The effects of gastric cancer interstitial fluid on tumors based on traditional Chinese medicine 'phlegm' theory and the investigation on the mechanism through microRNA-21 regulation.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of gastric cancer interstitial fluid (GCIF) on tumors and explore the possible mechanism of Xiaotan Sanjie decoction (XTSJ) on treatment of gastric cancer from the view of regulating microRNA-21 (miR-21) expression. The GCIF was extracted and identified by measuring the levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and miR-21. The effects of GCIF on the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells and tumor growing were assessed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and subcutaneously transplanted tumor-bearing nude mice model, respectively. Additionally, inhibition effect of XTSJ decoction on proliferation of SGC-7901 cells intervened by GCIF were assessed in vitro and anti-cancer effect of it was further assessed using orthotopic transplanted tumor-bearing nude mice model. The concentration of SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells were dependent on the concentration of the added GCIF. After 72 hours of continuous culture, the interstitial fluid had an obvious proliferative effect on the SGC-7901 tumor cells, which was the most significant in the high concentration group. XTSJ decoction could inhibit the growth-promoting effect (P < 0.01) of GCIF on gastric cancer cells. Intervention of the GCIF might promote the growth (P < 0.05) of the subcutaneously transplanted tumors in nude mice and decrease the net weight of the tumor-bearing nude mice (P < 0.05) after tumor removal. The GCIF was able to up-regulate the expression (P < 0.001) of miR-21 in the subcutaneously transplanted tumors. XTSJ decoction could downregulate the expression (P < 0.05) of miR-21 in SGC-7901 orthotopically transplanted tumors. XTSJ decoction can inhibit the multiplicative effect of GCIF on gastric cancer cells, growth of gastric tumor and promotion effect of GCIF on tumors, probably due to the down-regulating miR-21 expression in tumor tissues.

Combined treatment of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a common complication of diabetes, has a high morbidity, and currently there is no effective therapy. To investigate the clinical effect of traditional Chinese medicine in combination with Western medicine, 88 patients with early DPN who were admitted to Binzhou City Center Hospital, Shandong, China, between November 2015 and November 2016, were selected as the research subjects and were randomly divided into a control group and an observation. Patients in the control group were treated by conventional Western medicine, while patients in the observation group were treated by traditional Chinese medicine in addition to conventional Western medicine. The clinical effect was compared between the two groups. The results demonstrated that the overall effective rate of the observation group was much higher than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P less than 0.05). The vibration perception threshold (VPT) of nervus peroneus communis, nervus suralis and posterior tibial nerve of the two groups significantly declined after treatment (P less than 0.05), however, the decreae in the observation group was more obvious (P less than 0.05). The improvement of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc) and blood glucose of the observation group was superior to that of the control group, and the difference had statistical significance (P less than 0.05). In conclusion, traditional Chinese medicine in combination with Western medicine has a remarkable effect in the treatment of DPN and can effectively relieve vital signs and clinical symptoms of patients and significantly improve nerve conduction velocity. The therapy is worth clinical application and promotion.

Reversal effect of TTD on human multidrug resistant KBV200 cell line.

The reversal effect of TTD (a Chinese medicine) on human multidrug- resistant KBV200 cell line was studied and compared with verapamil (VPL). The chemosensitivity of KBV200 was detected by MTT assay in vitro and the level of MDR1 mRNA of KBV200 was investigated by RT-PCR. The cytotoxicity of TTD to KBV200 and the parent sensitive cell line KB is very low and nearly same with a concentration of 10(-6) mol x L(-1). With the concentration TTD increased VCR cytotoxicity on KBV200, 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) decreased from 1122.5+/-72.36 mol x L(-1) to 31.76+/-5.4 nmol x L(-1) (p<0.001). It was more effective than VPL was (p<0.01). The combination of low concentration of TTD (10(-8) mol x L(-1)) and VCR (100 nmol x L(-1)) has significantly increased VCR cytotoxicity on KBV200, cell Surviving Fraction decreased from 0.91+/-0.056 to 0.74+/-0.07 (p<0.02). TTD did not inhibit the expression of MDR1 mRNA of KBV200 with the concentration of 10(-6) mol x L(-1). These data indicated that TTD could reverse VCR resistance of KBV200 and may be useful in enhancing the clinical effectiveness of VCR.

