[Mechanism of blood-activating and mass-dissipating Chinese patent medicine against hyperplasia of mammary glands and use with other medicine: a review].

Caused by endocrine disorder, hyperplasia of mammary glands(HMG) tends to occur in the young with increasing incidence, putting patients at the risk of cancer and threatening the health of women. Therefore, the prevention and treatment of HMG is attracting more and more attention. Amid the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), many scholars have found that Chinese patent medicine has unique advantages and huge potential in treatment of endocrine disorder. Particularly, Chinese patent medicine with the function of blood-activating and mass-dissipating, such as Xiaojin Pills and Xiaozheng Pills, has been commonly used in clinical treatment of HMG, which features multiple targets, obvious efficacy, small side effect, and ease of taking and carrying around. Clinical studies have found that the combination of Chinese patent medicine with other medicine can not only improve the efficacy and relieve symptoms such as hyperplasia and pain but also reduce the toxic and side effects of western medicine. Therefore, based on precious pharmacological research and clinical research, this study reviewed the mechanisms of blood-activating mass-dissipating Chinese patent medicine alone and in combination with other medicine, such as regulating levels of in vivo hormones and receptors, promoting apoptosis, inhibiting angiogenesis, improving hemorheology indexes, enhancing immunity, and boosting antioxidant ability. In addition, limitations and problems were summarized. Thereby, this study is expected to lay a theoretical basis for the further study and clinical application of blood-activating mass-dissipating Chinese patent medicine alone or in combination with other medicine against HMG.

Mechanism of blood-activating and mass-dissipating Chinese patent medicine against hyperplasia of mammary glands and use with other medicine: a review / 中国中药杂志

Caused by endocrine disorder, hyperplasia of mammary glands(HMG) tends to occur in the young with increasing incidence, putting patients at the risk of cancer and threatening the health of women. Therefore, the prevention and treatment of HMG is attracting more and more attention. Amid the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), many scholars have found that Chinese patent medicine has unique advantages and huge potential in treatment of endocrine disorder. Particularly, Chinese patent medicine with the function of blood-activating and mass-dissipating, such as Xiaojin Pills and Xiaozheng Pills, has been commonly used in clinical treatment of HMG, which features multiple targets, obvious efficacy, small side effect, and ease of taking and carrying around. Clinical studies have found that the combination of Chinese patent medicine with other medicine can not only improve the efficacy and relieve symptoms such as hyperplasia and pain but also reduce the toxic and side effects of western medicine. Therefore, based on precious pharmacological research and clinical research, this study reviewed the mechanisms of blood-activating mass-dissipating Chinese patent medicine alone and in combination with other medicine, such as regulating levels of in vivo hormones and receptors, promoting apoptosis, inhibiting angiogenesis, improving hemorheology indexes, enhancing immunity, and boosting antioxidant ability. In addition, limitations and problems were summarized. Thereby, this study is expected to lay a theoretical basis for the further study and clinical application of blood-activating mass-dissipating Chinese patent medicine alone or in combination with other medicine against HMG.

Evaluation of the mechanism of Rujiling capsules in the treatment of hyperplasia of mammary glands based on network pharmacology and molecular docking.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to elucidate the molecular network mechanism of the Rujiling capsule in the treatment of hyperplasia of mammary glands through network pharmacology and molecular docking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TCMSP and TCMID databases were screened for the active components and their action targets of the Rujiling capsule, whereas the disease targets of hyperplasia of mammary glands were searched in GeneCard and DisGeNET databases. Venny software was employed to identify the common targets of drugs and diseases. Cytoscape software was used to construct the network pharmacological diagram of "drug-active components-target" and the intersection targets were subjected to protein-protein interaction analysis by STRING platform and Cytoscape software. The DAVID database was exploited for gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of the intersection target. After that, the key target genes with a degree value greater than the median were verified with the active components in molecular docking. RESULTS: A total of 691 drug targets, 251 disease targets, and 108 intersection targets were obtained after retrieval and screening. Among the 686 items enriched by GO included 522 biological processes, 110 molecular functions, and 54 cellular components. At the same time, 114 signal pathways were enriched by KEGG. The results of molecular docking revealed that the docking energies of main active components and some core targets were all <-5 kcal/mol. CONCLUSION: Henceforth, highlighted the role of the Rujiling capsule in the treatment of hyperplasia of mammary glands through multiple components, multiple targets, and multiple signal pathways.

