Qingyi decoction protects against myocardial injuries induced by severe acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: We studied the protective effects of Qingyi decoction (QYD) (a Traditional Chinese Medicine) against severe acute pancreatitis (SAP)-induced myocardial infarction (MI). AIM: To study the function and mechanism of QYD in the treatment of myocardial injuries induced by SAP. METHODS: Ultrasonic cardiography, hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and apoptosis staining techniques were used to determine the effects of QYD following SAP-induced MI in Sprague-Dawley rats. RESULTS: Our SAP model showed severe myocardial histological abnormalities and marked differences in the symptoms, mortality rate, and ultrasonic cardiography outputs among the different groups compared to the control. The expression of serum cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, amyloid ß, and tumor necrosis factor-α] were significantly higher in the SAP versus QYD treated group (P < 0.05 for all). STIM1 and Orai1 expression in myocardial tissue extracts were significantly decreased post QYD gavage (P < 0.001). There was no significant histological difference between the 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate inhibitor and QYD groups. The SAP group had a significantly higher apoptosis index score compared to the QYD group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: QYD conferred cardio-protection against SAP-induced MI by regulating myocardial-associated protein expression (STIM1 and Orai1).

Dose-dependent effects of genistein on bone homeostasis in rats' mandibular subchondral bone.

AIM: To investigate the effect of genistein on bone homeostasis in mandibular subchondral bone of rats. METHODS: Female SD rats were administered with genistein (10 and 50 mg/kg) or placebo by oral gavage for 6 weeks. Then the animals were sacrificed, and histomorphology and micro-structure of mandibular condyle were examined using HE staining and micro-CT analysis, respectively. The expression levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OC), osteoprotegerin (OPG), the receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) and estrogen receptors (ERs) in mandibular condyle were detected using real-time PCR. Cultured osteoblasts were prepared from rat mandibular condyle for in in vitro study. The cells were treated with genistein (10(-7) or 10(-4) mol/L) for 48 h. The expression of the bone homeostasis-associated factors and estrogen receptors (ERs) was detected using real-time PCR, and ER silencing was performed. RESULTS: At both the low- and high-doses, genistein significantly increased the bone mineral density (BMD) and bone volume, and resulted in thicker subchondral trabecular bone in vivo. In both in vivo and in vitro study, the low-dose genistein significantly increased the expression of ALP, OC and OPG, but decreased the expression of RANKL and the RANKL/OPG ratio. The high-dose genistein decreased the expression of all these bone homeostasis-associated factors. Both the low and high doses of genistein significantly increased the expression of ERß, while ERα expression was increased by the low dose genistein and decreased by the high dose genistein. ERß silencing abrogated most of the effects of genistein treatment. CONCLUSION: In rat mandibular condylar subchondral bone, low-dose genistein increases bone formation and inhibit bone resorption, while excess genistein inhibits both bone formation and resorption. The effects of genistein were predominantly mediated through ERß.

Alleviation of ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats by Panax notoginseng saponins.

To examine the effects of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS), the main active components of Panax notoginseng, on ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats. A total of 72 six-month-old female rats were randomly assigned to sham-operated group and five ovariectomized (OVX) groups: OVX with distilled water (5 ml/kg/day, p.o.), OVX with graded doses of PNS (75, 150, 300 mg/kg/day, p.o.), and OVX with nilestriol (1 mg/kg/week, p.o.). Animals were sacrificed after a 13-week treatment course. Compared with the OVX group, PNS administration prevented OVX-induced decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar vertebrae and total femur, and significantly increased bone structural biomechanical properties. Improvements of BMD and biomechanical properties were accompanied by the beneficial changes of PNS on trabecular microarchitecture in the tibial metaphysis. PNS at the highest dose significantly prevent decrease in trabecular bone volume over bone total volume, trabecular number, trabecular thickness, connectivity density, and increase in trabecular separation and structure model index in OVX rats. The bone-modulating effects of PNS may be due to the increased bone formation and decreased bone resorption, as was evidenced by the elevated level of serum alkaline phosphatase and decreased level of urinary deoxypyridinoline. PNS treatment is able to enhance BMD, bone strength, and prevent the deterioration of trabecular microarchitecture without hyperplastic effect on uterus. Therefore, PNS might be a potential alternative medicine for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Methanol extract of Phellodendri cortex alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute airway inflammation in mice.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The effects of methanol extract of Phellodendri cortex on acute airway inflammation induced by intranasal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 300mug/kg) were investigated in female BALB/c mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At 2 h after LPS exposure, mice were treated orally with methanol extract of Phellodendri cortex (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg). At the end of this study, bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) were collected and number of total cells, macrophages and neutrophils, protein concentration were analyzed. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP-2), IL-10 levels and nitric oxide (NO) production in BALF were also determined. RESULTS: Methanol extract of Phellodendri cortex dose-dependently alleviated LPS-induced acute airway inflammation via decreasing the infiltration of inflammatory cells and the release of inflammatory mediators. CONCLUSION: The relief of airway inflammation provides a possible therapeutic application of Phellodendri cortex for the treatment of infectious pulmonary diseases.

