Breviscapine regulates the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells via the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is ranked as one of the most common malignancies with a high death rate. It has been discovered that breviscapine can alter the progression and development of various cancers. Nevertheless, the function and mechanisms of breviscapine in CRC progression have not yet been described. The cell proliferation capacity of HCT116 and SW480 cells was assessed using the CCK-8 and EdU assays. Cell apoptosis was tested through flow cytometry, and cell migration and invasion were examined using the transwell assay. Moreover, protein expression was examined through a western blot. Tumor weight and volume were assessed using the nude mice in vivo assay, and the Ki-67 protein expression was verified through the IHC assay. This study discovered that an increased dose of breviscapine (0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 µM) gradually reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis in CRC. Additionally, breviscapine restricted the migration and invasion CRC cells. Moreover, it was revealed that breviscapine inactivated the PI3K/AKT pathway and inhibited CRC progression. Finally, an in vivo assay demonstrated that breviscapine restrained tumor growth in vivo. It affected the CRC cells' proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis through the PI3K/AKT pathway. This discovery may offer new insights into CRC treatment.

Therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxa combustion on prostate hyperplasia.

INTRODUCTION: Both acupuncture and moxibustion have been used for thousands of years in China for diverse conditions. But there are few reports on their combined effect in managing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). To answer this question, we designed a prospectively study and the present protocol described details of this randomized controlled trial (RCT). METHODS: In this RCT, an estimated number of 200 patients with BPH will be enrolled from Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, China. They will be assigned to either the combined therapy group or the conventional western medicine group in a ratio of 1:1. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) will be assessed as the primary outcome, other parameters, including the post-voiding residual urine volume, maximum flow rate (Qmax), and average flow rate (Qave), voiding time, and time to maximum flow, are secondary outcomes. DISCUSSION: Results of this study will provide the theoretical basis for clinicians to select combined therapy or conventional western medicine treatments for BPH patients based on the efficacy of these therapies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: chictr.org.cn, ID: ChiCTR2000030504/ChiMCTR2000003082. http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=47719&htm=4, Registered on 5th March 2020.

Proteomics analyses of Xiaopi granules in N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced gastric epithelial dysplasia rat model using LC-MS.

Xiaopi granules have been shown to ameliorate gastric epithelial dysplasia in patients. However, the therapeutic mechanism is unclear. Herein, the proteomics method was applied to identify the differentially expressed proteins and related pathways. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (C group, n = 10), model (M group), Xiaopi granules (X group), and vitacoenzyme (V group). The rat gastric epithelial dysplasia model was established by intragastrically administering N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and ranitidine and by orally administering 0.05% ammonia solution. After 12 weeks, the stomach tissue was analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and proteomics analyses. Western-blot analysis was applied to further validate the proteomics results. Compared to the M group, levels of 326 and 350 proteins were altered significantly in the X and V groups (1.5-fold, p < 0.05), which were significantly enriched in digestion, metabolism, coagulation, and cell apoptosis. CELA2A, GHRL, NDUFB9, and PGC were significantly upregulated (p < 0.0001), whereas CLCA1, PLG, and DAC2 were downregulated (p < 0.001 or 0.0001) in the M group vs. the C group. The change in these proteins could be reversed after the treatment of Xiaopi granules or vitacoenzyme tablets. Xiaopi granules ameliorated gastric epithelial dysplasia by intervening in digestion, metabolism, blood coagulation, cell apoptosis, and other related pathways.

KRAS mutation is predictive for poor prognosis in rectal cancer patients with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: a systemic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between KRAS mutation and prognosis in rectal cancer patients with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. METHODS: Literature was searched in the databases including Cochrane Library, EMBASE (Ovid), and MEDLINE (PubMed) from inception to December 16, 2020. The keywords "rectal cancer" or "rectal carcinoma" or "rectal adenocarcinoma" and "KRAS" and "neoadjuvant" were used for preliminary literature retrieval. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated for the KRAS mutation and clinical outcomes including overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), pathologic complete remission (pCR), downstaging of T stages and tumor stages, as well as improvements in tumor regression grading (TRG). Publication bias was assessed by the funnel plots. RESULTS: A total of 16 articles were included for eligibility. The total number of patients was 3674 cases, with an incidence of KRAS gene mutation of 36.6% (1346/3674). Meta-analysis showed that the pooled OR for KRAS mutation on OS was 1.33 (95%CI: 113-1.56). Consistently, results also indicated that the KRAS mutant was related to the poor DFS (pooled OR=1.55, 95%CI: 1.19-2.02). However, KRAS mutation is not related to the PCR (pooled OR= 0.71, 95%CI: 0.44-1.14), downstaging in T stages (pooled OR= 0.66, 95%CI: 0.42-1.06), tumor stages (pooled OR= 1.18, 95%CI: 0.78-1.78, I2=12.9%), as well as improvement in TRG grades (pooled OR= 0.84, 95%CI: 0.59-1.20). CONCLUSION: KRAS mutation is a predictor for the poor prognosis of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with rectal cancer, but it is not related to the responses of tumors after treatment.

[Meta-analysis of therapeutic effect of retention enema with traditional Chinese medicine on ulcerative colitis].

To evaluate the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) retention enema in treating ulcerative colitis( UC) by Meta-analysis method. Randomized controlled trials( RCTs) of TCM retention enema in treatment of UC were retrieved from databases as CNKI,Wan Fang,CBM,VIP and PubMed from inception to June 2019. The quality of RCTs was assessed by using the Cochrane collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias,Meta-analysis were performed with Rev Man 5. 3 software and publication bias was tested by using Stata 15. 1 software. There were twenty-eight articles enrolled,and 2 477 patients were included. The result of Meta-analysis showed that retention enema with TCM had significantly better effectiveness in overall curative effect( RRSASP= 1. 18,95%CI[1. 13,1. 22],Z = 8. 32,P < 0. 01; RR5-ASA= 1. 13,95% CI[1. 03,1. 21],Z = 2. 61,P < 0. 01) symptom curative effect( RR =1. 44,95%CI[1. 22,1. 71],Z = 4. 25,P<0. 01) than those of the control group,and the treatment group was lower than the control group in terms of recurrence( RR = 0. 31,95% CI[0. 17,0. 56],Z = 3. 88,P< 0. 01) and adverse events( RR = 0. 38,95% CI[0. 18,0. 78],Z = 2. 64,P<0. 01),with statistically significant differences. However,there was no significant difference in Meta-analysis result of colonoscopic mucosal change between the two groups. TCM enema is an effective method to treat ulcerative colitis.