Effects of different traditional Chinese exercise in the treatment of essential hypertension: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: As a therapy to prevent and treat essential hypertension (EH), traditional Chinese exercises (TCEs) were widely used in clinical practice. However, there is a lack of strictly comparison of the antihypertensive efficacy of different TCEs, which not conducive to the selection of the best and most optimal treatment. This study aimed to perform a network meta-analysis to objectively evaluate which TCE has the best effects in assisting with lowering blood pressure. Methods: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP, SinoMed and Wanfang Data were searched for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on TCEs for the treatment of EH published up to July 10, 2023. RoB2.0 tool was utilized to evaluate the quality of the RCTs. The network meta-analysis was performed by R 4.1.2 and Stata 17.0. Weighted mean difference (WMD) was calculated for continuous outcomes. Results: A total of 29 studies, including 2,268 patients were included to analyze 6 different interventions. The network meta-analysis results presented that in comparison with control group, Tai Chi + antihypertensive medication [WMD = -10.18, 95% CI, (-14.94, -5.44)] is the most effective intervention for lowering systolic blood pressure (SBP), and Wuqinxi + antihypertensive medication [WMD = -10.36, 95% CI (-18.98, -1.66)] is the most effective intervention for lowering diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Conclusion: TCEs combined with antihypertensive medication may be able to achieve more prominent antihypertensive effects with Tai Chi and Wuqinxi potentially being the higher-priority options. However, well-designed randomized studies are warranted to further verify currently conclusion.

Visual analysis and evaluation of clinical research on Traditional Chinese medicine compounds in treating insomnia of Yin deficiency syndrome.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Insomnia is a common form of sleep disorder. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compounds have definite curative effects and a low incidence of adverse reactions, which is recognized to be an effective intervention means for the treatment of insomnia. AIM OF THE STUDY: Based on mining the clinical research data of treating insomnia of yin deficiency syndrome (IYDS) with TCM compounds systematically, the study is to analyze the research hotspots and development trends in this field, explore the medication rule, evaluate the quality of research, so as to provide reference and direction for clinical application and scientific research in this field. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The relevant literature was retrieved and managed by evidence-based medicine strategy and EndNote software respectively. The bibliometric method was used to mine and analyze data characteristics. The VOSviewer software was used to make visual knowledge maps, the IBM SPSS Modeler software was used for association rule analysis of herbs, and the Cochrane tool and MINORS scale were used for quality analysis of literature. RESULTS: (1) A total of 184 related studies were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. (2) The research popularity showed a dynamic upward trend and the research hotspot showed a trend of migration and refinement, etc. (3) The commonly used herbs in this field were Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H.F.Chow, etc; the commonly used TCM prescriptions were Huanglian Ejiao Decoction, etc; the commonly used dosage forms were traditional decoction, etc; the commonly used combinations of herbs included Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H.F.Chow-Poria cocos（Schw.）Wolf, etc. (4) The rate of the studies containing ethical review numbers and clear inclusion standards did not reach 50%, and the risk bias of methodological was high. However, a separate analysis of data showed that the specification of study design was on the rise obviously in recent years, and Meta-analysis and sensitivity analysis could confirm the effectiveness and stability of clinical efficacy which was the key indicator in treating IYDS with TCM prescriptions. There were significant differences among administration protocols of different clinical studies of the same name TCM compounds. However, the scientific significance of each unique dosing regimen were expected to be elaborated or discussed. CONCLUSION: The clinical research number of TCM compounds treating IYDS was in a dynamic upward trend, and the outcome indicators tended to be diversified and detailed. The dosage forms mainly included decoction, supplemented by Chinese patent medicine. The design of clinical studies in this field was not standardized enough, but the key indicators were scientific and stable. We expected that later studies could pay more attention to improving the standardization of trial design, reducing the risk bias in the process of methodological design, conducting high-quality standardized multicenter, large-sample randomized controlled clinical trials to provide scientific evidence with high evidentiary strength, establishing the recognized administration protocols for the same name TCM prescriptions or clarifying the targeting of different protocols, and promoting the application and popularity of TCM compounds in treating IYDS.

Modified Shenlingbaizhu Decoction represses the pluripotency of colorectal cancer stem cells by inhibiting TGF-ß mediated EMT program.

