Effect of Comprehensive Therapy based on Chinese Medicine Patterns on Self-Efficacy and Effectiveness Satisfaction in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of comprehensive therapy based on Chinese medicine (CM) patterns on self-efficacy and satisfaction with its effectiveness in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: A total of 216 patients were randomly divided into the trial group (n =108) and the control group (n=108) based on the stratified and block randomization design. Patients in the trial group were treated with conventional Western medicine combined with Bufei Jianpi Granules (), Bufei Yishen Granules (), and Yiqi Zishen Granules () according to the CM patterns respectively, and patients in the control group were treated with conventional Western medicine. The COPD Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES) and the Effectiveness Satisfaction Questionnaire for COPD (ESQ-COPD) were employed in a 6-month treatment and in further 6 month follow-up visit. RESULTS: Among the 216 patients, 191 patients (97 in the trial group and 94 in the control group) fully completed the study. After 12-month treatment and follow-up, the mean scores of the trial group all continued to increase over time, which were significantly higher than those of the control group (P <0.05), and the improvement in the following trial group domain: negative affect domain (12.13%), intense emotional arousal domain (12.21%), physical exertion domain (11.72%), weather/environmental domain (13.77%), behavioral risk domain (7.67%) and total score (10.65%). The trial group also exhibited significantly higher mean scores in the ESQ-COPD (P <0.05) and the improvement in the following domain: capacity for life and work domain (30.59%), clinical symptoms domain (53.52%), effect of therapy domain (35.95%), convenience of therapy domain (35.54%), and whole effect domain (52.47%). CONCLUSIONS: Bufei Jianpi Granules, Bufei Yishen Granules and Yiqi Zishen Granules can improve the self-efficacy and satisfaction of COPD patients.

Cytotoxic and chemosensitization effects of Scutellarin from traditional Chinese herb Scutellaria altissima L. in human prostate cancer cells.

Scutellaria altissima L. is a common traditional Chinese medicine used to treat inflammation in some countries. Scutellarin, an active major flavone glycoside isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Scutellaria altissima L., has been shown to offer various beneficial biochemical effects on cerebrovascular diseases and inflammation. However, the antiproliferative effects of Scutellarin in prostate cancer and the underlying mechanism are not fully elucidated. In the present study, we aimed to ascertain whether Scutellarin inhibits cancer cell growth and to further explore the molecular mechanism. Scutellarin enhanced the sensitivity of prostate cancer cells to cisplatin. MTT assays revealed that cell viability was significantly decreased in the prostate cancer cells treated with Scutellarin. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that Scutellarin suppressed cell proliferation by promoting G2/M arrest and inducing apoptosis. We employed western blotting to delineate the underlying mechanisms involved in the G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Comet assay and γH2AX immunocytochemistry were used to detect levels of DNA damage in PC3 cells exposed to Scutellarin and/or cisplatin. Our data revealed that Scutellarin significantly induced prostate cancer cell apoptosis by activating the caspase cascade. An increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase were accompanied by the apoptosis induction. Additionally, Scutellarin altered the protein expression of cell cycle and apoptosis regulatory genes by downregulating Cdc2, cyclin B1 and Bcl-2 and upregulating caspase-3, caspase-9 and Bax in prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, Scutellarin sensitized PC3 cells to cisplastin treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, our data confirmed the cytotoxicity of Scutellarin against prostate cancer PC3 cells and provide new findings in regards to Scutellarin sensitizing prostate cancer cells to chemotherapy. Our findings suggest that Scutellarin has potential to be used as a novel antineoplastic therapeutic candidate for prostate cancer patients.

Baicalin attenuates lipopolysaccharide induced inflammation and apoptosis of cow mammary epithelial cells by regulating NF-κB and HSP72.

Baicalin is the main ingredient of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Scutellaria baicalensis, which has been widely used clinically as an anti-inflammatory agent. However, molecular mechanism of action of this drug is not yet clear. In the present study, the protective mechanism of baicalin against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammatory injury in cow mammary epithelial cells (CMECs) was explored. For this purpose, in vitro cultured CMECs were treated with baicalin (10µg/mL) and LPS (10µg/mL) for 24 and 12h, respectively, and the cell viability was measured by using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). The results revealed that LPS induced inflammatory responses, as p-p65/p65 and p-IκBα/IκBα ratios and TNF-α and IL-1ß production was increased in the CMECs. Both Bcl-2/Bax ratio and cell viability were decreased and caspase-3 cleaved following LPS treatment, indicating apoptosis of CMECs. Moreover, both LPS and baicalin increased HSP72 expression of the CMECs. However, cellular inflammatory responses and apoptosis were significantly reduced in baicalin treated CMECs. In conclusion, baicalin ameliorated inflammation and apoptosis of the CMECs induced by LPS via inhibiting NF-κB activation and up regulation of HSP72.

Baicalin increases developmental competence of mouse embryos in vitro by inhibiting cellular apoptosis and modulating HSP70 and DNMT expression.

