Pingxiao capsule inhibits lung metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer and sensitizes breast cancer to radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the anticancer effect of Pingxiao capsule (, PXC) on the treatment of breast cancer and . METHODS: The inhibition of PXC on cell viability and proliferation was determined by cell counting kit-8, EdU assay and colony formation assay, respectively. The effect of PXC on cell apoptosis was detected by using flow cytometry. The suppression of PXC on cell migration and invasion was investigated by chamber assay. To investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms, the expression of proteins related to epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) was analyzed by Western blotting in breast cancer cells and by immunohistochemistry in tumor tissues. The anticancer effect of PXC was evaluated by using MDA-MB-231 xenograft model and 4T1 metastatic breast cancer model. RESULTS: Our results indicated that triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 were sensitive to PXC. PXC potently inhibited the proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells . Then, MDA-MB-231 xenograft model depicted that PXC significantly reduced tumor size and weight compared with Control. 4T1 lung metastasis model showed that PXC significantly inhibited breast cancer cell spreading to lungs in mice. Mechanistically, PXC inhibited EMT process by reducing cadherin turnover in TNBC. Furthermore, PXC in combination with 8 Gy X-ray treatment obviously promoted the induction of apoptosis, and suppressed cell proliferation. CONCLUSION: PXC could inhibit the proliferation and invasion of TNBC both and , and exerted its anti-metastatic effect by regulating cadherin turnover, Furthermore, it sensitized the TNBC cells to radiotherapy. The data supported further development of PXC as an adjuvant-therapy agent for TNBC.

Clinical study on the treatment of acute paraquat poisoning with sequential whole gastric and bowel irrigation / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical efficacy of early application of sequential gastrointestinal lavage in patients with acute paraquat poisoning by analyzing the clinical data of 97 patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 97 eligible patients with acute paraquat poisoning were divided into conventional treatment group (n = 48) and sequential treatment group (n = 49). The conventional treatment group received routine gastric lavage with water. Then 30 g of montmorillonite powder, 30 g of activated charcoal, and mannitol were given to remove intestinal toxins once a day for five days. The sequential treatment group received 60 g of montmorillonite powder for oral administration, followed by small-volume low-pressure manual gastric lavage with 2.5%bicarbonate liquid. Then 30 g of activated charcoal, 30 g of montmorillonite powder, and polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage solution were given one after another for gastrointestinal lavage once a day for five days. Both groups received large doses of corticosteroids, blood perfusion, and anti-oxidation treatment. The levels of serum potassium, serum amylase (AMY) alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBIL), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), lactate (Lac), and PaO₂of patients were determined at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 days. Laxative time, mortality, and survival time of dead cases were evaluated in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The incidence rates of hypokalemia (<3.5 mmol/L) and AMY (>110 U/L) were significantly lower in the sequential treatment group than in the conventional treatment group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidence of ALT (>80 U/L), TBIL (>34.2 µmol/L), BUN (>7.2 mmol/L), and Cr (>177 µmol/L) between the two groups (P>0.05). However, the highest levels of ALT, TBIL, BUN, Cr, and Lac were significantly lower in the sequential treatment group than in the conventional treatment group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the sequential treatment group had significantly lower incidence of PaO₂(<60 mmHg), shorter average laxative time, lower mortality, and longer survival time of dead cases than the conventional treatment group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The early application of sequential gastrointestinal lavage can shorten laxative time, alleviate organ damage in the liver, kidney, lung, and pancreas, reduce mortality, and prolong the survival time of dead cases in patients with acute paraquat poisoning.</p>

Clinical Study on Electroacupuncture at Motor Points of Antagonistic Muscles plus Rehabilitation for Post-stroke Strephenopodia / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture at the motor points of antagonistic muscles plus rehabilitation training in treating post-stroke strephenopodia. Method Seventy patients with post-stroke strephenopodia were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 35 in each group. The two groups both received conventional medication and Bobath rehabilitation; while the treatment group was additionally given electroacupuncture at the motor points of antagonistic muscles, and the control group was given regular acupuncture. The modified Ashworth scale (MAS), the maximum eversion range of ankle joint, and the surface electromyography (the root-mean-square, RMS) were observed before and after intervention.Result The MAS scores were changed significantly after intervention in both groups (P<0.05). After intervention, there was a significant difference in comparing the MAS score between the two groups (P<0.05). In the two groups, the maximum eversion range of ankle joint and RMS were significantly changed after the intervention (P<0.05). After intervention, there were significant differences in comparing the eversion range and RMS between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture at the motor points of antagonistic muscles plus rehabilitation training is an effective approach in treating post-stroke strephenopodia, and it can improve the spasm and motion of ankle joint, and promote the walk ability.