BACKGROUND: The Modified Shenlingbaizhu Decoction (MSD) utilizes various phytomedicines has been applied to treat colorectal cancer (CRC). Colorectal cancer stem cells (CSCs) have proven to be tightly associated with CRC progression and metastasis. The mechanism of MSD's inhibitory effect on CSCs has not been determined. PURPOSE: To figure out how MSD inhibits the pluripotency of CSCs and impedes the EMT program. METHODS: The ingredients of MSD extracts were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). BALB/c-nu mice were transplanted into EGFP labeled SW480 CRC cells and the tumor weight and volume were recorded before and after various doses of MSD treatment. The concentration of TGF-ß1 was quantified with an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To delineate the logical relationship between EMT and CSCs regulated by MSD, TGF-ß/Smad inhibitor and activator were adopted in tumor-bearing mice and diverse CRC cell lines. Cancer stem cell markers were analyzed by flow cytometry. In vitro analysis of cell motility and viability were done using CCK-8, wound healing, and invasion assay. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blotting (WB) were used for detecting protein expression. The collected results were statistically analyzed with GraphPad Prism 8.0. RESULTS: MSD treatment significantly reduced the size of colorectal cancer tumors and lowered the serum content of TGF-ß1 in mice. Importantly, MSD markedly reduced the expression of pluripotent factors and depressed CD133+ stem cells in the tumor tissues. The TGF-ß/Smad inhibitor neutralized the EMT signaling and lowered the pluripotency by dephosphorylation of SMAD2/3. Similarly, MSD attenuated the pluripotency by limiting TGF-ß/Smad signaling-induced EMT in vivo. MSD inhibited colorectal cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. CONCLUSIONS: MSD inhibits the growth of colorectal cancer. It dampens the pluripotency of CSCs by repressing the TGF-ß-induced EMT program.

Dahuang Fuzi Baijiang decoction restricts progenitor to terminally exhausted T cell differentiation in colorectal cancer.

Obesity increases the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) by 30%. The obese tumor microenvironment compromises antitumor immunity by eliciting exhausted T cells (Tex). Hypothesizing that Dahuang Fuzi Baijiang decoction (DFB) is a combined classical prescription from the "Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber". We first determined that DFB regresses tumor growth in high-fat diet-induced obese mice by expanding the TIM3- subset with intermediate expression of programmed cell death-1 (PD-1int TIM3- ) and restricting the PD-1hi TIM3+ subset. Transcription factor 1 (TCF1) is highly expressed in the PD-1int TIM3- subset but is absent in PD-1hi TIM3+ cells. We next confirmed that progenitor PD-1int TCF+ cells robustly produce tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and interferon-γ, whereas terminally differentiated PD-1int TCF+ cells have defects in generating TNFα. With transgenic ob/ob mice, we found that DFB produces cooperative efficacy with anti-PD-1 (αPD-1) by limiting the PD-1hi Tim3+ subset and amplifying the PD-1int TCF+ population. Finally, we defined the recombinant chemokine C-C-motif receptor 2 (CCR2)+ CD8+ subset as terminal Tex and identified that the differentiation from progenitor to terminal Tex is driven, at least in part, by the chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2)/CCR2 axis. The CCR2 inhibitor enhances the response to αPD-1 by promoting the counts of progenitor Tex. Altogether, DFB dampens CCL2 and preserves progenitor Tex in the obese microenvironment to restrain CRC progression. These findings provide unambiguous evidence that the traditional Chinese formula DFB can prevent tumor progression by modulating adaptive immunity and establish a strong rationale for further clinical verification.

Chinese herbal medicine formula combined with calcium antagonist in the treatment of hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Chinese herbal medicine formula and calcium antagonist are commonly used medicines for hypertension in China. This study aims to examine the efficacy and safety of for the treatment of Chinese herbal medicine formula combined calcium antagonist hypertension. METHODS: PubMed, the Cochrane library, CNKI, VIP, Sinomed, and Wanfang Database were searched up to January 31, 2021. Data analysis was performed using the Recman 5.3. The source of clinical heterogeneity used stata16.0 for sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: 17 RCTs and 1587 cases were finally included. The results shows that the traditional Chinese medicine decoction combined with calcium antagonists is better than calcium antagonists alone in the treatment of hypertension. In addition, it can effectively alleviate the adverse reactions caused by calcium antagonists. However, due to the low quality of methodology and the small-scale research, more high-quality clinical trials are still needed for verification.

