Artemisia argyi extracts overcome lapatinib resistance via enhancing TMPRSS2 activation in HER2-positive breast cancer.

Breast cancer stands as the predominant malignancy and primary cause of cancer-related mortality among females globally. Approximately 25% of breast cancers exhibit HER2 overexpression, imparting a more aggressive tumor phenotype and correlating with poor prognoses. Patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (HER2 TKIs), such as Lapatinib, develop acquired resistance within a year, posing a critical challenge in managing this disease. Here, we explore the potential of Artemisia argyi, a Chinese herbal medicine known for its anti-cancer properties, in mitigating HER2 TKI resistance in breast cancer. Analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) revealed diminished expression of transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), a subfamily of membrane proteolytic enzymes, in breast cancer patients, correlating with unfavorable outcomes. Intriguingly, lapatinib-responsive patients exhibited higher TMPRSS2 expression. Our study unveiled that the compounds from Artemisia argyi, eriodictyol, and umbelliferone could inhibit the growth of lapatinib-resistant HER2-positive breast cancer cells. Mechanistically, they suppressed HER2 kinase activation by enhancing TMPRSS2 activity. Our findings propose TMPRSS2 as a critical determinant in lapatinib sensitivity, and Artemisia argyi emerges as a potential agent to overcome lapatinib via activating TMPRSS2 in HER2-positive breast cancer. This study not only unravels the molecular mechanisms driving cell death in HER2-positive breast cancer cells induced by Artemisia argyi but also lays the groundwork for developing novel inhibitors to enhance therapy outcomes.

Application of an aqueous enzymatic-ultrasound cavitation method for the separation of Sapium sebiferum seed kernel oil.

An aqueous enzymatic-ultrasound cavitation extraction (AEUCE) method was developed to separate Sapium sebiferum seed kernel oil. In this process, neutral proteinase was screened as the propriate enzyme. The Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken designs were employed to optimize AEUCE. We determined the optimal extraction conditions, producing an oil yield of 84.22 ± 3.17 %. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis indicated that the S. sebiferum seed kernel oil was abundant in unsaturated fatty acids (>92 %) and that the compositions of the fatty acid profiles extracted by AEUCE were similar to those obtained from Soxhlet extraction, but their contents were slightly different. The physicochemical properties analysis showed that the oil extracted by AEUCE was comparable to that obtained from Soxhlet extraction. The results showed that the developed AEUCE is an efficient technique that can separate high-quality plant oils. The S. sebiferum seed kernel oil obtained from this extraction method is a promising substitute for vegetable oils used in biodiesel production.

Polygonum barbatum extract reduces colorectal cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition via YAP and ß-catenin pathway regulation.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide with novel therapeutic developmental challenges. Polygonum barbatum has anticancer potential, but its mechanism(s) are unclear. This study investigates the inhibitory effect of P. barbatum on human CRC cells. Polygonum barbatum extract (PBE) and quercetin standard HPLC fingerprints were determined using analytical RP-HPLC and evaluations were completed using the human colon cancer cell line HCT-116 (KRASG13D mutation) and HT-29 (BRAF mutation) cells. Post-PBE treatment, cell viability, colony formation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis, as well as changes in the whole-transcriptome of cells were analyzed. PBE significantly reduced CRC cell growth, migration, and invasion, and the genes responsible for extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, cell motility, and cell growth were suppressed by PBE. The differentially expressed genes revealed that PBE treatment exerted a significant effect on the ECM interaction and focal adhesion pathways. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition markers, N-cadherin, vimentin, SLUG, and SNAIL, were shown to be regulated by PBE. These effects were associated with blockade of the Yes-associated protein and the GSK3ß/ß-catenin axis. PBE exerts a significant inhibitory effect on CRC cells and may be applicable in clinical trials.

[ZHANG Jian-bin's clinical experience in treatment of depressive disorder based on the theory of governor vessel].