[Effects and mechanism of emodin and sandostatin on pancreatic ischemia in acute haemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate pancreatic ischemia and abnormal metabolism of eicosanoids in acute haemorrhagic-necrotizing pancreatits (AHNP) and the effects of emodin or sandostatin on them. METHODS: Rats with AHNP were triggered with sodium taurocholate; the pancreatic blood flow (PBF) was detected with computerized tissue blood flowmeter, and plasma prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) and thromboxane (TXB2) were determined with radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease of PBF in the early stage of AHNP. Compared with that in the untreated group, significant improvement of PBF was demonstrated in emodin as well as in sandostatin group which showed reduced PBF following infusion of sandostatin before triggering AHNP. In untreated group plasma TXB was significantly higher, with an increase of 4.5 times, than that in sham-operated group while 6-keto-PGF1 alpha or PGE2 tended to decrease. The above mentioned abnormal synthesis of eicosanoids was blocked either in emodin or in sandostatin group in which lessened damage of acini cells was shown by pathologic scoring or transmission electron microscope. Both of the two groups shared significantly lower mortalities than the untreated group. CONCLUSION: Either emodion or sandostatin could partly reverse the decrease of PBF in the early stage of AHNP, which may be ascribed at least in part to inhibition of abnormal synthesis of eicosanoids and improvement of cytoprotection of acini cells, and combined application of the two drugs might promise positively synergetic action as well.

Alterations of erythrocyte ATPase activity and oxygen consumption in patients with liver-blood deficiency syndrome.

AIM: To investigate the pathophysiology of erythrocyte energy metabolic changes of patients with the traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) liver-blood deficiency syndrome (LBDS). METHODS: Erythrocyte membrane ATPase activity and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) were determined in 66 patients with LBDS, including 35 patients with iron deficiency anemia and 31 patients with chronic aplastic anemia. Thirty healthy adults served as controls. RESULTS: ATPase activity and OCR were decreased in patients with LBDS. CONCLUSION: The decreased erythrocyte ATPase activity and OCR might cause the energy hypometabolism in LBDS patients.

[Studies on the bioactive constituents of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus].

An ethanol extract of "Kijitsu" (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, Citrus aurantium L.) collected in China was assessed for the antitumor activity using murine leukemia P388 in vivo, and the extract was found to be active by the antitumor bioassay in vivo and in vitro. The extract was separated into a petroleum ether-soluble fraction and an ethyl acetate-soluble fraction. Fractionation was carried out using an index of cell-growth inhibitory activity against mouse leukemia L1210 cells to isolate antitumor active substances or compounds. The active compounds were purified employing silica gel column chromatography and HPLC. The antitumor effect of the isolated active compounds was studied. Five compounds, auraptene, marmin, tangeretin, nobiretin and 5-[(6',7'-dihydroxy-3',7'-dimethyl-2-octenyl)oxy]psoralen were isolated from Citrus aurantium L. Though they are all known compounds, 5-(6',7'-dihydroxy-3',7-dimethyl-2-octenyl)oxy-psoralen from this plants was first isolated. These compounds showed a cell-growth inhibitory effect against L1210 and K562 in vitro.

[Therapeutic effects and mechanisms of tetramethylpyrazine on lung injury in acute haemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis in rats].