CACA Guidelines for Holistic Integrative Management of Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Breast cancer is now the most common malignant tumor worldwide. About one-fourth of female cancer patients all over the world suffer from breast cancer. And about one in six female cancer deaths worldwide is caused by breast cancer. In terms of absolute numbers of cases and deaths, China ranks first in the world. The CACA Guidelines for Holistic Integrative Management of Breast Cancer were edited to help improve the diagnosis and comprehensive treatment in China. Methods: The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to classify evidence and consensus. Results: The CACA Guidelines for Holistic Integrative Management of Breast Cancer include the epidemiology of breast cancer, breast cancer screening, breast cancer diagnosis, early breast cancer treatment, advanced breast cancer treatment, follow-up, rehabilitation, and traditional Chinese medicine treatment of breast cancer patients. Conclusion: We to standardize the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in China through the formulation of the CACA Guidelines.

Analyzing the multi-target pharmacological mechanism of folium Artemisia argyi acting on breast cancer: a network pharmacology approach.

Background: Folium Artemisia argyi (FAA) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that is widely used in the clinic. However, the underlying mechanisms of its anticancer effects have not been fully elucidated. Methods: In this study, we applied a network pharmacology approach to identify the potential mechanisms of FAA against breast cancer. To be specific, we screened the active ingredients and potential targets of the FAA through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database. Meanwhile, we employed the oral bioavailability (OB) and drug-likeness (DL) to search for potential bioactive compounds of FAA. Breast cancer-related target genes data were gathered from the GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) databases, and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) data were acquired from the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database. In addition, we constructed the network and performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) Pathway Enrichment Analysis. Results: We obtained a total of nine active ingredients and 236 potential targets from FAA to construct a network, which showed that quercetin served as the major ingredient in FAA. AKT1 (RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase), MYC (Myc proto-oncogene protein), CASP3 (Caspase-3), EGFR (Epidermal growth factor receptor), JUN (Transcription factor AP-1), CCND1 (G1/S-specific cyclin-D1), VEGFA (Vascular endothelial growth factor A), ESR1 (Estrogen receptor), MAPK1 (Mitogen-activated protein kinase 1), and EGF (pro-epidermal growth factor) were identified as key targets of FAA in the treatment of breast cancer. The PPI cluster demonstrated that AKT1 was the seed in this cluster, indicating that AKT1 played a crucial role in connecting other nodes in the PPI network. This enrichment demonstrated that FAA was highly related to signal transduction, endocrine system, replication and repair, as well as cell growth and death. The enrichment results also verified that the underlying mechanisms of FAA against breast cancer might be attributed to the coordinated regulation of several cancer-related pathways, such as the MAPK and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways, among others. Conclusions: This study identified the potential targets and pathways of FAA in the treatment of breast cancer using a network pharmacology approach, and systematically elucidated the mechanisms of FAA in the treatment of breast cancer.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of High-Frequency Prescription of Zhigancao Decoction Combined with Conventional Western Medicine in the Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Chronic heart failure is the main critical illness and cause of death in the later stages of cardiovascular disease, and it is one of the two major challenges in the field of cardiovascular research. The clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of chronic heart failure has been relatively common in China, and the "Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure with Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine" has been published in China. Combining the literature in this field, the authors found that Zhigancao Decoction has been used in the treatment of chronic heart failure with more clinical research reports and higher frequency (this article refers to it as a high-frequency prescription for short). However, Zhigancao Decoction was not included in the recommended prescriptions in the "Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure with Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine," and there was no relevant systematic review and meta-analysis. For this reason, this article has carried out two parts of work, including systematically organizing the literature in this research field and carrying out systematic review and meta-analysis. This can provide stronger evidence support for Zhigancao Decoction combined with conventional Western medicine in the treatment of chronic heart failure and provide a new option for the improvement and update of the "Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure with Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine." METHODS: This article used the bibliometric method to investigate the research articles on the treatment of chronic heart failure with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine and analyzed the high-frequency prescriptions which are used and reported frequently. In addition, we also used manual and computer-aided search methods, the search scope includes CNKI, WANFANG, VIP, SinoMed, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library, and the search content is the clinical randomized control of Zhigancao Decoction combined with conventional Western medicine in the treatment of chronic heart failure trials (RCTs). The search period is from the establishment of the database to January 29, 2021. The literature was managed and screened by EndNote software; the quality of the included literature was evaluated according to the modified Jadad scale, and the risk bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool; the results of the included studies were analyzed using the Review Manager 5.3 software; the sources of heterogeneity between the studies were analyzed using Stata16.0 software for sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: According to the bibliometric analysis, the maximum number of research reports is 553, which are arranged in descending order of 21 prescriptions, including Zhenwu Decoction, Zhigancao, and powder of five drugs containing poria. The second most frequently used prescription is Zhigancao Decoction combined with conventional Western medicine in the treatment of chronic heart failure, but its systematic review and meta-analysis still need further research. A total of 17 clinical randomized controlled trials of Zhigancao Decoction combined with conventional Western medicine in the treatment of chronic heart failure were included in the search, with a total of 1752 subjects. Meta-analysis results show that Zhigancao combined with conventional Western medicine is more effective than conventional Western medicine in the treatment of chronic heart failure. The advantages are the following 5 outcome indicators: total clinical effective rate, left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, B-type natriuretic peptide, and 6-minute walk test. CONCLUSIONS: There are many prescriptions combined with Western medicine to treat chronic heart failure, among which Zhigancao Decoction is the second most frequently used prescription. There are many original studies on Zhigancao Decoction combined with conventional Western medicine in the treatment of chronic heart failure. The quality of the evaluation research shows that the overall standard is scientific, and a few experimental designs are slightly irregular. Meta-analysis shows that Zhigancao Decoction combined with conventional Western medicine has better therapeutic effects and safety than conventional Western medicine. This shows the characteristics and advantages of integrated Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and is worth recommending.