Evaluation of Curcumin Therapeutic Effects on Histological Subtypes of Canine Mammary Gland Tumours.

Canine mammary gland tumors (CMGTs) are the most frequent types of cancer in bitches and proposed as a model of human breast cancer. The anticancer effect of curcumin on human breast cancer has been extensively studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of curcumin in two different histologies (simple carcinoma [SC] and squamous cell carcinoma [SCC]) of CMGTs. Primary canine mammary cells were isolated from the tumoral tissues surgically resected from two bitches (Case 1 and Case 2). Cell viability, apoptotic percentage, cell cycle progression and the changes in the cell morphology were evaluated. Curcumin inhibited the growth of both SC (Case 1) and SCC (Case 2) cells. However, Case 1 cells (43.48% ± 3.87% at 0.5 µM) were more sensitive to curcumin than Case 2 cells (59.36% ± 2.09% at 0.5 µM). Curcumin induced total apoptotic cell death through G0/G1 arrest, and this effect was more profound in Case 1 cells. Furthermore, cytoplasmic vacuolization, apoptotic bodies and membrane blebbing were observed in both cells following curcumin treatment. Our findings provide a novel approach for the effects of curcumin as a natural compound on CMGTs. Further investigations should be performed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of the differences in curcumin efficacy for different histological subtypes.

Chitosan functionalized graphene oxide nanocomposites for fluorescence imaging of apoptotic processes and targeted anti-inflammation study.

This work reports novel chitosan functionalized graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites combined fluorescence imaging and therapeutic functions in one agent, which can serve as a promising alternative to alleviate related diseases caused hyperinflammation. Briefly, GO was designed to be conjugated with chitosan, fluorescein-labeled peptide, toll-like receptor 4 antibody and hydroxycamptothecin/aloe emodin. We have demonstrated that such nanocomposites could effectively achieve active targeted delivery of pro-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory drugs into inflammatory cells and cause cells apoptosis by acid-responsive drug release. Moreover, confocal fluorescence imaging confirms that the drug-induced inflammatory cells apoptosis could be visualized the light-up fluorescence of fluorescein activated by caspase-3. Meanwhile, inflammatory-related biomarkers have down-regulated after the nanocomposites' treatment in both vitro and vivo experiments consistent with the results in histological sections. In summary, the bifunctional nanocomposites that possess anti-inflammation and fluorescence imaging could serve as a promising therapeutic agent for reducing hyperinflammation caused by numerous diseases.

Effect of auricular point pressing therapy on hyperplasia of mammary glands: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, with the accelerated pace of life, diet, environmental problems occur frequently. External factors are easily to cause endocrine disorders and hormone sensitivity of breast tissue, which can lead to mammary hyperplasia. The incidence rate of hyperplasia of mammary glands is increasing year by year, and the age of onset is also getting lower and lower. If not treated in time, there is a crisis of breast cancer.Clinical studies have found that auricular point pressing therapy is widely used in clinical treatment of mammary hyperplasia recently, but the efficacy of massage in the treatment of mammary hyperplasia has not been systematically reviewed. The purpose of this study is to explore the efficacy, safety and effectiveness of auricular point pressing therapy in the treatment of hyperplasia of mammary glands. METHODS: We will search PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Wan fang Database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, CNKI, VIP, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. The retrieval date was January 10, 2021. RevMan 5.3 software was used to evaluate the quality and risk of included studies. The efficacy, recurrence rate, and symptom score of breast hyperplasia were analyzed, and the results were observed and measured. RESULTS: This study will be from the clinical efficiency, improvement rate, pain symptoms disappear rate, tumor size improvement rate, and other aspects of the existing evidence for a high quality synthesis, as well as auricular point pressing therapy adverse events. CONCLUSION: the conclusion of this review will provide the basis for judging whether auricular point pressing therapy is safe and effective in the treatment of hyperplasia of mammary glands. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This systematic will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of auricular point pressing therapy in the treatment of hyperplasia of mammary glands. As all data used in this systematic review and meta-analysis have been published, ethical approval is not required for this review. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY202110028.

