Hepatoprotective Activity of the Ethanolic Extract of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. against Oxidative Stress-Induced Liver Injury.

Oxidative stress is an important pathological mechanism in various liver diseases. Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (PM) can be used for the treatment of diseases associated with aging, hyperlipidemia, and oxidative stress in traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, we examined the hepatoprotective effects of the ethanolic extract of PM (PME) in in vitro and in vivo models. The PME induced expression of antioxidant-response-element- (ARE-) related genes in HepG2 cells showed a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment of HepG2 cell with PME suppressed H2O2- and acetaminophen- (APAP-) induced cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and cytotoxicity. In APAP-induced mouse liver injury, pretreatment with PME also showed ability to increase the survival rate and reduce the severity of liver injury. Treatment with PME attenuated bile duct ligation-induced extrahepatic cholestatic liver injury and further increased multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4) and reduced organic anion-transporting polypeptide (OATP) expression. Furthermore, increased nuclear translocation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) was observed after treatment with PME in both in vivo models. In conclusion, the current study showed the hepatoprotective activity of PME by regulating the redox state in liver injury through Nrf2 activation and controlling hepatic bile acid homeostasis in obstructive cholestasis, through bile acid transporter expression modulation.

A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial of Home-Based Warm Footbath to Improve Sleep in the Chronic Phase of Traumatic Brain Injury.

INTRODUCTION: Sleep disturbance is a common complaint after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a home-based warm footbath intervention on sleep in patients with TBI. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled crossover study, and 23 adults with TBI were recruited and randomized to receive first a 30-minute, 41°C warm footbath and then a usual care, or vice versa, with each lasting 3 days and separated by a 3-day washout. Sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency (SOL), total sleep time, and wake after sleep onset (WASO) were assessed by actigraphy. RESULTS: We found that home-based warm footbath significantly had a reduced SOL (difference, -5.11 minutes) and a suppressed WASO (difference, -2.57 minutes) compared with those of usual care, but not in sleep efficiency and total sleep time. No adverse effect was reported. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that home-based warm footbath is practical and effective in relieving post-TBI sleep disturbances, particular in SOL and WASO. Nurses can use home-based warm footbath as an effective intervention for management of sleep disturbances after TBI.

Baicalin Scavenged Reactive Oxygen Species and Protected Human Keratinocytes Against UVB-induced Cytotoxicity.

Ultraviolet B (UVB), with a wavelength of 280-320 nm, represents one of the most important environmental factors for skin disorders, including sunburn, hyperpigmentation, solar keratosis, solar elastosis and skin cancer. Therefore, protection against excessive UVA-induced damage is useful for prevention of sunburn and other human diseases. Baicalin, a major component of traditional Chinese medicine Scutellaria baicalensis, has been reported to possess antioxidant and cytostatic capacities. In this study, we examined whether baicalin is also capable of protecting human keratinocytes from UVB irradiation. The results showed that baicalin effectively scavenged reactive oxygen species (ROS) elevated within 4 h after UVB radiation and reversed the UVB-suppressed cell viability and UVB-induced apoptosis after 24 h. Our results demonstrated the utility of baicalin to complement the contributions of traditional Chinese medicine in UVB-induced damage to skin and suggested their potential application as pharmaceutical agents in long-term sun-shining injury prevention.

The effects of mind-body interventions on sleep in cancer patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of mind-body interventions (MBIs) on sleep quality among cancer patients, the moderating effects of the intervention components, subject characteristics, and methodological features of the relationship between MBIs and sleep. DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and CINAHL, containing data with English-language restriction recorded up to September 15, 2013 were searched thoroughly using keywords related to various types of MBI and sleep. STUDY SELECTION: Of the 114 identified citations, 99 were ineligible. Fifteen studies that followed 1,405 patients with cancer met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. DATA EXTRACTION: The primary outcome was change in the sleep parameter. Other variables related to components of MBIs, subject characteristics, and methodological features of the studies were also extracted. DATA SYNTHESIS: The weighted mean effect size (ES) was -0.43 (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.24 to -0.62) and the long-term effect size (up to 3 months) was -0.29 (95% CI, -0.52 to -0.06). The sensitivity analysis revealed that MBIs had a significant effect on sleep (g = -0.33, P < .001). The moderating effects of components of the intervention, methodological features, subject characteristics, and quality of the studies on the relationship between MBIs and sleep were not found (all P values > .05). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis confirms that the MBIs yielded a medium effect size on sleep quality and the effect was maintained for up to 3 months. The findings support the implementation of MBIs into the multimodal approach to managing sleep quality in patients with cancer.