Cancer Cell-Erythrocyte Hybrid Membrane Coated Gold Nanocages for Near Infrared Light-Activated Photothermal/Radio/Chemotherapy of Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The combination of radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy, as a standard treatment for breast cancer in the clinic, is unsatisfactory due to chemoradioresistance and severe side effects. METHODS AND RESULTS: To address these issues, a cancer cell-erythrocyte hybrid membrane-coated doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded gold nanocage (CM-EM-GNCs@DOX) was constructed for near-infrared light (NIR)-activated photothermal/radio/chemotherapy of breast cancer. CM-EM-GNCs@DOX inherited an excellent homologous target ability from the cancer cell membrane and an immune evasion capability from the erythrocyte membrane, together resulting in highly efficient accumulation in the tumor site with decreased clearance. Following the highly efficient uptake of CM-EM-GNCs@DOX in cancer cells, the RT efficacy was remarkably amplified due to the radiosensitization effect of CM-EM-GNCs@DOX, which reduced the needed radiotherapeutic dose. Importantly, with NIR irradiation, CM-EM-GNCs@DOX exerted a high photothermal effect, which not only ruptured CM-EM-GNCs@DOX to release DOX for precise and controllable chemotherapy, but also potentiated chemo/radiotherapy by photothermal therapy. CONCLUSION: Therefore, a highly efficient and safe combined photothermal/radio/chemotherapy approach was achieved in vitro and in vivo by CM-EM-GNCs@DOX, which provided a promising strategy for treating breast cancer.