Depressive disorder is manifested as emotional and physical abnormality. Theoretically, the governor vessel is distributed along the spine, related to the brain and communicated with five zang and six fu organs. It is the key meridian for understanding the various symptoms of depressive disorder. Depressive disorder is caused by dysfunction, stagnation or emptiness of the governor vessel, resulting in malnutrition of the brain. In clinical diagnosis and treatment, based on the theory of the governor vessel, the etiology and pathogenesis are analyzed in the patients with depressive disorder. In order to achieve harmonizing mutually the mental and physical conditions, acupuncture is delivered to adjust the spirit and physical state, moving cupping is to regulate the governor vessel, tuina manipulation is to promote meridians and collaterals and physical exercise is to coordinate the body and the spirit.

Intratumoral thermo-chemotherapeutic alginate hydrogel containing doxorubicin loaded PLGA nanoparticle and heating agent.

Chemotherapy has been widely used to treat cancer; however, the non-specific systemic toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents has always been an issue. Local injection treatment is a strategy used to reduce the undesired adverse effects of chemotherapeutic drugs. In addition, chemotherapeutic agents combined with thermotherapy are effective in further enhancing therapeutic potency. In the present study, we prepared an injectable hydrogel, namely, doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticle (DPN) and magnetite nanoparticle (MNP) embedded in alginate hydrogel (DPN/MNP-HG), where DPN and MNP were the chemotherapeutic and heating agents, respectively, for intratumoral thermo-chemotherapy. Injectable DPN/MNP-HG, which possesses solid-like elastic properties, was conveniently prepared via ionic cross-linking at room-temperature. When exposed to an alternating magnetic field (AMF), DPN/MNP-HG exhibited controllable heat generation with a reversible temperature-rise profile. Regarding the kinetics of DOX release, both with and without AMF, DPN/MNP-HG exhibited a slow initial burst and sustained release profile. In cytotoxicity studies and subcutaneous mouse cancer models, successful thermo-chemotherapy with DPN/MNP-HG resulted in significantly lower cell viability and increased tumor-growth suppression; mice also exhibited good tolerance to injected DPN/MNP-HG both with(+) and without AMF application. In conclusion, the proposed thermo-chemotherapeutic DPN/MNP-HG for local intratumoral injection is a promising formulation for cancer treatment.

Black cohosh extracts in women with menopausal symptoms: an updated pairwise meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Menopausal symptoms are common in midlife women and have broad impacts on their daily functioning and quality of life. Black cohosh extracts have been widely used to relieve menopausal symptoms. However, the comparative benefits of different combined black cohosh regimens remain inconclusive. The aim of the current updated meta-analysis is to address the comparative efficacies of different black cohosh regimens in improving menopausal symptoms. METHODS: Random-effect model pairwise meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted to investigate the treatment effect on menopausal symptoms by the black cohosh extract both alone or combined with other related active ingredients. The outcomes studied were changes in menopausal symptoms after treatment with black cohosh extracts in menopausal women. RESULTS: Twenty-two articles including information on 2,310 menopausal women were included in the analyses. Black cohosh extracts were associated with significant improvements in overall menopausal symptoms (Hedges' g = 0.575, 95% CI = 0.283 to 0.867, P < 0.001), as well as in hot flashes (Hedges' g = 0.315, 95% CIs = 0.107 to 0.524, P = 0.003), and somatic symptoms (Hedges' g = 0.418, 95% CI = 0.165 to 0.670, P = 0.001), compared with placebo. However, black cohosh did not significantly improve anxiety (Hedges' g = 0.194, 95% CI = -0.296 to 0.684, P = 0.438) or depressive symptoms (Hedges' g = 0.406, 95% CI = -0.121 to 0.932, P = 0.131). The dropout rate for black cohosh products was similar to that for placebo (odds ratio = 0.911, 95% CI = 0.660 to 1.256, P = 0.568). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides updated evidence regarding the potentially beneficial effects of black cohosh extracts for relieving menopausal symptoms in menopausal women.

The Chronic and Acute Toxicity of Traditional Medicines Containing Terminalia chebula.