The multifaceted mechanisms for coffee's anti-tumorigenic effect on liver.

Epidemiological studies have found an inverse association between coffee consumption and the risk of liver cancer. Animal data support such a chemopreventive effect of coffee. Substantial research has been devoted to the identification of coffee components that may be responsible for these beneficial effects. Based on the current available literature, three major components, i.e. coffee diterpenes cafestol and kahweol (C+K), caffeine and chlorogenic acid contribute to the beneficial effects. These components induce phase II detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes as well as inhibit the expression or decrease the activity of phase I activating enzymes thus prevent carcinogenesis. These components target different stages of a common pathway, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)--NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2)--antioxidant-responsive-element (ARE) signal pathway thus alter the ARE-dependent expression of genes needed in the anti-tumorigenic effects.

[Simultaneous treatment for benign prostate hyperplasia and its concomitant diseases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the surgical treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and its concomitant diseases at the same time. METHODS: One hundred and fourteen operations were performed for BPH patients, including transurethral resection/vapor of the prostate (TURP/TUVP), inguinal herniorrhaphy, internal urethrotomy, transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBt) or vesical litholapaxy, and the data were reviewed. RESULTS: The procedures were successful in all cases. A follow-up of 3 to 60 months found a good outcome of TURP. There was no recurrence in 30 cases of inguinal hernia and 39 cases of vesical calculus. Of the 25 cases of urethral stricture, 1 had an obvious hypotension during the operation and 4 needed urethral dilatation after operation. Six of the 20 cases of bladder tumor underwent a second TURBt due to the recurring tumor which was far from prostatic urethra. CONCLUSION: Inguinal hernia, urethral stricture, bladder tumor or vesical calculus can be treated simultaneously during TURP.

[Effect of specific immunoglobulin Y in the treatment of acute and chronic pharyngitis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect and safety of the specific immunoglobulin Y (IgY) for treatment of acute and chronic pharyngitis. METHODS: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 50 adults with acute pharyngitis. Experimental group received a 6 times-daily total 30 doses of IgY stomat-spray which contained specific immunoglobulin Y (titer = 512) prepared from the egg yolk of hens immunized with a variety of bacteria. Another open label trial included 50 patients, whose ages ranged from 21-69 years, including 25 cases of acute pharyngitis and 25 cases of chronic pharyngitis were also treated using IgY stomat-spray. The therapeutic effect were objectively evaluated 7 days later by the decreased scores based on both the symptoms and physical signs. If the symptom did not improve or became severe three days later, these patients with acute pharyngitis was inefficiency and antibiotic medicine would be added to them. RESULTS: In Double-blind trial, 8 cases (32%) received IgY had apparent effect with the decreased scores 5 or more than 5, 13 cases (52%) had effective with the decreased scores 3-4, and other 4 cases (16%) had inefficacy with the decreased scores only 2 or no more than 2. While in placebo-controlled group, only 2 (8%) cases had apparent effect, 5 (20%) cases showed effective and 18 (72%) cases had non-effect. The difference between the two groups was significant (chi 2 = 16.06, P < 0.01). In open label trial, 19 cases (38%) showed apparent effect, in which 14 cases were acute pharygitis. 23 cases (46%) had effective, in which 10 cases were acute pharyngitis. The left 8 cases (16%) had ineffective, in which one case was acute pharyngitis. There was significantly difference (chi 2 = 8.90, P < 0.05) between acute pharyngitis and chronic pharyngitis. An average of three months followup showed that there were no side effect or toxic effect and no allergic reaction. CONCLUSION: The IgY stomat-spray is a safe and effective agent in treating acute and chronic pharyngitis, especially for acute pharyngitis.