TCM Intervention in Progression of Esophageal Precancerous Lesions into Esophageal Cancer： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

China has a high incidence of esophageal cancer，more than 90% of which are esophageal squamous cell carcinoma （ESCC）. Abnormal proliferation，migration and new microvessels of intraepithelial neoplasia cells are the important pathogenic links in the transformation from esophageal intraepithelial neoplasia （EIN） to ESCC. Studies on the progression of esophageal precancerous lesions into esophageal cancer mostly focus on environment and genetic susceptibility，such as inflammatory factors，abnormal vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） signaling pathway transduction，p53 gene mutation，and DNA methylation. Some pharmacology studies have confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） can inhibit inflammatory factors，regulate abnormal signaling pathways and improve the microenvironment. A large number of patients with esophageal cancer have been found to be in advanced stage，and the 5-year survival rate is low even after active treatment. The quality of life of patients in advanced stage is worrying due to esophageal obstruction and lung infection，and therefore， early prevention is important. Early intervention in patients with esophageal precancerous lesions is in line with clinical needs and embodies the TCM theory of “treating disease before its onset.” The mechanism of action and clinical efficacy of TCM has been gradually confirmed and promoted， with certain clinical significance. To explore simple，economical and effective TCM intervention measures conforms to the clinical diagnosis and treatment standards and the modernization of TCM.

Effect of Shengjiang Xiexin Decoction on the Repair of Damaged Rat Intestinal Mucosa after Irinotecan Chemotherapy / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of Shengjiang Xiexin Decoction (SXD) on the intestinal mucosal and functional cells of rats after irinotecan (CPT-11) chemotherapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 24 healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats were divided into three groups, the normal control group, the CPT-11 group, the SXD combined CPT-11 group according to random digit table, 8 in each group. CPT-11 was injected at the daily dose of 150 mg/kg to rats in the CPT-11 group and the SXD combined CPT-11 group from the caudal vein on the 4th day, once daily for 2 successive days to duplicate delayed diarrhea model. Equal volume of normal saline was injected to rats in the normal control group from the caudal vein. SXD at 2 g/mL (10 g/kg body weight) was administered to rats in the SXD combined CPT-11 group by gastrogavage for 9 successive days. Deionized water was administered to rats in the CPT-11 group and the normal control group. Diarrhea was observed at 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, and 108 h to calculate the incidence rate of diarrhea. Meanwhile, scoring for diarrhea was performed by referring methods of Akinobu Kurita. Rats were killed on day 10, ileum, cecum, and colon tissues were collected and fixed in 10% formalin solution. HE staining was performed. Intestinal mucosa injuries were graded under light microscope according to the criterion of Chiu's score. The expressions of goblet cells and Paneth cells were observed by PAS stain. Enteroendocrine cells were observed by immunohistochemical CgA staining. Positive cells were counted and cumulative optical density (IOD) analyzed by Image-Pro-Plus 6.0.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No diarrhea occurred in rats of the normal control group at each time point. The incidence rate of diarrhea was 75.0% (6/8) at 48 h, 100.0% (8/8) at 60 h, 100.0% (8/8) at 72 h, 87.5% (7/8) at 84 h, 75.0% (6/8) at 96 h, and 75.0% (6/8) at 108 h in the CPT-11 group. The incidence rate of diarrhea was 25.0% (2/8) at 48 h, 50.0% (4/8) at 60 h, 12.5% (1/8) at 72 h, 0.0% (0/8) at 84 h in the SXD combined CPT-11 group. Compared with the same group at 60 h, scores for diarrhea at 48, 84, 96, and 108 h obviously decreased in the CPT-11 group, and scores for diarrhea at 48, 72, 84, 96, and 108 h obviously decreased in the SXD combined CPT-11 group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the same group at 72 h, scores for diarrhea at 84, 96, and 108 h obviously decreased in the CPT-11 group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the normal control group, scores for diarrhea increased in the CPT-11 group at each time point (P < 0.01); grading of ileum, cecum, and colon mucosal tissues increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); expressions of ileum and cecum mucosal epithelial goblet cells obviously decreased (P < 0.05); the number and expressions of ileum and cecum mucosal epithelial Paneth cells increased (P < 0.01). Expressions of ilium endocrine cells increased, while those of cecum and colon endocrine cells decreased in the CPT-11 group (P < 0.01). Compared with the CPT-11 group, scores for diarrhea were obviously lowered (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), grading of ileum, and cecum mucosal tissues decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); expressions of ileum, cecum, and colon mucosal epithelial goblet cells obviously increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the number and expressions of ileum cecum mucosal epithelial Paneth cells increased (P < 0.05); expressions of cecum and colon endocrine cells increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in the SXD combined CPT-11 group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SXD played roles in preventing and treating CPT-11 induced delayed diarrhea by improving CPT-11 chemotherapy induced apoptosis and necrosis of intestinal mucosal and functional cells.</p>