Anti-hyperprolactinemic activities of aqueous extract of Uvaria chamae (P. Beauv) roots and associated biochemical changes in chlorpromazine-induced hyperprolactinemic female Wistar rats.

ETHNOPHARAMCOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The age-long folkloric use of Uvaria chamae roots in the management of nipple discharge that is not related to pregnancy, childbirth or nursing but as a result of excessive production of prolactin (hyperprolactinemia) is yet to be substantiated with scientific data. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study investigated the anti-hyperprolactinemic activities of aqueous extract of Uvaria chamae roots (AEUCR) and associated biochemical changes in chlorpromazine (CPZ)-induced hyperprolactinemic female Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of sixty female rats (207.40 ± 2.69 g) were assigned into 6 groups: A-F. Animals in Group A received 0.5 ml of distilled water only whilst the 7 days CPZ-treated female rats (to induce hyperprolactinemia) in groups B, C, D, E, and F also received distilled water, 2.5 mg/kg body weight of bromocriptine (reference drug), 0.71, 1.41 2.83 mg/kg body weight of AEUCR for 28 days. RESULTS: AEUCR contained a total of 15 (75%) amino acids with seven (46.67%) being essential amino acids and eight (53.33%) as non-essential amino acids. Administration of CPZ increased (p < 0.05) the levels of prolactin and testosterone, and reduced (p < 0.05) the levels of estradiol, progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), dopamine, triiodothyronine (T3) and tetraiodothyroxine (T4). Chlorpromazine also increased the levels of serum urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin, globulin, bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of the animals. In contrast, AEUCR significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the CPZ-induced increases in the levels of prolactin and testosterone, and increased the levels of CPZ-induced reduction in the progesterone, estradiol, FSH, LH, dopamine, T3 and T4. The AEUCR also reversed (p < 0.05) the CPZ-induced related increases in the levels of urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin, globulin, bilirubin, ALT, AST and ALP similar to the trends in the distilled water- and bromocriptine-treated controls. The CPZ-induced remarkable increase in the size of lactating alveolus and lactiferous duct distribution in the mammary gland were restored to normal tubule-alveolar female pattern mammary glands, composed of branching ducts and small alveoli budding off the ducts. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that aqueous extract of Uvaria chamae root exhibited anti-hyperprolactinemic activity by restoring prolactin and dopamine levels and tubule-alveolar female pattern in female rats. It also ameliorated CPZ-induced changes in the liver and kidney function indices. This study justifies the folkloric use of Uvaria chamae root in the management of abnormal discharge by the nipples that is unrelated to pregnancy, childbirth and nursing.