Dahuang Zhechong Pill suppresses colorectal cancer liver metastasis via ameliorating exosomal CCL2 primed pre-metastatic niche.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Dahuang Zhechong Pill (DZP) is a classical formula from "Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber". It has been used for treatment of abdominal masses (including tumorous diseases) for thousands of years. AIM OF THE STUDY: Our previous work showed that DZP suppresses CCl-4 induced hepatic fibrosis by downregulating the expression of interleukin-13. We aimed to test if DZP suppresses the metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) by ameliorating the fibrosis status of the future metastatic organ. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Liver metastasis was observed by injection of MC38-EGFP cells with stably expressing enhanced green fuorescence protein beneath the splenic capsule of C57BL/6J mice. MC38-EGFP-derived exosomes were analyzed by Label-free comparative proteomics. mRNA expression was determined by Quantitative PCR. Protein expression was determined by immunohistochemistry, immunofuorescence and Western blot. Collagen deposition was determined by Masson staining. All data were statistically analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS: DZP drastically reduced the metastatic tumor number and fluorescence intensity in a splenic liver metastasis model. It also lowered the expression of mature TGF-ß1 and decreased the fibronectin contents & collagen deposition. Exosome proteomics showed that the upregualted CC chemokine ligand-2 (CCL2) was repressed by DZP treatment. Importantly, DZP markedly lowered the expression of CCL2 and its receptor CCR2 in the liver. Exosomal CCL2 activated macrophage recruitment and shifted the M1/M2 paradigm to a M2 phenotype. DZP reduced the macrophage infiltration and attenuated the M2 polarizaion in tumor-bearing mice liver. It decreased the F4/80 positive areas and specifically reduced the ratio of CCR2+ positive macrophage. Anti-fibrosis and inhibition of CCR2 suppress the growth and metastasis of CRC. CONCLUSIONS: DZP inhibits the liver metastasis of CRC by suppressing CCL2 mediated M2-skewing paradigm and ameliorating the pro-fibrotic microenvironment.

Photothermal therapeutic application of gold nanorods-porphyrin-trastuzumab complexes in HER2-positive breast cancer.

Gold nanorods are effective photothermal agents in diagnosis and treatment of cancer due to their specific near-infrared laser absorption. However, tumor photothermal therapy by nanorods alone is lack of targeting. Here, we described a novel nanocomplex made up of gold nanorods, porphyrin, and trastuzumab, called TGNs and investigated the TGN-mediated photothermal therapy as a potential alternative treatment of targeting HER2-positive breast cancers. By conjugating trastuzumab and porphyrin to the surface of gold nanorods, we have increased the targeting specificity and amplified the detecting effectiveness at the same time. TGN-mediated photothermal ablation by near-infrared laser led to a selective destruction of HER2-positive cancer cells and significantly inhibited tumor growth in mouse models bearing HER2 over-expressed breast cancer xenograft with less toxicity. Moreover, TGNs provided better therapeutic efficacy in comparison with the conventional molecule targeted therapy. Our current data suggest a highly promising future of TGNs for its therapeutic application in trastuzumab-resistant breast cancers.

Molecular cloning, characterization, and the response of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase and catalase to PBDE-47 and -209 from the freshwater bivalve Anodonta woodiana.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers-47 (PBDE-47) and -209 are significant components of total PBDEs in water and can catalyze the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the organisms. Anti-oxidant enzymes play an important role in scavenging the high level of ROS. In the current study, two full-length cDNAs of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSODs) and catalase (CAT) were isolated from freshwater bivalve Anodonta woodiana by rapid amplification of cDNA ends approach and respectively named as AwSOD and AwCAT. The nucleotide sequence of AwSOD cDNA had an open reading frame (ORF) of 465 bp encoding a polypeptide of 155 amino acids in which signature 1 GKHGFHVHEFGDNT and signature 2 GNAGARSACGVI of SODs were observed. Deduced amino acid sequence of AwSOD showed a significant similarity with that of CuZnSODs. AwCAT had an ORF 1536 bp encoding a polypeptide of 512 amino acids which contains a conserved catalytic site motif, and a proximal heme-ligand signature motif of CATs. The time-course expressions of AwSOD and AwCAT in hepatopancreas were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Expressions of AwSOD and AwCAT showed a significant up-regulation in groups at a low concentration treatment of PBDE-47, a biphasic pattern in groups with a high concentration treatment. Administration of PBDE-209 could result in an up-regulation of AwSOD and AwCAT expressions with time- and dose-dependent matter. These results indicate that up-regulations of AwSOD and AwCAT expression of hepatopancreas of freshwater bivalve A. woodiana contribute to eliminate oxidative stress derived from PBDE-47 and -209 treated.

Genistein-induced differentiation of breast cancer stem/progenitor cells through a paracrine mechanism.