Objectives: Terminalia chebula, the main ingredient of Altan Arur 5, has been used for many years in traditional medicine. This medicine is more effective than other drugs and is used to treat chronic gastritis and gastrointestinal disorders such as peptic ulcers and esophageal reflux. Other ingredients of Altan Arur 5 are Punica granatum (pomegranate), tulip seeds, black balm, and excreta of Trogopterus xanthipes. The main ingredients of T. chebula are antibacterial and analgesic in traditional medicine. Despite having been used for many years and although many studies have been conducted on the beneficial effects of this medicine and its ingredients, the toxicity of Altan Arur 5 has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we aimed to study the toxicity of Altan Arur 5 to ensure that it is safe to use. Methods: Acute and chronic toxicity of Altan Arur 5 were assessed in 10 Kunming mice and 8 Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively, in different doses. In the acute toxicity study, Altan Arur 5 was orally administered to Kunming mice in doses of 12 g/kg, 24 g/kg, and 48 g/kg for 14 days. In the chronic toxicity study, it was orally administered to Sprague-Dawley rats in doses of 1.25 g/kg, 2.5 g/kg, and 5 g/kg for 12 weeks. Results: No significant differences were observed in the relative organ weights for mice treated with Altan Arur 5 compared with those in the control group. Furthermore, no macro- or microstructural changes were noted in the organs of any group. Conclusion: Our toxicity testing revealed that the traditional medicine Altan Arur 5 has no toxic effects in vivo.

Allium vegetable intake associated with the risk of incident gastric cancer: a continuous follow-up study of a randomized intervention trial.

BACKGROUND: Allium vegetable components have antibacterial, antioxidative, and immune modulation properties, thus potentially exhibiting antitumor effects. Despite evidence from case-control studies, prospective studies linking allium vegetables with gastric cancer (GC) have been sparse. OBJECTIVE: In a prospective study, we examined whether allium vegetable intake would change the risk of GC occurrence and whether the associations would be modified by vitamin supplementation, garlic supplementation, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) treatment. METHODS: The study was conducted on the basis of the Shandong Intervention Trial, a randomized, placebo-controlled, factorial-designed trial (1995-2003) in a well-recognized high-risk area for GC in China. Participants were continuously followed up to December 2017 for 22.3 y (1995-2017). A total of 3229 subjects were included, with information on the intake of allium vegetables (garlic vegetables and scallions), collected by structured questionnaires in 1994. The associations of total and individual allium vegetable intake with the risk of GC were examined, respectively. RESULTS: During the follow-up, 144 incident cases of GC were identified. Garlic vegetable intake was associated with a decreased risk of incident GC (P-trend = 0.02; OR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.70, 0.98, per 1 kg/y increment), whereas scallion intake showed no association (P-trend = 0.80). An inverse association of the risk of GC with total allium vegetable and garlic vegetable intake was particularly stronger among those receiving the placebo for vitamin supplementation or garlic supplementation, indicating potential effect modifications by nutritional supplementation on allium vegetable intake and the risk of developing GC. Similar findings were found for analyses of the combined prevalence of dysplasia or GC. CONCLUSIONS: We found a significant reduction in the risk of developing GC with increasing dietary intake of allium vegetables, particularly garlic vegetables. The findings add to the literature on the potential inverse association of garlic vegetable intake with the risk of GC, therefore holding public health implications for dietary recommendations. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00339768.

Nursing Cooperation Pattern for Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer and Abdominal Pain Undergoing Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Celiac Plexus Neurolysis.