The effect of Qingfei Chengqi decoction on lung tissue cell apoptosis in rats with severe intraperitoneal infection / 中国中西医结合急救杂志

Objective To observe the effects of Qingfei Chengqi decoction on lung tissue cell apoptosis and its associated protein,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6)of lung tissues in rats with severe intra-peritoneal infection(SII). Methods Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups:sham operation group,model group and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)group(each n=10). Simulating clinical pathophysiological process of digestive tract perforation,the rat model of SII was reproduced by injecting E. coli intraperitoneally. The TCM group was treated by gavage with Qingfei Chengqi decoction one day in advance of the study,3 times per day,once 2 mL. The same amount of nutrient broth which contained 10%barium sulfate(BaSO4) to replace the bacteria solution was injected into the sham operation group. Six hours after model establishment,all rats were killed and lung tissues were harvested for pathohistological evaluation and for the determination of apoptosis rate with TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL)method,of Bax,Bcl-2 protein expression with Western Blot method,and of the level of TNF-α,IL-6 with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method,and the pathological changes of lung tissues were observed under the light and electron microscopes. Results Compared with sham operation group,the apoptosis rate〔(12.7±5.4)%vs. 0〕,the expression of Bax protein〔absorbance(A)value:8 416.89±875.16 vs. 6 654.09±1 130.18〕,the level of TNF-α(ng/L:3 132.56±457.96 vs. 1 948.55±269.32), the level of IL-6(ng/L:75.14±1.63 vs. 31.17±0.81)of lung tissues were significantly increased(all P<0.05), meanwhile Bcl-2 protein expression decreased observably(A value:7 490.59±200.34 vs. 12 289.02±535.93,P<0.05)in model group induced by SII. After treatment with TCM,apoptosis rate〔(7.9±0.3)%〕,the expression of Bax protein(A value:7 619.50±999.30),the level of TNF-α(ng/L:3 114.34±454.32)and IL-6(ng/L:52.46±0.96) of lung tissues were decreased and Bcl-2 protein expression(A value:11 155.07±1 018.87)increased(all P<0.05) compared with model group. General observation:the color of lung tissues was uniform in sham operation group;the lung tissues of model group swelled obviously,and parts of lung tissues had patches of ecchymosis and hemorrhage. The light microscope showed:the pulmonary vessels,the alveolar interstitium,alveolar epithelium and lobular interstitium of sham operation group were all normal,while in the model group,the pulmonary interstitium was edematous and hemorrhagic,and in the alveolar cavities there was infiltration of inflammatory cells. Under the electron microscope, the lung tissue type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells of model group were increased,and they had morphological changes in various degrees,such as cell shrinkage and change becoming round,and cell nucleus presenting irregular in shape. After treatment with TCM,the above pathological changes were all alleviated compared with those in the model group. Conclusions Qingfei Chengqi decoction can ameliorate the SII leading to acute lung injury,and reduce the cell apoptosis rate of lung tissues in SII rats. Its mechanism may be related to the intervention of above TCM which can lower the levels of inflammatory media and elevate the protein expression of Bcl-2.

Study on Kinetics of Absorbing Timosaponin by AB-8 Resin / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To investigate the kinetics of absorbing timosaponin by AB-8 resin.Methods Static absorption experiment,dynamic absorption experiment and series dynamic absorption experiment were carried out,and then the content of timosaponin was detected by spectrophotometry.Finally,the static absorption curve and the dynamic absorption curve were figured out.Results The result of static absorption experiment showed that the parameters of Lagergren equation are Kad=0.0186,r=0.9986,and the parameters of Dumwals-Wagner are K=0.0081,r=0.9958.In dynamic absorption experiment,the leaking of timosaponin is found and the penetrating point is at 600mL(0.1g/mL).Conclusion The mechanism of AB-8 resin absorbing timosaponin is characterized as liquid membrane diffusion at the early phase and intragranular diffusion at the later phase.Leaking phenomena in dynamic absorption experiment can be solved by three tubes in series.Therefore,this method can be used for the research of Chinese herbal medicine.