Massage treatment of hyperplasia of mammary glands: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: With the accelerated pace of life, the problems of residence, diet, and environment have occurred frequently in recent years. External factors are easily to cause endocrine disorders and hormone sensitivity of breast tissue, which can lead to mammary hyperplasia. The incidence rate of hyperplasia of mammary glands is increasing year by year, and the age of onset is also getting lower and lower. If not treated in time, there is a crisis of breast cancer.Clinical studies have found that massage is widely used in clinical treatment of mammary hyperplasia recently, but the efficacy of massage in the treatment of mammary hyperplasia has not been systematically reviewed. The purpose of this study is to explore the efficacy, safety and effectiveness of massage in the treatment of hyperplasia of mammary glands. METHODS: We will search PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of controlled trials (central), ScienceNet, EMBASE, CBM, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang databases. The retrieval date was October 20, 2020. RevMan 5.3 software was used to evaluate the quality and risk of included studies. The efficacy, recurrence rate, and symptom score of breast hyperplasia were analyzed, and the results were observed and measured. RESULTS: This study will be from the clinical efficiency, improvement rate, pain symptoms disappear rate, tumor size improvement rate and other aspects of the existing evidence for a high quality synthesis, as well as massage adverse events. CONCLUSION: the conclusion of this review will provide the basis for judging whether massage is safe and effective in the treatment of hyperplasia of mammary glands. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This systematic will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of massage in the treatment of hyperplasia of mammary glands. As all data used in this systematic review and meta-analysis have been published, ethical approval is not required for this review. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY2020100066.

Acupuncture for mammary gland hyperplasia: A Bayesian network meta-analysis protocol.

BACKGROUND: Multiple randomized controlled trials have shown that acupuncture (ACU) work well in the treating mammary gland hyperplasia, which has been widely used in hospitals of China. Although the choices of ACU treatments varies in practice, most are based on experience or preference. Therefore, we outline a plan to assess and rank the efficacy of the various ACU methods to formulate a prioritized regimen for mammary gland hyperplasia in ACU therapy. METHODS: We will make a comprehensive retrieval in 7 databases as following: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China BioMedical Literature, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, and Wanfang database. The time is limited from the construction of the library to June 2020. We will evaluate the quality and the evidence of the included randomized controlled trials by the risk of bias tool and grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation, respectively. Bayesian network meta-analysis will be conducted using Stata16.0 and WinBUGS V.1.4.3. RESULTS: The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is expected to provide high-quality, evidence-based recommendations on further treatment of MGH for clinicians. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (registration number CRD42020158743).

Overexpression of CD36 in mammary fibroblasts suppresses colony growth in breast cancer cell lines.

Human breast tumors are not fully autonomous. They are dependent on nutrients and growth-promoting signals provided by the supporting stromal cells. Within the tumor microenvironment, one of the secreted macromolecules by tumor cells is activin A, where we show to downregulate CD36 in fibroblasts. Downregulation of CD36 in fibroblasts also increases the secretion of activin A by fibroblasts. We hypothesize that overexpression of CD36 in fibroblasts inhibits the formation of solid tumors in subtypes of breast cancer models. For the first time, we show that co-culturing organoid models of breast cancer cell lines of MDA-MB-231 (e.g., a triple-negative line) or MCF7 (e.g., a luminal-A line) with CD36+ fibroblasts inhibit the growth and normalizes basal and lateral polarities, respectively. In the long-term anchorage-independent growth assay, the rate of colony formation is also reduced for MDA-MB-231. These observations are consistent with the mechanism of tumor suppression involving the downregulation of pSMAD2/3 and YY1 expression levels. Our integrated analytical methods leverage and extend quantitative assays at cell- and colony-scales in both short- and long-term cultures using brightfield or immunofluorescent microscopy and robust image analysis. Conditioned media are profiled with the ELISA assay.

The effect of Euphorbia szovitsii Fisch. & C.A.Mey extract on the viability and the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cell line.

