Paeonol exerts anti­tumor activity against colorectal cancer cells by inducing G0/G1 phase arrest and cell apoptosis via inhibiting the Wnt/ß­catenin signaling pathway.

Paeonol is a simple phenolic compound isolated from herbal root bark, which has been reported to possess numerous biological and pharmacological characteristics, including a desirable anti­tumor effect. To date, the effect of paeonol against colorectal cancer (CRC) cells is yet to be fully elucidated. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify the underlying mechanism via which paeonol exerts its anti­tumor activity on HCT116 cells. After incubation with various concentrations of paeonol (7.8125, 15.625, 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 µg/ml), the inhibitory effect of paeonol on cell viability was assessed using a Cell Counting Kit­8 assay. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were measured using flow cytometry. Moreover, caspase activity was measured using a colorimetric caspase assay. Luciferase assay was also used to determine the ß­catenin­mediated transcriptional activity of T­cell specific transcription factor/lymphoid­enhancer binding factor (TCF/LEF), and western blotting analysis was performed to measure the related expression of proteins. The results indicated that paeonol exhibited a notable effect against HCT116 cells by inducing G0/G1­phase arrest, as demonstrated by downregulation of the cell cycle regulators cyclin­dependent kinase 4 and cyclin D1 and upregulation of p21Cip1 in a dose­dependent manner. Furthermore, paeonol dose­dependently induced cell apoptosis, accompanied by an increase in the Bax/Bcl­2 ratio, release of cytochrome c and further activation of caspases. Paeonol also dose­dependently blocked the activation of the Wnt/ß­catenin signaling pathway by suppressing the expression of ß­catenin, resulting in a decrease in ß­catenin­mediated activity of TCF/LEF and downregulation of downstream target genes, including cyclin D1, survivin and c­Myc. Therefore, the present results suggested that paeonol exerted its anti­tumor effects on CRC cells, including the inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of cell cycle arrest and initiation of apoptosis, at least partly by suppressing the Wnt/ß­catenin pathway, which may offer a promising therapeutic strategy for CRC.

[Postoperative acute urinary retention in anorectal diseases treated with acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy differences between acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion and acupuncture on acute urinary retention after epidural anaesthesia for anorectal diseases. METHODS: A total of 60 patients were randomized into an acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion group and an acupuncture group, 31 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied at Zhongji (CV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Shuidao (ST 28), Pangguangshu (BL 28), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Yinlingquan (SP 9). In the acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion group, grain-moxibustion was given at Zhongji (CV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6) and Shuidao (ST 28) on the basis of acupuncture. Those who failed to urinate 60 min after the first treatment received the second treatment. 30 min after the second treatment, the lower abdominal symptom scores before and after treatment as well as the bladder residual urine volume after the first urination after treatment were compared between the two groups. In addition, the clinical efficacy and security were evaluated. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the symptom scores after treatment were reduced in the two groups (P<0.05), and the score in the acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion group was lower than that in the acupuncture group after treatment (P<0.05). The bladder residual urine volume in the acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion group was (26.71±17.01) mL, which was lower than (35.32±20.76) mL in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 93.5% (29/31) in the acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion group, which was superior to 71.0% (22/31) in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The efficacy of acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion is superior to simple acupuncture on acute urinary retention after epidural anaesthesia for anorectal diseases, which is safe and reliable.

Root extractive from Daphne genkwa benefits in wound healing of anal fistula through up-regulation of collagen genes in human skin fibroblasts.

Wound healing is the main problem in the therapy of anal fistula (AF). Daphne genkwa root has been traditionally used as an agent to soak sutures in operation of AF patients, but its function in wound healing remains largely unclear. The aim of the present study was to illuminate mechanisms of D. genkwa root treatment on AF. In the present study, 60 AF patients after surgery were randomly divided into two groups, external applied with or without the D. genkwa extractive. Wound healing times were compared and granulation tissues were collected. In vitro, we constructed damaged human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) with the treatment of TNF-α (10 µg/ml). Cell Count Kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry analysis were used to determine the effects of D. genkwa root extractive on cell viability, cell cycle and apoptosis of damaged HSFs. Furthermore, protein levels of TGF-ß, COL1A1, COL3A1, Timp-1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 (MMP-3) and MEK/ERK signalling pathways were investigated both in vivo and in vitro Results showed that D. genkwa root extractive greatly shortens the wound healing time in AF patients. In granulation tissues and HSFs, treatment with the extractive significantly elevated the expressions of COL1A1, COL3A1, Timp-1, c-fos and Cyclin D1, while reduced the expression of MMP-3 Further detection presented that MEK/ERK signalling was activated after the stimulation of extractive in HSFs. Our study demonstrated that extractive from D. genkwa root could effectively improve wound healing in patients with AF via the up-regulation of fibroblast proliferation and expressions of COL1A1 and COL3A1.