Anti-tumor and apoptotic effects in vitro and in vivo of a traditional Chinese medicine prescription / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Zhongfei Mixture (ZM), a traditional Chinese medicine, exploited from the clinical experience, has mainly been used for the treatment of advanced lung cancer since it was produced in 1983. However, little research has been conducted on its anti-tumor mechanism. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti-tumor and apoptotic effects of ZM in vitro and in vivo.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The growth inhibition effect of ZM on A549 cells was evaluated by MTT assay. Morphological observation and clone forming tests were performed to determine the effect of ZM on cell viability. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. In addition, the in vivo anti-proliferation activity of ZM was evaluated using mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma. Further, the apoptosis of cells in tumor tissue was determined by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and the expression of Ki-67 protein in tumor tissues was analyzed by En-Vision immuno-histochemistry staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>ZM exerted an obvious inhibitory effect on proliferation of A549 cells. It arrested A549 cells in G(2)-M phase and induced apoptosis. Compared with 3.02% and 5.32% in control group, the percentages of cells arrested in G(2)-M phase were 19.20% and 19.58% in 7.94 mg/ml ZM treated A549 cells at 24 hours and 48 hours. Moreover, the apoptosis rate increased from 0.18% to 18.01% after ZM treatment for 48 hours. ZM also significantly inhibited tumor growth in the tumor-implanted mice. Compared with saline control group, the effects of ZM showed significant tumor growth inhibition (P < 0.05). Furthermore, ZM could down-regulate the expression of Ki-67 in tumor tissue in mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our results indicated that ZM has notable anti-tumor effect and the effects of ZM in moderate dose groups were superlative both in vitro and in vivo. The possible mechanism of ZM might be associated with arresting cell cycle in G(2)-M phase as well as down-regulating Ki-67 expression in tumor tissues.</p>

Clinical study on toxicity-attenuation effect of Yiguan Decoction in treatment of non-small cell lung cancer with NP protocol of chemotherapy / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the toxicity-attenuation effect of Yiguan Decoction (YGD) in treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with NP protocol of chemotherapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-two NSCLC patients were randomly assigned to two groups equally, the control group given only NP protocol of chemotherapy and the treated group given the same protocol of chemotherapy plus YGD. Hepatic function, T-cell subgroup and NK cell were examined, and quality of life (QOL) was evaluated with scoring by Karnofsky performance status (KPS), Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Special Scale for lung cancer (EORTC LC13) issued by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The effects on all the above-mentioned indexes in the treated group were better than those in the control group after 42 days of treatment (P <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>YGD could not only reduce the side and toxic effects caused by NP protocol of chemotherapy in NSCLC patients but also improve their QOL.</p>

Clinical observation on treatment of radiation pneumonia by Qingjin Runfei Decoction combined with hormone and antibiotic / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the curative effect of Qingjin Runfei Decoction (QRD) combined with hormone and antibiotic in treating radiation pneumonia (RP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients were randomly assigned to two groups, the control group (51 cases) treated with hormone and antibiotic and the treated group (53 cases) with the above therapy plus QRD. The curative effects on RP, quality of life (QOL), chest radiography and TCM symptoms were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The curative effects on the above items in the treated group were all significantly better than those in the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>QRD could enhance the effects of hormone and antibiotic in treating RP, as well as improve QOL of the patients.</p>

Clinical research on nourishing yin and unblocking meridians recipe combined with opioid analgesics in cancer pain management / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the analgesic effects of Nourishing yin and Unblocking meridians Receipe (NUR) combined with opioid analgesics in managing cancer pain.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>All the patients enrolled were differentiated as of yin deficiency and meridian blocked syndrome type of TCM. Forty-one of them in the treated group were treated with NUR combined with opioid analgesics, while 43 of them in the control group were given opioid analgesics alone with successive 14 days as one treatment course for both groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The indexes of the treated group were superior to those in the control group as to the degree of pain-relieving, the therapeutic effect of analgesia, the occurrence frequency of cancer pain every day and its duration each time, the analgesic initial time, and the quality of life.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>NUR combined with opioid analgesics in cancer pain management was more effective than opioid analgesics alone.</p>