Some medicinal herbs and compounds are known to target cancer cells, but the success of them as anticancer compounds depends to a large extent on their ability to activate pathways that kill cancer cells by arresting cell cycle and inducing apoptosis. The aim of the present study was to determine the anticancer effects of Euphorbia szovitsii Fisch. & C.A.Mey. on the breast cancer cells to reveal the underlying mechanism of its anti-breast cancer properties. In this experimental study, triple negative breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) was cultivated in RPMI-1640 medium. Hydroalcoholic extract (70:30) of aerial parts of the plant was prepared. The cultured cells were treated with different concentrations (0-1000 µg/ml) of E. szovitsii extract for 24 and 48 h. Toxicity of the extract on MDA-MB-231 cells was examined using MTT (3-[4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl]-2, 5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) test. The Annexin V-FITC Apoptosis Detection Kit was used to evaluate apoptosis and necrosis. Flow cytometry technique was employed to differentiate different phases of the cell cycle in the cells. Data were analyzed by GraphPad Prism and SPSS software. After 24 and 48 h, the IC50 values were respectively 76.78 (95% CI = 60.75-97.05; R = 0.8588) and 59.71 (95% CI = 46.25-77.09; R = 0.8543) µg/ml for E. szovitsii The extract exhibited antiproliferative effects against MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Annexin V-FITC/PI assay confirmed that the extract was able to induce apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, treatment with the extract resulted in cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. Therefore, E. szovitsii could induce apoptosis and cycle arrest in the MDA-MB-231 cell line. It might be a good resource of natural products for producing anti-breast cancer drugs.

Possible role of phytoestrogens in breast cancer via GPER-1/GPR30 signaling.

Estrogens generated within endocrine organs and the reproductive system act as ligands for at least three types of estrogen receptors. Estrogen receptors α (ERα) and ß (ERß) belong to the so-called classical family of estrogen receptors, whereas the G protein-coupled receptor GPR30, also known as GPER-1, has been described as a novel estrogen receptor sited in the cell membrane of target cells. Furthermore, these receptors are under stimulation of a family of exogenous estrogens, known as phytoestrogens, which are a diverse group of non-steroidal plant compounds derived from plant food consumed by humans and animals. Because phytoestrogens are omnipresent in our daily diet, they are becoming increasingly important in both human health and disease. Recent evidence indicates that in addition to classical estrogen receptors, phytoestrogens also activate GPER-1 a relevant observation since GPER-1 is involved in several physiopathological disorders and especially in estrogen-dependent diseases such as breast cancer.The first estrogen receptors discovered were the classical ERα and ERß, but from an evolutionary point of view G protein-coupled receptors trace their origins in history to over a billion years ago suggesting that estrogen receptors like GPER-1 may have been the targets of choice for ancient phytoestrogens and/or estrogens.This review provides a comprehensive and systematic literature search on phytoestrogens and its relationship with classical estrogen receptors and GPER-1 including its role in breast cancer, an issue still under discussion.

Curcumin interacts directly with the Cysteine 259 residue of STAT3 and induces apoptosis in H-Ras transformed human mammary epithelial cells.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a transcription factor that is latent but constitutively activated in many types of cancers. It is well known that STAT3 plays a key role in inflammation-associated tumorigenesis. Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory natural compound isolated from the turmeric (Curcuma longa L., Zingiberaceae) that has been extensively used in a traditional medicine over the centuries. In the present study, we have found that curcumin inhibits STAT3 signaling that is persistently overactivated in H-Ras transformed breast epithelial cells (H-Ras MCF10A). Specific cysteine residues present in STAT3 appear to be critical for the activity as well as conformation of this transcription factor. We identified the cysteine residue 259 of STAT3 as a putative site for curcumin binding. Site-directed mutation of this cysteine residue abolished curcumin-induced inactivation of STAT3 and apoptosis in H-Ras MCF10A cells. The α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl moiety of curcumin appears to be essential in its binding to STAT3 in H-Ras MCF10A cells. Tetrahydrocurcumin that lacks such electrophilic moiety failed to interact with STAT3 and to induce apoptosis in the same cell line. Taken together, our findings suggest that curcumin can abrogate aberrant activation of STAT3 through direct interaction, thereby inhibiting STAT3-mediated mammary carcinogenesis.

Lymph drainage of the upper limb and mammary region to the axilla: anatomical study in stillborns.

