Rosmarinic Acid and Related Dietary Supplements: Potential Applications in the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer.

Cancer constitutes a severe threat to human health and quality of life and is one of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Natural dietary products have drawn substantial attention in cancer treatment and prevention due to their availability and absence of toxicity. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is known for its excellent antioxidant properties and is safe and effective in preventing and inhibiting tumors. This review summarizes recent publications on culture techniques, extraction processes, and anti-tumor applications of RA-enriched dietary supplements. We discuss techniques to improve RA bioavailability and provide a mechanistic discussion of RA regarding tumor prevention, treatment, and adjuvant therapy. RA exhibits anticancer activity by regulating oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and metastasis. These data suggest that daily use of RA-enriched dietary supplements can contribute to tumor prevention and treatment. RA has the potential for application in anti-tumor drug development.

Beware of the Potential Risks for Polygoni Multiflori Caulis-Induced Liver Injury.

Background: Reynoutria multiflora (Thunb.) Moldenke (PM) is a widely-used medicinal plant in China, whose root and stem are included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia as Polygoni Multiflori Radix (RPM), Polygoni Multiflori Radix Preparata (PMP), and Polygoni Multiflori Caulis (PMC). The hepatotoxicity of RPM and PMP is concerned by the public, while the risk of PMC is ignored. Purpose: Here, we investigate the potential risks for PMC-induced liver injury from clinical, chemical, and animal features. Study design: First, we analyzed the 12-month usage of RPM, PMP, and PMC in Longhua Hospital. Second, we determined the contents of gallic acid, cis-2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxy-stilbene-2-O-ß-D-glucoside (cis-SG), trans-2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxy-stilbene-2-O-ß-D-glucoside (trans-SG), emodin-8-O-ß-D-glucoside (EG), physcion-8-O-ß-D-glucoside (PG), emodin, and physcion in the water extracts from 15 batches of RPM, PMP, and PMC. Third, we probed the hepatotoxic effect of RPM, PMP, and PMC in mice and explored the mechanism of cis-SG and trans-SG causing the liver injury at the dosages based on our results from the first and second parts. Results: PMC had nearly five times the amount of usage in both outpatient prescriptions and inpatient orders than RPM and PMP. Overall, 68% dosage of PMC was 30 g. The contents of cis-SG, trans-SG, and emodin in PMC water extracts were significantly lower than those in RPM and PMP water extracts. PMC induced milder idiosyncratic liver injury for its lower content of cis-SG and trans-SG than its root counterparts. Conclusion: The potential risks for PMC-induced liver injury should be fully aware of.

Development of an Immunoassay for the Detection of Copper Residues in Pork Tissues.

The presence of high concentrations of copper (Cu) residues in pork is highly concerning and therefore, this study was designed to develop a high-throughput immunoassay for the detection of such residues in edible pork tissues. The Cu content in the pork samples after digestion with HNO3 and H2O2 was measured using a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against a Cu (II)-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) complex. The resulting solution was neutralized using NaOH at pH 7 and the free metal ions in the solution were chelated with EDTA for the immunoassay detection. An indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) method was developed for Cu ion analysis. The half maximal inhibitory concentration of the mAb against Cu (II)-EDTA was 5.36 ng/mL, the linear detection range varied between 1.30 and 27.0 ng/mL, the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.43 µg/kg, and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 1.42 µg/kg. The performances of the immunoassay were evaluated using fortified pig serum, liver, and pork samples and had a recovery rate of 94.53-102.24%. Importantly, the proposed immunoassay was compared with inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) to measure its performance. The detection correlation coefficients of the three types of samples (serum, pork, and liver) were 0.967, 0.976, and 0.983, respectively. Thirty pork samples and six pig liver samples were collected from local markets and Cu was detected with the proposed ic-ELISA. The Cu content was found to be 37.31~85.36 µg/kg in pork samples and 1.04-1.9 mg/kg in liver samples. Furthermore, we detected the Cu content in pigs with feed supplemented with tribasic copper chloride (TBCC) and copper sulfate (CS) (60, 110, and 210 mg/kg in feed). There was no significant difference in Cu accumulation in pork tissues between the TBCC and CS groups, while a remarkable Cu accumulation was found for the CS group in liver at 210 mg/kg, representing more than a two-fold higher level than seen in the TBCC group. Therefore, the proposed immunoassay was found to be robust and sensitive for the detection of Cu, providing a cost effective and practical tool for its detection in food and other complicated samples.

