Study on the correlation between controlling nutritional status score and clinical biochemical indicators in patients with colorectal cancer.

Purpose: The controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score is an important tool for predicting the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC); however, its effectiveness is relatively insufficient. This study aimed to screen for more effective clinical indicators as supplements to the CONUT scoring system and improve the predictive value of CRC prognosis. Patients and methods: Between 2014 and 2020, the clinical information of all CRC patients in our unit was retrospectively collected, and the CONUT scores were calculated based on the levels of serum albumin (ALB), lymphocytes (LC), and total cholesterol. The included patients were divided into the following three groups: normal nutrition (0-1), mild malnutrition (2-4), and moderate-to-severe malnutrition (5-12). The correlations between the CONUT score and baseline characteristics and clinical indicators were evaluated. Results: This study ultimately included 5014 CRC patients. The nutritional status of patients with colon cancer (CC) was worse than that of rectal cancer (RC). The nutritional status was worse in men than in women. The older the patient, the poorer the nutritional status, and the poorer the nutritional status, the longer the hospital stay. In addition, poor nutritional status in patients is indicated by higher values of neutrophils (NE), monocytes (MC), eosinophils (EOS), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA), and lower values of white blood cells (WBC), basophils (BAS), haemoglobin (HB), total protein (TP), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), aspartate transaminase (AST), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Indicators that significantly correlated with the CONUT score reflected the immune nutritional status, including WBC (odds ratio [OR] = 0.036, P < 0.001), NE (OR = 30.815, P < 0.001), MC (OR = 41.388, P < 0.001), EOS (OR = 27.577, P < 0.001), BAS (OR = 0.006, P = 0.046), and LDL (OR = 0.319, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Additional variables such as WBC, NE, MC, EOS, BAS, and LDL may be used as supplementary indicators in the CONUT scoring system to more effectively predict the clinical prognosis of CRC patients.

Role of Chinese Acupuncture in the Treatment for Chemotherapy-Induced Cognitive Impairment in Older Patients With Cancer: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Older patients with cancer experience cognitive impairment and a series of neurocognitive symptoms known as chemobrain due to chemotherapy. Moreover, older populations are disproportionately affected by chemobrain and heightened negative mental health outcomes after cytotoxic chemical drug therapy. Chinese acupuncture is an emerging therapeutic option for chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment in older patients with cancer, despite limited supporting evidence. OBJECTIVE: Our study aims to directly contribute to the existing knowledge of this novel Chinese medicine mode in older patients with cancer enrolled at the Department of Oncology/Chinese Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, China, thereby establishing the basis for further research. METHODS: This study involves a 2-arm, prospective, randomized, assessor-blinded clinical trial in older patients with cancer experiencing chemobrain-related stress and treated with Chinese acupuncture from September 30, 2023, to December 31, 2025. We will enroll 168 older patients with cancer with clinically confirmed chemobrain. These participants will be recruited through screening by oncologists for Chinese acupuncture therapy and evaluation. Electroacupuncture will be performed by a registered practitioner of Chinese medicine. The electroacupuncture intervention will take about 30 minutes every session (2 sessions per week over 8 weeks). For the experimental group, the acupuncture points are mainly on the head, limbs, and abdomen, with a total of 6 pairs of electrically charged needles on the head, while for the control group, the acupuncture points are mainly on the head and limbs, with only 1 pair of electrically charged needles on the head. RESULTS: Eligible participants will be randomized to the control group or the experimental group in 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome of this intervention will be the scores of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. The secondary outcomes, that is, attentional function and working memory will be determined by the Digit Span Test scores. The quality of life of the patients and multiple functional assessments will also be evaluated. These outcomes will be measured at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after the randomization. CONCLUSIONS: This efficacy trial will explore whether Chinese electroacupuncture can prevent chemobrain, alleviate the related symptoms, and improve the quality of life of older patients with cancer who are undergoing or are just going to begin chemotherapy. The safety of this electroacupuncture intervention for such patients will also be evaluated. Data from this study will be used to promote electroacupuncture application in patients undergoing chemotherapy and support the design of further real-world studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05876988; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05876988. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/53853.

Potential mechanism of Atractylodes macrocephala aqueous extract inhibiting gastric carcinoma through PI3K-Akt-NF-κB signaling pathway / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@#[摘 要] 目的：探讨白术（Atractylodes macrocephala）水提物抑制胃癌SGC-7901细胞活性的潜在机制。方法：分别使用蒸馏水（对照）和白术水提物（白术治疗组）灌胃SD大鼠后，采集静脉血后分离其血清、过滤并分别命名为对照组血清（CON-S）和白术组血清（AM-S）。将胃癌SGC7901细胞分为对照组、10% AM-S组和20% AM-S组，其中两个AM-S组细胞分别在相应浓度的AM-S血清中培养24 h，对照组细胞用正常培养基培养相同时间，收取SGC7901细胞和上清液用于进一步分析。使用MTT法检测各组细胞活力，通过商业试剂盒测定乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）、丙二醛（MDA）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）的水平，采用ELISA试剂盒检测各组细胞中IL-6和TNF-α的含量，采用WB法评估各组细胞中PI3K-Akt-NF-κB信号通路相关蛋白的表达。结果：10% AM-S组和20% AM-S组的SGC7901胃癌细胞增殖活力相较于对照组分别降低48.9%和53.25%（P<0.05或P<0.01）；胃癌细胞上清液中，相较于对照组，10% AM-S组和20% AM-S组LDH水平分别升高29.25%和123%、SOD活性分别升高18%和54.60%、MDA水平分别降低27.8%和40.0%，IL-6水平分别降低15%和17.5%、TNF-α水平分别降低29.71%和40.16%（P<0.05或P<0.01）。相较于对照组，AM-S组中PI3K-Akt-NF-κB信号相关蛋白的水平显著下降（P<0.05或P<0.01）。结论：白术水提物可以通过抑制癌细胞增殖活力、促进凋亡、抑制肿瘤微环境中的促炎因子分泌以及改变细胞内的氧化应激水平等方式抑制胃癌，其机制可能是通过抑制PI3K-Akt-NF-κB通路来实现这些抗癌作用的。