PURPOSE: We studied the lymphatic drainage of the upper limb and mammary region directing to the axilla to investigate whether independent pathways can be observed or whether anastomoses and shared drainage occur between them. This analysis aimed to assess the safety of axillary reverse mapping (ARM) in breast cancer treatment and to understand the development of lymphedema after sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) alone. METHODS: Seven unfixed stillborn fetuses were injected with a modified Gerota mass in the peri-areolar area, palm and dorsum of the hands, formalin fixed, and then submerged in 10% hydrogen peroxide solution. Microsurgical dissection was then performed on the subcutaneous cellular tissue of the upper limb, axillary region, and anterior thorax to expose the lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes. RESULTS: The dye injected into the upper limb reached either the lateral axillary group, known to be exclusively responsible for upper limb drainage, or the anterior group, which is typically related to breast drainage. There was great proximity among the pathways and lymph nodes. Communicating lymphatic vessels among these groups of lymph nodes were also found in all studied cases. DISCUSSION: Lymphedema remains a challenging morbidity in breast cancer treatment. ARM and SLNB aim to avoid unnecessary damage to the lymphatic drainage of the upper limb. However, our anatomical study suggests that ARM may have potential oncological risks because preserved lymph nodes may harbor malignant cells due their proximity, overlapping drainage pathways, and connecting lymph vessels among lymph nodes.

Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Mammary Gland Hyperplasia.

Mammary gland hyperplasia (MGH) occurs with high frequency among middle-aged women and is closely related to breast cancer. The treatment of this disease has become a research hotspot. Many patients with MGH are worried about the potential side effects of the synthetic drugs they are on. Thus, they seek alternative therapy, such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In recent years, along with the Chinese herbs and its active ingredients, TCM compounds have been widely accepted and implemented in the treatment of MGH, whose mechanism hitherto is not completely clear. In this paper, we elaborate the mechanism of TCM in the treatment of MGH from the perspectives of sexual hormone levels, the expression of ER and PR, hemorheology, free radical activity and lipid peroxidation, VEGF and BFGF, cell proliferation activities, anti-apoptosis gene BcL-2, promoting apoptosis gene Bax, ERK, and tumor suppressor gene. In conclusion, TCM appears to be promising for MGH treatment. This paper will provide an overview of the mechanism of TCM in the treatment of MGH. In the near term, a better understanding of TCM will be achieved through comprehensive studies of its molecular mechanism.

Elucidating fish oil-induced milk fat depression in dairy sheep: Milk somatic cell transcriptome analysis.

In this study, RNA sequencing was used to obtain a comprehensive profile of the transcriptomic changes occurring in the mammary gland of lactating sheep suffering from fish oil-induced milk fat depression (FO-MFD). The milk somatic cell transcriptome analysis of four control and four FO-MFD ewes generated an average of 42 million paired-end reads per sample. In both conditions, less than 220 genes constitute approximately 89% of the total counts. These genes, which are considered as core genes, were mainly involved in cytoplasmic ribosomal proteins and electron transport chain pathways. In total, 117 genes were upregulated, and 96 genes were downregulated in FO-MFD samples. Functional analysis of the latter indicated a downregulation of genes involved in the SREBP signaling pathway (e.g., ACACA, ACSL, and ACSS) and Gene Ontology terms related to lipid metabolism and lipid biosynthetic processes. Integrated interpretation of upregulated genes indicated enrichment in genes encoding plasma membrane proteins and proteins regulating protein kinase activity. Overall, our results indicate that FO-MFD is associated with the downregulation of key genes involved in the mammary lipogenesis process. In addition, the results also suggest that this syndrome may be related to upregulation of other genes implicated in signal transduction and codification of transcription factors.