Effects of the natural sweetener rebaudioside A on intake, nutrient digestion, rumen fermentation, and blood biochemical parameters in adult goats during summer.

The effects of dietary rebaudioside A inclusion on feed intake, digestion of nutrients, rumen fermentation, and blood biochemical parameters of goats were evaluated in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square study. Nine adult goats during summer were fed a basal forage/concentrate-based diet and the forage was chopped rice straw. The three dietary treatments were 0, 350, and 700 mg rebaudioside A per kg chopped rice straw on a DM basis. No significant improvement was observed in dry matter intake (DMI) of forage and diet among treatments. Nutrient digestibility of DM and organic matter (OM) showed a significant trend (p < .10) across groups. Rebaudioside A inclusion significantly (p < .01) increased the concentration of total volatile fatty acids in the rumen, however, there were no differences in concentration of ruminal ammonia, and molar proportions of acetate, propionate, and butyrate. About blood metabolites, increasing rebaudioside A in the diet caused a quadratic response in glucose and total protein, and albumin concentrations. Under the conditions of this study, supplementation with rebaudioside A at 350 and 700 mg/kg forage did not improve consumption of rice straw-based diet in adult goats in summer. However, the responses in digestibility, rumen fermentation, and blood metabolites appear to indicate the potential of rebaudioside A as a bio-active substance in goats.

Anti-inflammation effect of Qingchang suppository in ulcerative colitis through JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Qingchang Suppository (QCS) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine formula (TCM) for Ulcerative Colitis (UC), which has been used for the treatment of UC for more than 30 years with therapeutic effect. This formula is optimized from a classic formula called "Qingdai San". Although some experiments have shown QCS effective for UC, its mechanism on UC is still unclear and needs to be clarified. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the usage of QCS in our hospital, clarify the main compounds in QCS and their anti-inflammation effect both in vivo and in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prescription analysis was performed in the clinical department and pharmacology network prediction was predicted for relative signal pathways. 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis rats and Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Caco-2 cell as an inflammatory model were used to evaluate the effect of QCS. RESULTS: QCS and its herbs were associated with inflammatory and immunological diseases. QCS and its ingredients showed little toxicity on Caco-2 cell and could down-regulate the level of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (P-STAT3 Tyr705) in LPS-induced Caco-2 cell. In an animal experiment, QCS and its ingredients (indigo and gallic acid) could alleviate the symptoms of TNBS-induced colitis of rats, significantly decrease pro-inflammatory factors and anti-inflammatory factors as well as inhibit the expressions of P-STAT3 and Tyr705. CONCLUSION: QCS and its components could improve UC by anti-inflammation. JAK2/STAT3 pathway might be the possible signaling pathway.

Clinical analysis of 132 cases COVID-19 from Wuhan.

Numerous cases of pneumonia from a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, China during December 2019.We determined the correlations of patient parameters with disease severity in patients with COVID-19.A total of 132 patients from Wuhan Fourth Hospital who had COVID-19 from February 1 to February 29 in 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.Ninety patients had mild disease, 32 had severe disease, and 10 had critical disease. The severe/critical group was older (P < .05), had a higher proportion of males (P < .05), and had a greater mortality rate (0% vs 61.9%, P < .05). The main symptoms were fever (n = 112, 84.8%) and cough (n = 96, 72.7%). Patients were treated with antiviral agents (n = 94, 71.2%), antibiotics (n = 92, 69.7%), glucocorticoids (n = 46, 34.8%), intravenous immunoglobulin (n = 38, 27.3%), and/or traditional Chinese medicine (n = 40, 30.3%). Patients in the severe/critical group received mechanical ventilation (n = 22, 16.7%) or high-flow nasal can-nula oxygen therapy (n = 6, 4.5%). Chest computed tomography (CT) indicated bilateral pneumonia in all patients. Relative to the mild group, the severe/critical group had higher levels of leukocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), D-dimer, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), liver enzymes, and myocardial enzymes (P < .05), and decreased levels of lymphocytes and blood oxygen partial pressure (P < .05).The main clinical symptoms of patients from Wuhan who had COVID-19 were fever and cough. Patients with severe/critical disease were more likely to be male and elderly. Disease severity correlated with increased leukocytes, CRP, PCT, BNP, D-dimer, liver enzymes, and myocardial enzymes, and with decreased lymphocytes and blood oxygen partial pressure.

