Effects of walking and sun exposure on bone density and balance in elderly with osteopenia.

INTRODUCTION: Bone mineral density (BMD) decreases with age, leading to fractures, decreased mobility, and impaired quality of life. We aimed to determine the effects of brisk walking and exposure to sunlight on BMD and balance in the elderly with osteopenia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 81 elderly subjects with osteopenia from January 2019 to March 2019. They were divided into four groups: a daytime-walking group (n = 20), a night-time-walking group (n = 20), a sun-exposure-only group (n = 20), and a control group (n = 21). The subjects walked briskly for 30-60 min three times a week for 24 weeks. The sun-exposure-only group received sunlight for 20-30 min three times a week. All four groups received supplemental calcium. Lumbar L1-L4 BMD, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, timed-up-go-test (TUGT), five-times-sit-stand-test (FTSST), open-eye and closed-eye one-leg-stance-test (OLST) were measured at baseline and 1 day after program completion. RESULTS: The lumbar L1-L4 BMD was higher in all intervention groups (P < 0.05), with the daytime-walking group outperforming the others. There was no significant difference between the night-time-walking and sun-exposure-only groups (P > 0.05). The levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in the daytime-walking and sun-exposure-only groups were higher than those in the night-time-walking and control groups (P < 0.05). The TUGT and FTSST times decreased in all three intervention groups and predominantly so in the daytime-walking group, whereas the open-eye and closed-eye OLST times increased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Brisk walking and sun exposure increase BMD and improve dynamic and static balance in the elderly with osteopenia.

Compound Wumei Powder Inhibits the Invasion and Metastasis of Gastric Cancer via Cox-2/PGE2-PI3K/AKT/GSK3ß/ß-Catenin Signaling Pathway.

To explore the role of CWP in invasion and migration of gastric cancer cells and its underlying molecular mechanism, we performed the experiment in SGC-7901 cells both in vitro and in vivo. In the cell experiment, we evaluated cell proliferation by MTT assay. The results showed that CWP can inhibit the growth of SGC-7901 cells. The influence on cell migration and invasion was detected by wound-healing and Transwell invasion assays. The results showed that the abilities of invasion and migration are restrained in CWP group. Western blot showed that CWP can decrease the expression of Cox-2 and inhibit the PI3K/AKT/GSK3ß/ß-catenin signaling pathway. In the animal experiment, we observed that CWP had an inhibitory effect on the growth of xenograft tumors of nude mice. IHC assay, ELISA, RT-PCR assay, and Western blot assay were used to test relevant cytokines of Cox-2/PGE2-PI3K/AKT/GSK3ß/ß-catenin pathway. The results showed that CWP can suppress relevant cytokines of Cox-2/PGE2-PI3K/AKT/GSK3ß/ß-catenin pathway. In conclusion, we suggest that CWP inhibits the invasion and metastasis of SGC-7901 cells via Cox-2/PGE2-PI3K/AKT/GSK3ß/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Celastrus orbiculatus extract inhibits the migration and invasion of human glioblastoma cells in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Gliomas are highly aggressive tumors of the nervous system, and current treatments fail to improve patient survival. To identify substances that can be used as treatments for gliomas, we examined the effect of Celastrus orbiculatus extract (COE) on the invasion and migration of human glioblastoma U87 and U251 cells in vitro. METHODS: The effects of COE on cell viability and adhesion were tested using the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide assay and cell adhesion assay, respectively. The effects of COE on cell migration and invasion were assessed by a wound-healing assay and transwell migration and invasion assays. The effects of COE on the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were evaluated using western blot and gelatin zymography, respectively. Finally, the effect of COE on actin assembly was observed using phalloidin-tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate labeling and confocal laser scanning microscopy. RESULTS: We found that COE inhibited the adhesion, migration, and invasion of U87 and U251 cells in a dose-dependent manner. COE reduced N-cadherin and vimentin expression, increased E-cadherin expression, and reduced MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in U87 and U251 cells. Furthermore, COE inhibited actin assembly in U87 and U251 cells. CONCLUSIONS: COE attenuates EMT, MMP expression, and actin assembly in human glioblastoma cells, thereby inhibiting their adhesion, migration, and invasion in vitro.