Novel augmentation by bufalin of protein kinase C-induced cyclooxygenase-2 and IL-8 production in human breast cancer cells.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and IL-8 are two inflammatory mediators induced by protein kinase C (PKC) via various stimuli. Both contribute significantly to cancer progression. Bufalin, a major active component of the traditional Chinese medicine Chan Su, is known to induce apoptosis in various cancer cells. This study clarifies the role and mechanism of bufalin action during PKC regulation of COX-2/IL-8 expression and investigates the associated impact on breast cancer. Using MB-231 breast cancer cells, bufalin augments PKC induction of COX-2/IL-8 at both the protein and mRNA levels, and the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and IL-8. The MAPK and NF-κB pathways are involved in both the PKC-mediated and bufalin-promoted PKC regulation of COX-2/IL-8 production. Bufalin increases PKC-induced MAPKs phosphorylation and NF-κB nuclear translocation. PGE2 stimulates the proliferation/migration of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, PKC-induced matrix metalloproteinase 3 expression is enhanced by bufalin. Bufalin significantly enhances breast cancer xenograft growth, which is accompanied by an elevation in COX-2/IL-8 expression. In conclusion, bufalin seems to promote the inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo, and this occurs, at least in part, by targeting the MAPK and NF-κB pathways, which then enhances the growth of breast cancer cells.

The Effects of Petroselinum Crispum on Estrogen Receptor-positive Benign and Malignant Mammary Cells (MCF12A/MCF7).

BACKGROUND: Phytoestrogens have controversial effects on hormone-dependent tumors. Herein we investigated the effects of parsley root extract (PCE) on DNA synthesis performance, metabolic activity and cytotoxicity in malignant and benign breast cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The PCE was prepared and analyzed by mass spectrometry. MCF7 and MCF12A cells were incubated with various concentrations of PCE and analyzed for DNA synthesis performance, metabolic activity and cytotoxicity by BrdU proliferation, MTT and LDH assays, respectively. RESULTS: PCE was found to contain a substantial ratio of lignans. At a concentration range of 0.01 µg/ml-100 µg/ml the LDH assay analysis showed no significant cytotoxicity of PCE in both cell lines. However, at 500 µg/ml PCE's cytotoxicity was well over 70% of total cell population in both cell lines. According to the BrdU proliferation assay analysis, PCE demonstrated significant DNA synthesis inhibition of up to 80% at concentrations of 10, 50, 100 and 500 µg/ml in both cell lines. Based on the MTT assay analysis, only at a concentration of 500 µg/ml, PCE demonstrated a statistically significant inhibition of cellular metabolic activity of 63% in MCF7 and 75% in MCF12A of their respective normal capacity. CONCLUSION: PCE showed antiproliferative effects in MCF7 and MCF12A cells. Further investigation is required to determine whether this effect can be solely attributed to its phytoestrogens.

[Effect observation of float needle combined with reperfusion activity for pain induced by cyclomastopathy].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of float needle therapy combined with reperfusion activity for pain induced by cyclomastopathy. METHODS: Thirty-five female patients with cyclomastopathy were randomly divided into a comprehensive group (18 cases) and a float needle group (17 cases). In the comprehensive group, float needle manipulation was used at the centre of the biceps brachii belly or the ligature between the affected nipple and breast nodule, about 4 cm beside the exterior margin of the breast, and the reperfusion activity of the affected upper limb and breast was combined. In the float needle group, simple float needle therapy was adopted. In the two groups, treatment was started 7 ± 3 days before menstruation, once every other day. After 3-time treatment, the changes of short form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) scores before and after treatment, the time of pain relieved during the first treatment, recurrence in 3 months after treatment and the adverse reaction were observed. Also, the clinical effects of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Immediately at the end of the first treatment,after 3-time treatment and while followed up for one month, each item score and the total score of SF-MPQ were decreased apparently than the scores before treatment (all P < 0.05), and all the scores mentioned above of the comprehensive group were declined more obviously than those of the float needle group (all P < 0.05). The time of pain relieved during the first treatment of the comprehensive group was much shorter than that of the float needle group [(94.72 ± 33.67) s vs (162.06 ± 29.16) s, P < 0.01]. The recurrence rate of the comprehensive group in 3 months after treatment was 5.9% (1/17), which was better than 20.0% (3/15) of the float needle group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Float needle therapy combined with reperfusion activity and simple float needle therapy can both safely and effectively improve cyclomastopathy, and the combination therapy is better than simple float needle therapy in the aspects of pain relieving effect at once and the long term effect.