[Influence on orbicularis oculi muscle in the patients with facial neuritis treated with the penetra-ting needling at Cuanzhu (BL2) and Yuyao (EX-HN4) combined with the perpendicular needling at Shenmai (BL62)].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effect on incomplete eyelid in the patients with facial neuritis treated with the penetrating needling at Cuanzhu (BL2) and Yuyao (EX-HN4) combined with the perpendicular needling at Shenmai (BL62). METHODS: A total of 64 patients with facial neuritis, in compliance with the inclusion criteria, were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, with 32 cases in each. In the treatment group, the penetrating needling was applied to BL2 and EX-HN4 on the affected side, combined with the perpendicular needling at bilateral BL62. Besides, on the affected side, the penetrating needling was applied from Yangbai (GB14) toward four directions, named Shangxing (GV23), Touwei (ST8), Cuanzu (BL2) and Sizukong (TE23), the mutual penetrating needling was adopted between Dicang (ST4) and Jiache (ST6). Between Yingxiang (LI20) and Xiaguan (ST7), a row-arranged needling technique was applied. All of the needles were retained for 10 to 30 min in each treatment. The treatment was given once daily and the treatment for 10 days was as 1 course. A total of 2 courses of treatment were required. In the control group, prednisone acetate （30 mg/d）, was administered consecutively for 5 days. Afterward, the dose was reduced to be 10 mg/d and the medication stopped after taking consecutively for 1 week. Muscular injection with vitamin B12 （0.5 mg） and B1 （0.1 mg） was given, once daily. 10 days later, vitamin B1 was taken for oral administration, 10 mg each time, three times a day, for 10 days totally. Before and after the treatment, the clinical effect was compared between the two groups in terms of the analysis on the Hourse-Brackman (H-B) grade of facial nerve function, the distance between the upper and the lower eyelids, muscle strength, degree of eyelid closure and electromyogram (EMG). RESULTS: The total effective rate of treatment group was 96.9 % (31/32), better than 84.4%（27/32） in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, in the treatment group, the distance between the upper and lower eyelids, the muscle strength, the degree of eyelid closure, the wave amplitude of motor nerve conduction and the latent period, as well as the blink reflex were all improved as compared with those before the treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05). In the control group, the distance between the upper and lower eyelids, the muscle strength, the degree of eyelid closure, the latent period of motor nerve conduction and the blink reflex were all improved as compared with those before the treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05). After the treatment, the results of the distance between the upper and lower eyelids, the muscle strength, the degree of eyelid closure, the wave amplitude of motor nerve conduction and the latent period, as well as the blink reflex in the treatment group were all better than those in the control group (P<0.05，P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The treatment with the penetrating needling at Cuanzhu (BL2) and Yuyao (EX-HN4) combined with the perpendicular needling at Shenmai (BL62) greatly promotes the recovery of orbicularis oculi muscle in the patients with facial neuritis, reduces the complications and presents the satisfactory clinical effect.