Effect of Sangu Decoction () on metastatic bone destruction in rats with mammary cancer / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study and evaluate the effect of Sangu Decoction (SGD, ) on the bone destruction due to mammary cancer metastasis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Metastasis rat mammary tumor-1 cells were transplanted into the left hind limb tibia of SD rats to establish the bone metastasis of the mammary cancer model. The modeled rats were treated with SGD for observing its effect on rats' pain behavior, including 50% paw withdrawal threshold (50% PWT) after von Frey fiber stimulation, burden difference of bilateral feet, and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL), with zoledronic acid as the positive control. Moreover, the damage in the tibia sample of rats was scored by an iconographic method, and the bone mineral density (BMD) as well as the bone mineral content (BMC) were estimated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The model established showed characteristics of mixed metastasis, revealing the manifestations of tumor development, bone destruction, cancerous pain, etc. In the SGD-treated group, 50% PWT was prolonged (8.13 ± 4.76 vs. 2.30 ± 2.19), and TWL was longer (3.48 ± 0.62 s vs. 2.89 ± 0.26 s) than those in the control group, respectively (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Iconographic scoring also showed improvement of BMD (0.134 ± 0.009 vs. 0.120 ± 0.007, P<0.01) and an elevating trend of BMC in the SGD-treated group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SGD could effectively alleviate the cancerous pain of bone metastasis and mitigate the metastasis that cause osteolytic destruction of bone.</p>

Therapeutic effects of potassium sodium hydrogen citrate on melamine-induced urinary calculi in China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>In 2008, a sharp increase of the number of children diagnosed with urinary calculi was observed in China, 9433 children were diagnosed as having melamine-induced urinary calculi at outpatient clinic in Beijing Children's Hospital. This study examined the therapeutic efficacy of potassium sodium hydrogen citrate (PSHC) used to treat melamine-induced urinary stones in Chinese children who consumed melamine-containing infant formula.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-two infants and children (average age (18.2 +/- 7.7) months) who were diagnosed with urinary calculi were randomly divided into three treatment groups using the SAS Plan program. Group 1 was given a low dose (1 g/d) of PSHC, group 2 was given high dose of PSHC (2 g/d) and group 3 was given no PSHC (control group). The dose of drug was adjusted according to the baseline urinary pH. This study analyzed the influence of the dose of PSHC, the age of patients, stone size and position, and urinary pH on the level of efficacy of PSHC (cured, effectively treated or not cured).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 1 - 6 months of therapy, 19 patients from group 1, five patients from group 2 and six patients from group 3 were cured. Five patients from group 1, five patients from group 2 and four patients from group 3 were effectively treated. There were significant differences in therapeutic efficacy between the two treatment doses after 3 and 6 months as measured by the increase in the successful expulsion rate and time of melamine-induced urinary calculi. After 6 months the mean time of expulsion of urinary calculi in groups 1 and 2 was significantly shorter than in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PSHC can significantly increase the successful expulsion rate and time of melamine-induced urinary calculi. The therapeutic efficacy is affected by PSHC dose, treatment duration, calculi position, and urinary pH. There is no relationship between the therapeutic efficacy and the stone size or patient age.</p>