Context: Patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) at a late stage often suffer from severe abdominal pain due to the invasion of celiac plexus, and the analgesics they receive often have intolerable side effects. Endoscopic, ultrasound-guided, celiac plexus neurolysis (EUS-guided CPN) can have a good therapeutic effect. Objective: The study intended to evaluate the ability of two nursing cooperation patterns to reduce patients' pain, decrease operation times, increase operational efficiency, and increase nurses' satisfaction, for patients with advanced PC and abdominal pain who received EUS-guided CPN. Design: The research team designed a retrospective controlled study. Setting: The study took place at the Shenzhen People's Hospital of the Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University in Shenzhen, China, and at the Changhai Hospital of the Second Military Medical University in Shanghai, China. Participants: Participants were 40 patients with advanced PC who received EUS-guided CPN at one of the two hospitals between January 2019 and January 2020. Intervention: Twenty participants at Changhai Hospital received the traditional nursing cooperation pattern and became the control group, and 20 participants at the Shenzhen People's Hospital received the new nursing cooperation pattern and became the intervention group. Outcome Measures: The study measured clinical data, nursing measures, diagnostic significance, and key points for the two patterns as well as compared the effects of the new nursing cooperation method to that of traditional nursing. If the measurement data met the requirements for normality, the team used the two independent sample t-test for the intergroup comparisons. If normality wasn't satisfied, the team used medians and interquartile ranges (IQRs) for expression and the rank sum test for the intergroup comparisons. Counting data were expressed using the constituent ratio, and team used the chi-square test for comparisons between groups. P < .05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The operations were successful, and no complications occurred. No significant difference existed in the pain scores between the control group and the intervention group (P > .05), while a significant difference occurred in the nurses' operation times and satisfaction. Not only were the scores for operation times for the control group (97) and the intervention group (59) significantly different, but also the nurses' satisfaction was significantly higher for the intervention group postintervention, at 83.35 ± 5.25, than for the control group, at 62.25 ± 8.18 (P < .001). Such a new nursing cooperation method could assist in patient's rehabilitation and increase nurses' satisfaction. Conclusions: The new nursing cooperation method for patients with advanced PC and abdominal pain undergoing EUS-guided CPN can reduce operation time and improve nurses' satisfaction.

Application progress on anti-skin aging effect of traditional Chinese medicine / 药学学报

With the aging of population intensifies and the level of population health have improved, thus much attention has been directed to how to delaying or preventing skin aging. Skin aging is associated with age, ultraviolet and lifestyle, mainly characterized as skin sagging, wrinkles, pigmentation, so it is urgent to seek traditional Chinese medicine and related cosmetics to solve the problem of skin aging. Traditional Chinese medicine has the functions of anti-oxidation, enhancing human immunity, promoting body metabolism and regulating endocrine, therefore, it has become a research focus in anti-skin aging. This article reviews the skin aging mechanism and the research advances of traditional Chinese medicine anti-skin aging, in order to provide a reference for future research and development of anti-aging traditional Chinese medicine.

Effectiveness of Liu-zi-jue exercise on coronavirus disease 2019 in the patients: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Liu-zi-jue exercise on the respiratory symptoms, quality of life, and mental health of patients with mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: A single-center randomized controlled trial was conducted with 104 patients with mild COVID-19. The patients were randomly assigned to the Liu-zi-jue plus conventional therapy group and conventional therapy group. The outcome measures included Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale (MBDS) score, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score, Fatigue Scale-14 (FS-14), respiratory symptoms, and vital signs. Data were collected on the first and sixth days of hospitalization and on the discharge day. RESULTS: Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed that the whole scales all showed a downward trend in the two groups (all 0.05). The results of single-group effect suggested that the whole scale score in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group at the sixth day of hospitalization. Compared with the control group, only the MBDS, expectoration, and FS-14 scores showed significantly lower scores at the discharge day ( 0.001, 0.011, 0.002). Comparison within the group showed that all the variables were significantly different at the three time points with a decreasing trend ( 0.05), except for the PHQ-9 and expectoration scores ( 0.331, 0.052). All patients' vital signs remained within a stable normal range throughout the hospital stay. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that Liu-zi-jue exercise as a complementary and alternative therapy showed beneficial effects on improving the symptoms (shortness of breath, fatigue, and cough), quality of life, and mental health of patients with mild COVID-19.

In vitro and in vivo efficacy of minocycline-based therapy for Elizabethkingia anophelis and the impact of reduced minocycline susceptibility.