To evaluate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), a Chinese herbal medicine, on the lung injury in bile-induced acute haemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis (AHNP) in the SD rats, the rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operative, untreated and TMP treated. AHNP model were induced by ligation with 5% taurocholate. The changes of lung index, serum lipid peroxide (LPO), TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, and lung pathology at light and electron microscope were all investigated at 1, 6, 12 hours after induction of AHNP model. Survival rate of AHNP in rats were recorded also. Results of the study showed that in untreated group, the time-related progressive pancreatic haemorrhage and necrosis, accompanied by pancreatitis-associated lung injury, such as pronounced pulmonary congestion, alveolar and interstitial edema, polymorphonuclear granulocytes infiltration, transparent membrane formation, the density of layer body in type II endothelial cells decreasing, with some vacuole formation, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum swollen, basal membrane of endothelial cells rupture were observed. The level of LPO elevated at 1 hour after induction of AHNP and peaked at 12 hours. TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was increased. Using TMP treatment, survival rate increased, and lung at light and electron microscope were much improved and lung index, value of LPO, TXB2 decreased significantly, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha increased slightly, the ratio of TXB2/6-keto-PGF1 alpha was stabilized. It was suggested that TMP has definite therapeutic effects on AHNP-related lung injury in rats, and exerted by scavenging oxygen free radical, inhibiting synthesis of TXA2, augmenting production of PGI2 and maintaining balance between TXA2 and PGI2.

[Short-term effects of Angelica sinensis and nifedipine on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients with pulmonary hypertension].

UNLABELLED: 40 COPD cases with pulmonary hypertension (PH) in remission stage were equally divided into four groups, 10 cases in each. Group 1-4 were treated with 25% Angelica sinensis (250 ml, iv. drip, qd), nifedipine (10 mg, po, tid), both Angelica sinensis+nifedipine and blank control respectively. The study was designed to investigate the changes of hemodynamics, pulmonary function and blood gas before and after the treatments by impedance rheopneumogram, lung function examination and blood gas analysis. RESULTS: Mean pulmonary arterial pressure was decreased and cardiac output, PaO2 were increased significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) in group 3. The effects of group 3 appeared to be better than in other groups. The side effect of PaO2 lowering in group 2 was overcome in adding Angelica sinensis.

[Antitumor effect of Tripterygium wilfordii].

A new component of antitumor action TG has been isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Tripterygium wilfordii (besides Triptolide, Tripdiolide and Triptonide). TG was shown in this study to have obvious antitumor effects. The average life span of H22, S180, EAC and breast carcinoma-bearing mice treated with TG ip x 2 days were 100% more than those of the control mice (P less than 0.01) TG was able to inhibit tumor growth of S37-bearing mice at the dose of 150 mg/kg per day, ig x 3, its inhibitory rate was 42% (P less than 0.01). TG could also inhibit squamous epithelial lung carcinoma induced by 3-methylcholanthrene. The inhibitory rate was 65.13% (P less than 0.05). TG had remarkable killing effect on human HL60 and Daudi cells and two direction effects on function M phi of mouse abdominal cavity in vitro.

[Structure revision of triptophenolide].

A diterpenoid-lactone, white thin crystals, C20H24O3, m/z: 312 (M+), mp 222-223 degrees C, UV lambda max (EtOH) 217 (log epsilon 4.36) nm, has been isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the roots of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f., in a yield of 0.025%. Its structure was elucidated by spectral analysis (UV, IR, MS, 1HNMR and 13CNMR) and X-ray SCD. It is the known triptophenolide with revision of structure. Triptophenlolide was shown to have obvious inhibiting effects on lymphocyte and IgG (P less than 0.01) when mice and rats were given ig 1.5 mg/kg. The total complements in blood serum was increased. When BALB/C mice were given ig 1.5 mg/kg, the ear oedema induced by dimethyl benzene was significantly inhibited (P less than 0.01); The ear oedema induced by croton oil in SD rats at a dose of ig 1.0 mg/kg was also significantly inhibited (P less than 0.05). The vitamin C content of the adrenal gland was reduced in mice at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg. The ig LD50 of triptophenolide was greater than 30 mg/kg.