Mingjing granule, a traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss and blindness among the older people aged 50 and over. Although anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapies have resulted in improving patient outcomes, there are limitations associated with these treatments. In China, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to treat eye diseases for more than 2000 years. Previous studies have shown that TCM may be beneficial for nAMD patients. However, explicit evidence has not been obtained. The purpose of the present trial is to examine the efficacy and safety of the Mingjing granule, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, for nAMD patients. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of Mingjing granule as an add-on to intravitreous ranibizumab for nAMD. One hundred eighty nAMD patients from six hospitals in China will be enrolled according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and randomly allocated into two groups, 90 in each. All participants will receive a 24-week treatment and then be followed up for another 24 weeks. The primary outcome is the mean change of best-corrected visual acuity at week 24 and 48 as compared to the baseline. The secondary outcomes include mean change in central retinal thickness, area of retinal hemorrhage and exudation, and TCM syndrome score, mean number of intravitreal ranibizumab injection, and total cost of the treatment. Indexes of safety include blood regular test, urine regular test, liver function test, renal function test, and electrocardiogram from baseline to weeks 24 and 48. Qualitative control and some standard operating processes will be formed throughout the trial. Any ocular or systemic adverse events will be treated suitably, and related data will be recorded accurately and completely in the case report form. DISCUSSION: Based on previous empirical and animal laboratory studies, this study will address the question of whether Mingjing granule could contribute to improving efficacy, safety, and efficiency with need for fewer intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF, improving compliance and visual outcomes in the management of persons with nAMD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( http://www.chictr.org.cn ), ChiCTR2000035990 . Registered on 21 August 2020.

Flavonoids isolated from Sinopodophylli Fructus and their bioactivities against human breast cancer cells.

Four prenylated flavonoids compounds 1-4, named sinopodophyllines A-D, and a flavonoid glycoside (compound 13), sinopodophylliside A, together with 19 known compounds (compounds 5-12 and 14-24) were isolated from the fruits of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum. The structures of new compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR. Compounds 1-6, 9-11, and 14-17 were tested for their cytotoxicity against human breast-cancer T47D, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro, and compounds 2, 5, 6, 10 and 11 showed significant cytotoxicity (IC50 values < 10 µmol·L-1) against T47D cells.

Lignans and diterpenes isolated from Tirpitzia ovoidea and their biological activities.

A new lignan, tirpitzin A (17) together with 20 known compounds (1-16, and 18-21) were isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Tirpitzia ovoidea. The structure of new compound was elucidated by means of spectroscopic analysis. Of the known compounds, 7-21 were isolated from Linaceae family for the first time. The pharmacological activity of the crude extracts was tested using a mouse inflammation model induced by dimethyl benzene. The results demonstrated that the ethyl acetate soluble fraction had anti-inflammatory activity. Moreover, the cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities of some compounds were studied. The new compound 17 showed moderate cytotoxic effect against BxPC-3 cell line (IC50 = 19.51µmol·L-1) and Compound 10 showed significant cytotoxicity against HepG2, HL-60, U87 and BxPC-3 cell lines with IC50 values in the range 4.2-8.3µmol·L-1. Additionally, Compounds 2, 10, 11, and 13 exhibited potent inhibitory effects on LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages at the concentration of 50µmol·L-1.

The diterpenes ovoideal A-G from Tirpitzia ovoidea.

Seven new diterpenes, named ovoideal A (1), B (2), C (3), D (4), E (5), F (6) and G (7), have been isolated along with eleven known diterpenes 8-18 from the petroleum ether soluble fraction of an ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Tirpitzia ovoidea. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated primarily by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, as well as by the HR-ESI-MS spectrometry. All compounds were isolated from the Linaceae family for the first time. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of compounds 1, 3-5, 8-18 was evaluated against the Hela, HepG2 and K562 cell lines. Among them, compounds 3, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18 showed moderate inhibitory activities.

[Effects of oils on lipid metabolism in obese C57BL/6J mice induced by a high fat diet].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and compare the effects of oils on lipid metabolism in obese C57BL/6J fed a high fat diet. METHODS: 75 male C57BL/6J mice (4-5 weeks old) were used and randomly divided into 5 groups, 15 mice in each group, and were fed a high fat diets with 2% soybean oil, medium-chain triglyceride (MCT), peanut oil, olive oil and tea seed oil respectively for 12 weeks. Body weight, body fat, diet intake, blood lipid profiles and enzymes relevant to lipid metabolism in white adipose tissue (WAT) as well as pathologic changes in WAT and livers from all groups were observed and compared. RESULTS: At the end of study, the body weight and body fat weight were significantly lower in MCT, peanut oil, olive oil, tea oil groups than in soybean oil group (P < 0.05). The mice in MCT group showed significantly lower TG, TC, LDL-C in serum and lower TG, TC in liver than those in soybean oil group (P < 0.05). The cAMP, PKA, HSL, ATGL in WAT in MCT group showed higher than those in soybean oil group (P < 0.05). There was no fatty infiltration in the livers of mice fed MCT, olive oil and tea oil group, but visible fatty liver in soybean oil and peanut oil group were found. CONCLUSION: Compared to soybean oil, MCT, peanut oil, olive oil and tea oil could reduce body weight and body fat weight in obese mice fed a high fat diet, MCT also decreased TG, TC, LDL-C in serum and promote lipid mobilization in WAT. As to improving blood lipids, olive oil and tea oil were less obvious than MCT was, and both oils did not induce significant fatty liver when compared with soybean oil and peanut oil.

[Effect of Guliu capsule combined with 89Sr therapy on metastatic bone tumor].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of Guliu capsule (GLC) combined with 89Sr in treating metastatic bone tumors. METHODS: On the basis of random sampling and grouping, 50 patients with metastatic bone tumors were selected to receive combined treatment with GLC and (89)Sr with another 50 patients recruited for (89)Sr treatment alone. The therapeutic effect of the therapies were evaluated according to the relief of ostalgia and quality-of life (QOF), local bone metabolism and hematopoietic function of the bone marrow. RESULTS: The efficacy rate of GLC+89Sr and (89)Sr in relieving ostalgia was 94.0% and 76.0%, and the rate of QOF improvement and stabilization was 94.0% and 74.0%, respectively, both showing significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). The effect of the two treatment protocols on local bone metabolism and their hemotoxicity were also significantly different (P<0.05, P<0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: Combined treatment with GLC and (89)Sr is effective for metastatic bone tumor and improves the patient's QOF with enhanced ostalgia relief rate and decreased hemotoxicity.