OBJECTIVES: Elizabethkingia anophelis is inherently resistant to multiple antibiotics, except minocycline. This study aimed to determine the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of minocycline monotherapy and combination therapy against susceptible strains and the impact of reduced minocycline susceptibility. METHODS: Three clinical isolates and one laboratory-induced mutant with reduced minocycline susceptibility were included. Time-kill and checkerboard assays were used to assess in vitro efficacy and synergy, respectively. Galleria mellonella infection and mouse pneumonia models were used to assess in vivo efficacy, and a mouse thigh infection model was used to determine the bacterial load. RESULTS: Minocycline monotherapy exerted a modest inhibitory effect on three clinical minocycline-susceptible E. anophelis isolates in vitro, but delayed G. mellonella death and improved infected mouse survival; it also significantly reduced the in vivo bacterial load. Minocycline had decreased efficacy on G. mellonella and mice infected by the mutant with reduced minocycline susceptibility. Genome comparison revealed several spontaneous mutations associated with reduced minocycline susceptibility. Among eight antibiotics tested in combination with minocycline, rifampin consistently showed in vitro synergy. The addition of rifampin (1 mg/L) reduced the mutant prevention concentration of minocycline from 2-4 mg/L to < 0.5 mg/L. However, compared with monotherapy, the combination of rifampin and minocycline did not further reduce the bacterial load or improve the survival of G. mellonella or mice. CONCLUSION: Minocycline monotherapy was in vivo effective against susceptible E. anophelis. Reduced minocycline susceptibility due to spontaneous mutation decreased its therapeutic efficacy. In combination with rifampin, it prevented the in vitro emergence of reduced susceptibility but did not provide additional in vivo survival benefit.

Acupuncture for Parkinson's disease: From theory to practice.

Advances in molecular biology and biochemistry have improved the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). There has been extensive evidence on the benefit of standard treatment (e.g., deep brain stimulation, levodopa, and dopamine agonists) and acupuncture for PD. This article aims to distill the similarities and differences in the treatment concepts between Chinese and Western medicine from the perspective of reinforcing the deficiency and purging the excess, summarize the latest evidence on the benefits of acupuncture for PD from theory to practice, and propose prospective treatment options for PD.

The Impact on the Clinical Prognosis of Low Serum Selenium Level in Patients with Severe Trauma: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This study was designed to examine the most up-to-date evidence about how low plasma selenium (Se) concentration affects clinical outcomes, such as mortality, infectious complications, and length of ICU or hospital stay, in patients with major trauma. We searched three databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science) with the following keywords: "injury", "trauma", "selenium", and "trace element". Only records written in English published between 1990 and 2021 were included for analysis. Four studies were eligible for meta-analyses. The results of the meta-analysis showed that a low serum selenium level did not exert a negative effect on the mortality rate (OR 1.07, 95% CI: 0.32, 3.61, p = 0.91, heterogeneity, I2 = 44%). Regarding the incidence of infectious complications, there was no statistically significant deficit after analyses of the four studies (OR 1.61, 95% CI: 0.64, 4.07, p = 0.31, heterogeneity, I2 = 70%). There were no differences in the days spent in the ICU (difference in means (MD) 1.53, 95% CI: -2.15, 5.22, p = 0.41, heterogeneity, I2 = 67%) or the hospital length of stay (MD 6.49, 95% CI: -4.05, 17.02, p = 0.23, heterogeneity, I2 = 58%) in patients with low serum Se concentration. A low serum selenium level after trauma is not uncommon. However, it does not negatively affect mortality and infection rate. It also does not increase the overall length of ICU and hospital stays.

Comparison of Various Solvent Extracts and Major Bioactive Components from Portulaca oleracea for Antioxidant, Anti-Tyrosinase, and Anti-α-Glucosidase Activities.