Scutellaria baicalensis has been effectively used in Chinese traditional medicine to prevent miscarriages. However, little information is available on its mechanism of action. This study is designed specifically to reveal how baicalin, the main effective ingredient of S. baicalensis, improves developmental competence of embryos in vitro, using the mouse as a model. Mouse pronuclear embryos were cultured in KSOM medium supplemented with (0, 2, 4 and 8 µg/ml) baicalin. The results demonstrated that in vitro culture conditions significantly decreased the blastocyst developmental rate and blastocyst quality, possibly due to increased cellular stress and apoptosis. Baicalin (4 µg/ml) significantly increased 2- and 4-cell cleavage rates, morula developmental rate, and blastocyst developmental rate and cell number of in vitro-cultured mouse embryos. Moreover, baicalin increased the expression of Gja1, Cdh1, Bcl-2, and Dnmt3a genes, decreased the expression of Dnmt1 gene, and decreased cellular stress and apoptosis as it decreased the expression of HSP70, CASP3, and BAX and increased BCL-2 expression in blastocysts cultured in vitro. In conclusion, baicalin improves developmental competence of in vitro-cultured mouse embryos through inhibition of cellular apoptosis and HSP70 expression, and improvement of DNA methylation.

Baicalin protects sertoli cells from heat stress-induced apoptosis via activation of the Fas/FasL pathway and Hsp72 expression.

Certain Chinese herbal medicines have antipyretic effects in both animal and human clinical practice. However, no report indicates their antipyretic effects on heat-stressed cells. The present study aimed to identify the protective effects of baicalin on the apoptosis of primary cultured bovine sertoli cells (SCs) subjected to heat stress (HS). The results demonstrated that HS induced apoptosis in the SCs exposed to 43°C for 1h as Fas/FasL was activated and caspase-3 was cleaved, the cells apoptotic rate was decreased. Moreover, the mRNA and protein levels of Hsp72 increased, whereas the cells apoptotic rate and expression of Fas, FasL, caspases 8 and 3 decreased in the SCs pretreated with various concentrations (0.1, 1, 10, 20µg/mL) of baicalin prior to HS. In conclusion, baicalin ameliorates heat stress-induced cell apoptosis via the modulation of the cell survival rate through Fas/FasL pathway activation and the upregulation of Hsp72 expression in bovine SCs.

Saikosaponin-D attenuates heat stress-induced oxidative damage in LLC-PK1 cells by increasing the expression of anti-oxidant enzymes and HSP72.

Heat stress stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause oxidative damage in the kidney. This study clarifies the mechanism by which saikosaponin-d (SSd), which is extracted from the roots of Bupleurum falcatum L, protects heat-stressed pig kidney proximal tubular (LLC-PK1) cells against oxidative damage. SSd alone is not cytotoxic at concentrations of 1 or 3 µg/mL as demonstrated by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. To assess the effects of SSd on heat stress-induced cellular damage, LLC-PK1 cells were pretreated with various concentrations of SSd, heat stressed at 42°C for 1 h, and then returned to 37°C for 9 h. DNA ladder and MTT assays demonstrated that SSd helped to prevent heat stress-induced cellular damage when compared to untreated cells. Additionally, pretreatment with SSd increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) but decreased the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in a dose-dependent manner when compared to controls. Furthermore, real-time PCR and Western blot analysis demonstrated that SSd significantly increased the expression of copper and zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD-1), CAT, GPx-1 and heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) at both the mRNA and protein levels. In conclusion, these results are the first to demonstrate that SSd ameliorates heat stress-induced oxidative damage by modulating the activity of anti-oxidant enzymes and HSP72 in LLC-PK1 cells.

The effective evaluation on symptoms and quality of life of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients treated by comprehensive therapy based on traditional Chinese medicine patterns.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of comprehensive interventions based on the three TCM patterns on symptoms and quality of life of COPD patients. DESIGN: An open-label, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Four hospitals in China. INTERVENTION: 352 patients were randomly divided into two groups. Patients in the trial group were given conventional Western medicine and Bu-Fei Jian-Pi granules, Bu-Fei Yi-Shen granules and Yi-Qi Zi-Shen granules respectively; patients in the control group were given conventional Western medicine. Data collection was performed at baseline, in the 3rd and 6th month during the treatment period, and the 12th month during the follow-up period. OUTCOMES: Symptoms, including cough, sputum, pant, chest tightness, short of breath, lassitude, cyanosis and symptom total score; quality of life, measured by the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire and adult COPD quality of life questionnaire (COPD-QOL). RESULTS: Of the 352 patients, 306 fully completed the study. After treatment and follow-up, there were significant differences between two groups in the following: cough, sputum, pant, chest tightness, shortness of breath, lassitude score and symptom total score (P<.05); physical, psychological, social and environment domain (P<.05) of the WHOQOL-BREF; daily living ability, social activity, depression symptoms and anxiety symptoms domain (P<.05) of the COPD-QOL. There were no differences between two groups in cyanosis and adverse events. CONCLUSION: Based on the TCM patterns, Bu-Fei Jian-Pi granules, Bu-Fei Yi-Shen granules and Yi-Qi Zi-Shen granules have beneficial effects on symptoms and quality of life of COPD patients.