[Edaphic FTIR finger print and the area choice of Chinese herb culture].

UNLABELLED: In order to search for the difference of the soil of Chinese herb growth, and provide useful information for the area choice of Chinese herb culture, 53 soil samples were detected by FTIR. The results showed that all the samples have 8 peaks at 3,621, 3,425, 1,642, 1,435, 1,029, 878, 760 and 690 cm(-1), respectively, but the relative intensity is different. In addition, the peaks at 1,796, 2,982 and 2,874 cm(-1) show difference too. This can be used to distinguish soil in different area. The study also showed that soil in Tianshui and Dingxi of Gansu province are similar to that in Shanxi province. CONCLUSIONS: FTIR finger print of soil can provide useful information for the area choice of Chinese herb culture and transplantation and can be used in the study of soil.

[Study on Chinese herb Astragalus membranceus by FTIR fingerprint].

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study is to find new approach to identifying different growth years and different producing areas of astragalus membranceus simply and rapidly. The FTIR spectrometry, which is accurate, simple and efficient and has high resolution, was used to obtain the sample's FTIR spectrometry. After simple separation and extraction, the drying powder of the sample was detected. In 22 samples, there were 9 common peaks for identifying the authenticity of astragalus membranceus and 5 different peaks. According to the number, shape, and relative intensity of the peak, different growth years and different producing areas of astragalus membranceus can be distinguished. CONCLUSION: It is convenient and fast to identify different growth years and different producing areas of astragalus membranceus by FTIR fingerprint.

[Allicin enhances cytotoxicity of CPT-11 to colon cancer LoVo cell in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of allicin on human colon cancer cell line LoVo and the combined effect of allicin and CPT-11 on this cancer cell line. METHOD: The LoVo cells were cultured in vitro and treated with allicin in different concentrations. MTT assay was used to test dynamically the cell growth inhibiting effect. Apoptosis induction (Annexin-V-FITC/PI) and modulation of DNA cell cycle were measured by flow cytometry. The change of cytotoxicity of CPT-11 after combination of allicin at the concentration of 4.0, 8.0 mg x L(-1) were investigated. RESULT: Allicin had inhibitive effect on growth of LoVo cells in a dose and time dependent manner, with IC50 value of 32.23, 10.74, 6.58 mg x L(-1) at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, respectively. The apoptosis rate of LoVo cells increased progressively as the cells were treated with increasing concentration of allicin in 24 h, while the apoptosis rate achieved peak value when the cells were treated with allicin at the concentration of 8 mg x L(-1) in 48 h. The result indicated the low concentrations of allicin (< 4 mg x L(-1)) lead to G2/M cell cycle arrest, and higer concentrations ( > 4 mg x L(-1)) exert G1 + G2/M cell cycle arrest in 24 h. Compared with single use of CPT-11, the combined use of CPT-11 and allicin (4.0, 8.0 mg x L(-1), respectively) showed increasing cytotoxicity on the LoVo cells, with IC50 of 24 h decreasing from 47.5 to 7.4 and 7.2 mg x L(-1), respectively. CONCLUSION: Allicin has significant anti-proliferation effect on human colon cancer cell line LoVo by induction of apoptosis and arrestment of cell cycle and can enhance the cytotoxicity of CPT-11 on the colon cancer LoVo cell.

[Study of infrared spectroscopic analysis of Chinese traditional medicines Liuweidihuangwan].

Seven types Luiweidihuangwan from six factories were chosen, randomly sampled, ground after being broken and dried, stirred with KB, and pressed into tablets. Infrared spectra of the tablets were obtained and compared. It is concluded that infrared spectra can be used to qualitatively analyse and distinguish patent medicines from different factories with different types and batches.