Portulaca oleracea is a well-known species for traditional medicine and food homology in Taiwan. In traditional medicine, P. oleracea is also used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, liver inflammation, fever, severe inflammation, and headaches. We investigated antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-α-glucosidase activities of various solvent extracts and major bioactive components from P. oleracea. Ethanol and acetone extracts showed potent DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. Chloroform and n-hexane extracts displayed significant superoxide radical scavenging activity. Furthermore, ethyl acetate and acetone extracts of P. oleracea showed potent anti-tyrosinase and anti-α-glucosidase activities. Examined and compared to the various solvent extracts for their chemical compositions using HPLC analysis, we isolated seven major compounds and analyzed their antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-α-glucosidase activities. Seven active compounds of P. oleracea, especially quercetin, rosmarinic acid, and kaempferol, exhibited obvious antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-α-glucosidase activities. The molecular docking model and the hydrophilic interactive mode of tyrosinase and α-glucosidase revealed that active compounds might have a higher antagonistic effect than commonly inhibitors. Our result shows that the active solvent extracts and their components of P. oleracea have the potential as natural antioxidants, tyrosinase and α-glucosidase inhibitors. Our results suggest that the active solvent extracts of P. oleracea and their components have potential as natural antioxidants, tyrosinase and α-glucosidase inhibitors.

Effects of Integrated Chinese Traditional Medicine and Conventional Western Medicine on the Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Traditional Chinese medicine has been widely used, in conjunction with conventional Western medicine, in clinical practice around the world to treat breast cancer. The study systematically reviewed and summarized the quality of life of breast cancer patients treated with integrated treatment method vs. conventional Western medicine. METHODS: Eight databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Biology Medicine Disc, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, and Wanfang Data knowledge service platform were searched in this study. The retrieval period was set from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2020. RESULTS: Twenty-two high-quality publications were included in this study. The total sample size was 1689 patients including 844 in the intervention group receiving traditional Chinese medicine combined with conventional Western medicine and 845 patients in the control group receiving conventional Western medicine only. Compared with the single-used conventional Western medicine treatment, an integrated approach to treat breast cancer can increase quality of life measured by rating scales (SMD = 1.29, 95% CI (1.07, 1.52) and P=0.01) and ranking scales (RR = 1.53, 95% CI (1.39 1.68) and P=0.02) and also decrease adverse reactions measured by rating scales (Z = 10.89, P < 0.05; Group 1: I 2 = 9.0%, P=0.258, SMD = 1.03; and Group 2: I 2 = 31.6%, P=0.199, SMD = 1.56). For further analysis, chemotherapy with epirubicin exhibited higher quality of life than the chemotherapy without epirubicin among breast cancer patients [Z = 19.80, P < 0.05; Group 1: I 2 = 62.4%, P=0.070, SMD = 1.61; and Group 2: I 2 = 9.0%, P=0.359, SMD = 1.04]. Despite the heterogeneity, which was due to a portion of relative low-quality literature or other factors, the results were satisfactory. In terms of secondary results, the patients with lower tumor markers (CEA and CA153) had better efficiency in quality of life with a statistically significant difference (SMD = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.10,1.67) for rating scales. In addition, secondary results related to high incidence of gastrointestinal adverse reactions (RR = 1.33, 95% CI (1.20, 1.48)) and the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome (RR = 1.50, 95% CI (1.28, 1.80))showed lower quality of life in the intervention group than the control group for ranking scales. CONCLUSION: Traditional Chinese medicine, when used in conjunction with the conventional Western medicine, could be an effective way in improving the quality of life and alleviating incidence of associated adverse symptoms such as gastrointestinal adverse reactions, value of tumor markers, and the incidence of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome. Further investigation of larger and methodologically sound trials with longer follow-up periods and appropriate comparison groups is needed.

Scalp psoriasis and Dermatology Life Quality Index: A retrospective study based on 12-year data from the Malaysian Psoriasis Registry.