It is believed that breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), like normal stem cell counterparts, have the capacity of self-renewal and differentiation. Simultaneously, estrogen receptor (ER)-negative (-) BCSCs are affected by surrounding differentiated ER-positive (+) tumor cells by virtue of paracrine signaling within the tumor micro-environment. Genistein (GEN), as a sort of phytoestrogen, can act on ER+ breast cancer cells but the role of GEN in the differentiation of neighboring ER- BCSCs has not been defined. Transwell co-culture system was utilized so as to elaborate the interaction between well-differentiated ER+ breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and ER- breast cancer stem/progenitor cells (mammospheres derived from MDA-MB-231 cells). GEN-induced differentiation of BCSCs was analyzed by mammospheres formation assay, flow cytometry and RT-PCR after a 3 day solo-culture or co-culture. We find that GEN sized 2 µM, and 40 nM, effectively promotes morphological alteration of mammospheres, reduces the ratio of subset of CD44+/CD24-/ESA+ cells and upregulates the expression of differentiated cell markers of mammospheres in co-culture system, but not in solo-culture condition. Besides, we demonstrate that the differentiation-inducing effect of GEN on mammospheres is associated with PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK signaling pathways which are activated by amphiregulin released from ER+ cancer cells. These results indicate that GEN was able to induce the differentiation of breast cancer stem/progenitor cells through interaction with ER+ cancer cells by a paracrine mechanism.

[Effect of genistein combined with anastrozole on mammary tumors in ovariectomized rats].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the inhibitory effect of genistin combined with anastrozole on the growth and apoptosis of breast tumor tissue, and to study their anti-cancer mechanism by using the model of 7,12-dimethylbenz [alpha] anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumors following ovariectomy in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. METHODS: The DMBA induced postmenopausal SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, the genistein group, the anastrozole group, and the genistein combined with anastrozole group. The growth of tumors was observed in each group. The proliferation index and apoptosis index of tumor cells were determined. Moreover, estradiol (E2) and 17beta-HSD1 mRNA levels were determined by ELISA and RT-PCR respectively. RESULTS: The tumor growth was inhibited in the genistein group and the anastrozole group. The inhibitory ratio was significantly higher in the genistein combined with anastrozole group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, levels of E2 and 17beta-HSD1 mRNA decreased more significantly in the genistein combined with anastrozole group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Genistein could suppress the growth of mammary tumors in postmenopausal rats. It showed synergistic effect when combined with anastrozole, which resulted in reduced levels of E2 and 17beta-HSD1 mRNA. It had inhibitory effect on the growth of breast tumors.

Wushen, a food mixture containing 55 different natural ingredients, inhibits S180 tumor growth in vivo.

As cancer has become a worldwide threat to human life and health, developing a safe and effective tumor-inhibiting agent is presently a major scientific challenge. In this study, a food mixture produced from 55 different natural ingredients called wushen was fed to S180 tumor-bearing mice, and the antitumor effects were investigated in vivo. Kunming mice were implanted subcutaneously in the armpit with murine sarcoma S180 cells to construct the S180 tumor-bearing mouse model. The mice were randomly divided into three groups: control, wushen and 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu). 5-Fu was used as the positive drug treatment to confirm the reliability of the model. The food intake, antitumor rate, and spleen and thymus indices were recorded. Tumor histopathology was conducted using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities and the malondialdehyde concentration were measured to evaluate the antioxidative effects of the treatments. The antitumor rate of the mice fed wushen was 48.52%. Wushen-treated mice exhibited alterations in antioxidative enzyme activity and reduced liver lipid peroxidation. The results demonstrated that wushen has antitumor effects on S180 tumor-bearing mice in vivo, and the underlying mechanism is partially due to its antioxidant activity. Wushen, which contains various natural products, can be eaten directly and may be beneficial to human health.

The first case of omental metastasis from primary choroidal melanoma.

Choroidal melanoma is the most common intraocular malignancy and can be fatal in half of the patients because of metastatic disease. Metastasis of choroidal melanoma to the omentum is extremely rare and, to our knowledge, no such case has ever been described in the literature. Here we present a 41-year-old Chinese man with an omental metastasis, 5 years after he was diagnosed with a spindle-cell-type malignant melanoma of the choroid and had his left eye enucleated. The patient demonstrated some uncommon symptoms, but the diagnosis was confirmed histopathologically. The cells were positive for S-100, HMB-45 and Melan-A proteins. He underwent a complete tumor resection and concomitantly received chemotherapy, biological treatment and traditional Chinese medicine. At 2-year follow-up, this patient continues to do well.

