[Astragalus polysaccharide may increase sensitivity of cervical cancer HeLa cells to cisplatin by regulating cell autophagy].

This study aimed to investigate the possible sensitivity of Astragalus polysaccharides, in order to improve the chemosensitivity of cervical cancer HeLa cells to cisplatin by regulating the cell autophagy, and explore its possible mechanism. In this study, HeLa cells were divided into control group, cisplatin group, Astragalus polysaccharide group, and Astragalus polysaccharide combined with cisplatin group. MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation of cervical cancer HeLa cells. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis and cycle of HeLa cells in each experimental group. RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of autophagy-related proteins beclin1, LC3Ⅱ and p62. The expression levels of autophagy-related proteins beclin1, LC3Ⅱ, LC3Ⅰ and p62 were detected by WB method. MTT results showed that compared with the control group, the proliferation of HeLa cells was significantly inhibited in each administration group(P<0.05), and the inhibitory effect of the combination group was more significant(P<0.01). The apoptotic rate of HeLa cells was significantly increased(P<0.05), and the apoptotic rate of the combination group was significantly increased(P<0.01) compared with the control group(P<0.05).In conclusion, G0/G1 phase showed the most significant differences between the two groups. RT-PCR and WB results showed that the gene and protein expressions of beclin1 and LC3Ⅱ were up-regulated, while the gene and protein expressions of p62 were down-regulated compared with the control group. The above-mentioned changes in the combination group were more significant. Through the analysis of the above experimental results, it is speculated that Astragalus polysaccharides may increase the sensitivity of cervical cancer HeLa cells to cisplatin by regulating the cell autophagy. Its possible mechanism of action is correlated with the up-regulation of autophagy-related proteins beclin1, the promote the conversion from LC3Ⅰ to LC3Ⅱ, the down-regulation of labeled protein p62, and the enhancement of HeLa cell autophagic activity, thereby increasing the sensitivity of HeLa cells to cisplatin chemotherapy.

[Comparative study on effect of plum-blossom needle and western medication on follicular maldevelopment].

OBJECTIVE: To observe clinical efficacy of plum-blossom needle for follicular maldevelopment (FM). METHODS: Fifty cases of FM were randomly divided into a plum-blossom needle group and a medication group, 25 cases in each one. In the plum-blossom needle group, the plum-blossom needle was applied along Thoroughfare, Conception, Governor and Belt Vessel as well as at Pishu (BL 20), Weishu (BL 21), Shenshu (BL 23), Luanchao (Extra), Zigong (EX-CA 1) during the follicular growth phase, once every other day. In the medication group, clomifene (CC) was prescribed for oral administration and human choriogonadotropin (HCG) was given by intramuscular injection, once each day. For both groups, one menstrual cycle constituted one course. After two courses of treatment, follicular development condition, the changes of endometrial thickness and morphology, ovarian resistent index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI), rate of ovulation and pregnancy were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After the treatment, the average diameters of the biggest follicle increased in both groups, while the endometrial thickness and morphology in the plum-blossom needle group were superior to those in the medication group (all P < 0.05). Ovarian RI and PI during mature follicular phase in the plum-blossom needle group were inferior to those in the medication group (both P < 0.05). The differences in ovulation and pregnancy rate were not significant statistically between the two groups (both P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The plum-blossom needle therapy based on regulating Thoroughfare, Conception, Governor and Belt Vessel could improve the ovarian blood perfusion, promote the follicular growth, increase the ovulation rate of mature follicle and avoid the out-of-sync between growth of follicle and endometrium during the treatment of western medication.