[Jingjin needling improves facial nerve function and psychosomatic function in Hunt facial para-lysis patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effectiveness of Jingjin (muscle region) needling in the treatment of Hunt facial paralysis (HFP). METHODS: A total of 80 HFP patients were randomly divided into acupuncture and medication groups (n＝40 cases/group). Jingjin needling was applied to Yangbai(GB14) to Shangxing (GV23), Touwei (ST8), Cuanzhu (BL2), Sizhukong (TE23，penetrative needling), Dicang (ST4) to Jiache (ST6, penetrative needling), Yingxiang(LI20) and Xiaguan(ST7), Hegu(LI4), Yifeng (TE17), Yuyao (EX-HN 4), and Shenmai (BL62), with the needles retained for 30 min. The treatment was conducted once daily, with 10 consecutive days being a therapeutic course, and 3 courses altogether. Patients of the medication group received oral administration of Prednisone acetate (12 days), Acyclovir (7 days), intramuscular injection of Vitamin B12 and Vitamin B1(10 days), then, oral administration of Vitamin B1, successively. The therapeutic effect was assessed by using House-Brackman (H-B) facial function grading system (grade I to VI), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) sign and symptom score, and facial disability index (FDI) scale including FDI physical function (FDIP, food and water swallowing, speaking-pronouncing, dryness or tearing, and mouth-opening) and FDI social function (FDIS, self-rating anxiety/depression scales), separately. RESULTS: After the treatment, the TCM symptom and sign scores for depth of nasolabial groove, nose shrugging, lower lip asymmetry, food retention and post-auricular pain were significantly lower in the medication group (P<0.05)．After the treatment, the TCM symptom and sign scores for frontal muscle movement, eyelid opening and closing, depth of nasolabial groove, nose shrugging, lower lip asymmetry, cheek blowing, food retention, latissimus cervicalis contraction, taste disorder, hearing hypersensitivity, tears and discomfort and post-auricular pain were significantly lower in the acupuncture group (P<0.05)．Comparison between two groups showed that the TCM symptom and sign scores for frontal muscle movement, eyelid opening and closing, depth of nasolabial groove, nose shrugging, lower lip asymmetry, cheek blowing, food retention, latissimus cervicalis contraction, taste disorder, hearing hypersensitivity, tears and discomfort and post-auricular pain were significantly lower in the acupuncture group than in the medication group(P<0.05)．The scores of FDIP and FDIS were significantly increased in both groups (P<0.01) and notably higher in the acupuncture group than in the medication group (P<0.01) after the treatment. The total effective rate of acupuncture group was 97.5% (39/40), and that of medication group was 72.5% (29/40). The therapeutic effect of the acupuncture group was significantly superior to that of the medication group (P<0.01)．. CONCLUSION: Jingjin needling has a good therapeutic effect in improving facial nerve function, psychosomatic function and clinical signs and symptoms in HFP patients, evidently being better than medication.

Efficacy of sorafenib combined with radiofrequency ablation in renal cancer and its effects on immunity and inflammation in patients.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of laparoscopic and conventional left hemicolectomy for treating colon cancer and their effects on stress response and quality of life of patients. METHODS: 92 patients with colon cancer were selected. Forty three patients in the study group were treated with laparoscopic left hemicolectomy, and 49 patients in the control group were treated with conventional left hemicolectomy. The surgery, postoperative recovery, intraoperative and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of IL1ß and IL-6. The quality of life of patients after surgery was analyzed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L). RESULTS: The operation time and intraoperative blood loss of the study group were statistically lower than those of the control group (p<0.05). The postoperative exhaust time and hospitalization time of the study group were statistically shorter than those of the control group (p<0.05). Serum IL-1ß and IL-6 levels in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05). In the two groups, the overall scores of quality of life after surgery were significantly lower than those before surgery (p<0.05). After surgery, the overall score of quality of life in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic left hemicolectomy with surgical approaches on the surgical plane has high safety and marked efficacy.

Influence of Oleic Acid on Rumen Fermentation and Fatty Acid Formation In Vitro.

A series of batch cultures were conducted to investigate the effects of oleic acid (OA) on in vitro ruminal dry matter degradability (IVDMD), gas production, methane (CH4) and hydrogen (H2) production, and proportion of fatty acids. Rumen fluid was collected from fistulated goats, diluted with incubation buffer, and then incubated with 500 mg Leymus chinensis meal supplemented with different amounts of OA (0, 20, 40, and 60 mg for the CON, OA20, OA40 and OA60 groups, respectively). Incubation was carried out anaerobically at 39°C for 48 h, and the samples were taken at 12, 24 and 48 h and subjected to laboratory analysis. Supplementation of OA decreased IVDMD, the cumulative gas production, theoretical maximum of gas production and CH4 production, but increased H2 production. However, no effect was observed on any parameters of rumen fermentation (pH, ammonia, production of acetate, propionate and butyrate and total volatile fatty acid production). The concentrations of some beneficial fatty acids, such as cis monounsaturated fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) were higher (P < 0.05) from OA groups than those from the control group at 12 h incubation. In summary, these results suggest that the OA supplementation in diet can reduce methane production and increase the amount of some beneficial fatty acids in vitro.

The effects of co-administration of butter on the absorption, metabolism and excretion of catechins in rats after oral administration of tea polyphenols.