Introduction: Psoriasis affects approximately 2-3% of the population worldwide, although the overall prevalence in Asia is <0.5%. Scalp psoriasis is a common initial presentation of psoriasis, which affects almost 80% of patients with psoriasis. Method: This retrospective descriptive study investigated 1,671 patients with psoriasis with scalp involvement registered with the Malaysian Psoriasis Registry (MPR) from January 2007 to December 2018. Results: A total of 21,859 patients with psoriasis were registered with the MPR during the study period; among them, scalp involvement was seen in 7.6% (n= 1,671). Female sex preponderance (61%) was observed in the majority of Malay patients (58.5%), followed by the Chinese (16.9%), Indian (17.1%) and other ethnic patients (7.5%). A positive family history of psoriasis was identified in 22.7% (n=380). Approximately 34.8% (n=581) and 11% (n=172) of the patients had nail changes and psoriatic arthropathy, respectively. The mainstay treatment modality was topical treatment (93.6%), followed by systemic therapy (10%) and phototherapy (0.5%). The comorbidities found among the patients with scalp psoriasis included hypertension (27.9%), obesity (26%), dyslipidaemia (21%), diabetes mellitus (18.4%), ischaemic heart disease (5.4%) and cerebrovascular disease (1.3%). Approximately 23% reported a Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) of >10, which indicated moderate-to-severe impairment. Conclusion: The proportion of patients with psoriasis with scalp involvement in our study (7.6%) is much lower than previous reports. Scalp psoriasis markedly negatively impacts the DLQI.

Cardioprotective effect of ethanol extracts of Sugemule-3 decoction on isoproterenol-induced heart failure in Wistar rats through regulation of mitochondrial dynamics.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Sugemule-3 decoction (SD-3) is a commonly used prescription in Mongolian medicine which composed of the herbs Baidoukou (the fruit of Amomum compactum Sol. ex Maton), Baijusheng (the fruit of Lactuca sativa L.) and Biba (Piper longum L.). SD-3 has remarkable effect on the cardiovascular diseases, but its pharmacological mechanism has not been elucidated. AIM OF THIS STUDY: To evaluate the cardioprotective effects and the potential mechanisms of the ethanol extracts of SD-3 against isoproterenol (ISO)-induced heart failure (HF) in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The ethanol extracts of SD-3 were prepared and analyzed by LC-ESI-MS/MS. One hundred male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: control, ISO (HF) and different doses of SD-3 (0.4, 0.2, 0.1 g/kg/d) groups. HF model rats were established by intraperitoneal injecting of ISO. The left ventricular function was evaluated by echocardiography. Myocardial injury and fibrosis were examined by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining. Western-blot analysis was performed to determine the protein expression of apoptosis and mitochondrial dynamics in all the groups. Moreover, the structural changes in the mitochondria of cardiomyocytes were also observed by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Fifteen compounds were detected in the ethanol extracts of SD-3, include piperine, piperanine, etc. Rats administered with ISO showed a significant decline in the left ventricular function. The cardiac histopathological changes such as local necrosis, interstitial edema, and cardiac fibrosis were also observed in the ISO group. The treatment with SD-3 significantly inhibited these effects of ISO. ISO was found to increase the protein expression of Bax, cleaved-PARP and cleaved-caspase-3, -7 -9, destroy the balance between mitochondrial fusion and fission, and alter the mitochondrial morphology. The ethanol extracts of SD-3 could rebalance mitochondrial fusion and fission, and ameliorates the morphological abnormalities induced by ISO in mitochondria. CONCLUSION: The current study demonstrated that ethanol extracts of SD-3 improved isoprenaline-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis through inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis and regulating the mitochondrial dynamics.

In vitro and in vivo comparison of eravacycline- and tigecycline-based combination therapies for tigecycline-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

Several antimicrobial combination therapies are used to treat multiple drug resistant (MDR) and extensively drug resistant (XDR) Acinetobacter baumannii infections. A novel antibiotic, eravacycline, shows a higher potency than tigecycline. The efficacies of eravacycline-based therapies have not yet been evaluated. We demonstrated the effectiveness of eravacycline- and tigecycline-based combination therapies in XDR and especially tigecycline resistant A. baumannii. Thirteen eligible isolates were selected from 642 non-duplicate Acinetobacter blood isolates from four medical centres in 2010-2014. Tigecycline/imipenem and eravacycline/imipenem combinations were simultaneously effective against some isolates in vitro with fractional inhibitory concentration index of 0.5. In contrast, eravacycline- and tigecycline-based combination therapies provided no additional benefits in mouse survival compared to those for monotherapy. In summary, colistin is still the final resort for XDR-A. baumannii treatment according to the sensitivities. Owning to rapid development of resistance in A. baumannii, novel antibiotics are urgently needed.