar Kainong70. Among these DEPs, 201 and 188 proteins were upregulated and downregulated, respectively. In addition, these DEPs were categorized into biosynthesis pathways of unsaturated FAs at the early stage during the high-oleic peanut seed development, and several DEPs involved in lipid oxidation pathway were found at the stage of seed maturation. Meanwhile, 28 DEPs were sporadically distributed in distinct stages of seed formation, and their molecular functions were directly correlated to FA biosynthesis and degradation. Fortunately, the expression of FAB2 (stearoyl-acyl carrier protein desaturase), the rate-limiting enzyme in the upstream biosynthesis process of OA, was significantly increased in the early stage and then decreased in the late stage of seed development in the high-oleate cultivar Kainong176. Furthermore, real-time PCR verified the expression pattern of FAB2 at the mRNA level, which was consistent with its protein abundance. However, opposite results were found for the low-oleate cultivar Kainong70. Overall, the comparative proteome analysis provided valuable insight into the molecular dynamics of OA accumulation during peanut seed development.

Traditional Chinese Medicine symptom patterns in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the symptom patterns (or syndromes) according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory in patients with various stages of colorectal cancer, and to observe the dynamic evolution process of these TCM patterns. METHODS: A prospective and cross-sectional questionnaire-based investigation was performed. Clinical data on TCM symptom patterns in patients with colorectal cancer in the perioperative period (210 cases) and adjuvant treatment period (160 cases) were collected. EPIData 3.1 together with frequency statistics and cluster analyses were performed to identify the TCM patterns based on symptom characteristics in patients with colorectal cancer, and to assess the dynamic changes in these patterns. RESULTS: In the perioperative period, from the first day of perioperative care to postoperative days 3, 7, and 10, the TCM pattern showed a process of dynamic change from blood deficiency to deficiency of both Qi and Yin and the pattern of dampness and hot accumulative knotting. In the adjuvant treatment period, the TCM pattern changed from Qi deficiency and Yin deficiency inner-heat with dampness to a deficiency pattern, primarily including Yin deficiency of the liver and kidney, deficiency of Qi and blood, and spleen deficiency. CONCLUSION: Our study confirmed that variations in the dynamic evolution of TCM symptom patterns exist in patients with colorectal cancer during different treatment periods. This information is of great value in the individualized management of colorectal cancer.

[Study on Chinese Medical Syndrome Distribution in Adjuvant Chemotherapy Period of Colorectal Cancer].

Objective To study the Chinese Medical (CM) syndrome distribution in patients with colorectal cancer in adjuvant chemotherpay period. Methods Totally 160 patients with colorectal cancer were recruited and clinical data for the CM syndromes before receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, in the early, mid and after period of adjuvant chemotherapy were collected. The distribution and dynamic chan- ges of CM syndromes were observed. Results The primary CM syndrome before chemotherapy were yin deficiency induced inner heat with dampness (40 cases, 40. 0%) and qi deficiency syndrome(30 ca- ses,30. 0%) concluded by 14 symptoms during cluster analyses among 100 cases.The primary CM syn- drome at the early period of adjuvant chemotherapy was Pi and blood deficiency syndrome (60 cases, 50.0%) , closely followed by syndrome of yin deficiency induced inner heat (45 cases, 37.5%) by 16 symptoms during cluster analyses among 120 cases. The CM syndrome at the mid period of adjuvant chemotherapy consisted of syndrome of Gan-heat and Pi-deficiency(51 cases ,44. 7%), syndrome of qi and blood deficiency (40 cases,35. 1%) , as well as Pi-deficiency with dampness syndrome (19 cases, 16.7%) by 22 symptoms during cluster analyses among 114 cases; at the period after adjuvant chemo- therapy, the major CM syndromes was deficiency syndrome, including qi and blood deficiency syndrome (32 cases,29. 1%), Pi-deficiency syndrome(29 cases,26. 4%) and Gan-Shen yin deficiency syndrome (49 cases,44. 6%) by 24 symptoms during cluster analyses among 110 cases. Conclusion During the period of adjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal cancer patients, the mainly CM syndromes shows the defi- ciency syndrome.

ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids inhibit the proliferation of the lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 in vitro.

ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), in particular the marine-derived forms eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have been demonstrated to affect cancer cell replication, the cell cycle and cell death. Epidemiological studies have also suggested diets rich in n-3 PUFA were inversely correlated with the development of cancer. In the present study, we explored the effects of DHA and EPA on the proliferation activity and apoptosis of the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549. A methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and morphological analysis was determined by fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. A549 cells were treated with different doses of DHA (40, 45, 50 and 55 µg/ml) or EPA (45, 50, 55 and 60 µg/ml) for 24, 48 and 72 h. The results demonstrated that DHA and EPA significantly suppressed the proliferation of A549 cells and induced apoptosis of A549 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The apoptotic phenomenon was also confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, compared with the control, the formation of autophagosomes was clearly enhanced in DHA­ or EPA-treated cells. In conclusion, DHA and EPA inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells and induced cell apoptosis and autophagy, which may provide new safe and effective options for the treatment of lung cancer in the future.