Yin Yang 1 plays an essential role in breast cancer and negatively regulates p27.

Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is highly expressed in various types of cancers and regulates tumorigenesis through multiple pathways. In the present study, we evaluated YY1 expression levels in breast cancer cell lines, a breast cancer TMA, and two gene arrays. We observed that, compared with normal samples, YY1 is generally overexpressed in breast cancer cells and tissues. In functional studies, depletion of YY1 inhibited the clonogenicity, migration, invasion, and tumor formation of breast cancer cells, but did not affect the clonogenicity of nontumorigenic cells. Conversely, ectopically expressed YY1 enhanced the migration and invasion of nontumorigenic MCF-10A breast cells. In both a monolayer culture condition and a three-dimensional Matrigel system, silenced YY1 expression changed the architecture of breast cancer MCF-7 cells to that resembling MCF-10A cells, whereas ectopically expressed YY1 in MCF-10A cells had the opposite effect. Furthermore, we detected an inverse correlation between YY1 and p27 expression in both breast cancer cells and xenograft tumors with manipulated YY1 expression. Counteracting the changes in p27 expression attenuated the effects of YY1 alterations on these cells. In addition, YY1 promoted p27 ubiquitination and physically interacted with p27. In conclusion, our data suggest that YY1 is an oncogene and identify p27 as a new target of YY1.

Spore Powder of Ganoderma lucidum Improves Cancer-Related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Endocrine Therapy: A Pilot Clinical Trial.

The fatigue prevalence in breast cancer survivors is high during the endocrine treatment. However, there are few evidence-based interventions to manage this symptom. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of spore powder of Ganoderma lucidum for cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing endocrine therapy. Spore powder of Ganoderma lucidum is a kind of Basidiomycete which is a widely used traditional medicine in China. 48 breast cancer patients with cancer-related fatigue undergoing endocrine therapy were randomized into the experimental or control group. FACT-F, HADS, and EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires data were collected at baseline and 4 weeks after treatment. The concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, and liver-kidney functions were measured before and after intervention. The experimental group showed statistically significant improvements in the domains of physical well-being and fatigue subscale after intervention. These patients also reported less anxiety and depression and better quality of life. Immune markers of CRF were significantly lower and no serious adverse effects occurred during the study. This pilot study suggests that spore powder of Ganoderma lucidum may have beneficial effects on cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing endocrine therapy without any significant adverse effect.

Absorption of 10-hydroxycamptothecin on Fe3O4 magnetite nanoparticles with layer-by-layer self-assembly and drug release response.

In this paper, the structural and zeta potential properties of 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) were investigated by FT-IR and zeta potential analyzer under different pH. The anticancer drug HCPT as a model drug was used to prepare a high-performance and relatively easy-to-fabricate system on Fe(3)O(4) magnetite nanoparticles by using a polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) and HCPT interlayer self-assembly method. The results obtained from FT-IR and XRD confirmed that HCPT was molecularly dispersed into the nanoparticles. The method holds not only environment-friendly characteristics and the ability to mimic the self-organization process in biological systems but also greatly decreases adjuvant polymers. In addition, the system has an ideal drug payload for the delivery of insoluble HCPTs.

Antitumor and antiangiogenic activity of soy phytoestrogen on 7,12-dimethylbenz[alpha]anthracene-induced mammary tumors following ovariectomy in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Soy phytoestrogen is often used as hormone replacement therapy to alleviate the symptoms of menopause in postmenopausal women. Since estrogen has been considered as an important risk factor for the development of breast carcinoma, we need to know whether it is safe for these postmenopausal women with breast cancer to take soy foods that are rich in phytoestrogen. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy of soy phytoestrogen on tumor proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis in mammary tumors that had already formed in ovariectomized rats. We found that soy phytochemical extraction inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, and it demonstrated better antitumor effects than single phytoestrogen. Soy phytochemical extraction also produced surprisingly good antiangiogenic effects, which were evidenced by lower microvascular density, reduced plasma vascular endothelial growth factor, and increased plasma endostatin levels. Our findings suggest that soy phytochemical extraction exerts significant antitumor and antiangiogenic activity in a postmenopausal animal model with breast cancer.