In Southwest China, tea polyphenols are usually utilized by way of butter tea. Tea polyphenols inhibit the absorption and biosynthesis of fatty acids in vivo, but the effects of butter on the pharmacokinetics of tea polyphenols have drawn less concern. A rapid UHPLC-MS/MS method was used to quantitatively determine the catechins in the plasma, feces and bile of rats after the oral administration of tea polyphenol or its combination with butter. In comparison with the single tea polyphenol treatment, the maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax) of the free EGCG, EGC, EC, GCG, GC and ECG significantly decreased after the co-administration of butter. The mean residence times (MRT) of the free EGCG, EGC, EC, GC and ECG were also significantly prolonged. When the plasma samples were treated with ß-glucuronidase and arylsulfatase, the pharmacokinetic parameters of the total catechins (free and conjugated forms) were not affected by the co-administration of butter. These results indicated that the total absorption of catechins was not affected by butter, but the metabolism of catechins had been changed. Furthermore, the fecal catechins were significantly increased by butter. The total fecal amount and excretion ratio of all catechins were increased highly. The biliary excretion of EGCG, EGC, EC, GCG and GC was significantly increased by the co-administration of butter. To sum up, the butter changed the metabolism of catechins in vivo by decreasing the plasma concentration of the free catechins but increasing the conjugated catechins.

[Application of magnetic materials in analysis on Chinese herb medicines].

China is the cradle of Chinese herb medicines,with rich plant resources. However, traditional processing methods have many disadvantages, such as high comsumption of organic solvent, long extraction time and high loss of effective constituents. For the purpose of rational use of Chinese herb medicines and accurate analysis on their constituents,the sample pre-treatment method with magnetic nanoparticles as the carrier brought new opportunities in recent years. after consulting literatures,the essay summarizes traditional extraction methods of Chinese herb medicines, characteristics of magnetic materials and their application in the analysis on Chinese herb medicines.

Sesquiterpenoids from Inula racemosa.

Phytochemical research on the roots of Inula racemosa yielded nine sesquiterpenoids including a new nor-eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid, 11,12,13-trinoreudesm-5-en-7ß,8α-diol (1). The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR. The structure of compound 2 was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

[Analysis of principal composition of ethyl acetate part in Huangqi Danggui decoction by HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and identify the principal composition of ethyl acetate part of Huangqi Danggui decoction by high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS). METHOD: The analysis conditions are as follows: Zorbax SB C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column; mobile phase (A) water mobile phase (B) acetonitrile, gradient elution; UV detection wavelength 254 nm; ESI source and data acquisition in positive and negative mode. RESULT: The accurate molecular weights of 20 compounds were measured and identified in ethyl acetate part of Huangqi Danggui decoction. Furthermore, the types of them are as below: flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides, saponins, oligosaccharides, amino acids and phthalides. CONCLUSION: It is a rapid and accurate method that the compositions of compound prescription of traditional Chinese medicine can be identified in terms of the separation of high performance liquid chromatography, the accurate molecular weights measured by MS and other information, which can clarify the potential effective compounds of Huangqi Danggui decoction.

[Effect of electrovaporization on the prostate and its surrounding tissues].

OBJECTIVE: Transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate (TVP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has proven to be efficacious with lower morbidity than transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) on clinical studies. However, no histopathologic data are available to support the clinical findings in human studies. The following study was done using a canine model in an effort to evaluate these histopathologic changes. METHODS: Nine canines received antegrade electrovaporization or resection of the prostate, via an open cystoma, using Storz series resectoscope and video equipment. The dogs were sacrificed and their prostates harvested at 0 week (immediately after operation), 1 week or 5 weeks after electrovaporization or resection. The prostates were evaluated grossly as well as histologically for cavitary defects and depth of necrosis. RESULTS: Prostate examination revealed superficial necrosis (less than 1.8 mm deep) at 0 week following the 270 watts operation, and less than 3 mm deep necrosis with acute inflammation and focal hemorrhage at 1 week. The depths of necrosis were less than 1.3 mm and 2.2 mm at 0 week and 1 week after the 180 W electrovaporizion. And the 120 W resection resulted in necrosis 1.1 mm and 1.6 mm deep at most, which was localized in the vaporized prostate only, with no histopathologic change in the surrounding tissues. Epithelial stratification was underway by the fifth week, but with inflammation. CONCLUSION: TVP in the canine model showed only shallow necrosis at the site of the vaporization. These data provide a histopathologic rationale for the minimal morbidity and efficacious nature of this technique demonstrated in clinical studies.