OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy difference in treatment of depression in breast cancer between the combined therapy of acupuncture and auricular acupressure and western medication.

METHODSSixty patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the observation group, the combined therapy of acupuncture and auricular acupressure was adopted. The main acupoints of acupuncture were Hegu (LI 4), Tai-chong (LR 3), Baihui (GV 20), Zusanli (ST 36), Qihai (CV 6), etc. The supplementary acupoints were combined according to the syndrome differentiation. The treatment was given once every day, 5 treatments a week, at the interval of 2 days among weeks. The auricular acupressure was applied to gan (CO12, liver), pi (CO13, spleen), neifenmi (CO18, endocrine), etc., once every 4 days, on each side in one treatment. In the control group, fluoxetine hydrochloride capsules were prescribed for oral administration, 20 mg, once a day. The Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) was used to assess the disease severity and efficacy before treatment, in 4 and 8 weeks of treatment separately. HAMD factor changes were observed before treatment and at the end of the 8th week. The Asberg antidepressants scale (SERS) was applied to safety assessment.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 86.7% (26/30) in the observation group, better than 63.3% (19/30) in the control group (P<0.05). At the end of the 4th and 8th weeks, HAMD scores were all reduced apparently in the two groups (all P<0.01). At the end of the 8th week, the scores of the HAMD factor 1 (anxiety/somatic system), factor 5 (retardation) and factor 6 (sleep disturbance) were all reduced as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0.01); the results in the observation group were better than those in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). SERS score in the observation group was lower obviously than that in the control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of acupuncture and auricular acupressure achieves the antidepression effect in treatment of depression in breast cancer and has less side effects and high safety. The efficacy is superior to fluoxetine hydrochloride capsules.

Acupressure ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; Depression ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To observe the influence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNFα) on skeletal muscle protein catabolism in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the effects of indomethacin (IND) on it. Methods Duplicated COPD model rats were divided into two groups: the malnutrition group and the normal nutrition group. The malnutrition group were further divided by randomized block design into four groups. Isotonic physiologic saline was administered to group A, the control and the normal nutrition group, and different doses of oral IND were administered to groups B, C, and D weight, concentrations of TNFα, contents of 3-methyl-histidine ( 3- M H ) and tyrosine (Tyr) in the diaphragm and extensor digitorum longus muscle homogenates were measured before and after the intervention. Results Before the intervention, the concentrations of TNFα in the serum of malnutrition groups were all significantly higher than those of normal nutrition group and the control group. After the intervention: (1) The concentrations of TNFα in the serum of the rats of group B, C and D were significantly lower than the group A, especially in group C. The levels of TNFα in serum and body weight of model group rats were negatively correlated ( r = -0. 846, P ＜0. 01 ), as well as the diaphragm and extensor digitorum longus muscle weights ( r = - 0. 778, P ＜ 0. 01; r = - 0. 772, P ＜ 0. 01 ). (2) The levels of 3-methyl-histidine in the diaphragm and extensor digitorum longus muscles of the intervention group C was lower than the COPD normal nutrition group, as well as the intervention groups B and D. The contents of tyrosine in the diaphragm and extensor digitorum longus muscles of the intervention group C was lower than that of the COPD normal nutrition group,as well as the groups B and D. The body weight growth value of the intervention group B were slightly higher than the group A, without significant difference( P ＞ 0. 05 ), while the group C was significantly higher than the group A ( P ＜ 0. 01 ). Conclusions TNFα is involved in the occurrence of COPD malnutrition and skeletal muscle amyotrophy. IND can reduce the TNFα levels in the serum and the catabolic rates of the skeletal muscle proteins in malnutrition rats with COPD, so as to improve partly the skeletal muscle atrophy.

Objective To explore the predictive value of serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and vascular endothelia growth factor (VEGF) levels in preeclampsia at second trimester. Methods Serum sFlt-1,VEGF concentrations were determined in 172 initial normal pregnant women at 26-28 gestation week.The outcomes of pregnancies were followed.In a cohort of 172 pregnant women, 16 cases of preeclampsia were developed (preeclampsia group),and 156 cases were with no complication (control group).Results The serum levels of sFlt-1 in preeclampsia group (11.4?6.2)?g/L were significantly higher than that in control group(4.5?2.1)?g/L(P＜0.01).The serum levels of sFlt-1 in precelampsia women with the onset before 32 gestation week and fetal growth retardation,(14.0?6.8)?g/L,(14.4?6.7)?g/L were significantly higher than that in women with the onset after 32 gestation week and with no fetal growth retardation (9.0?4.1)?g/L,(8.9?4.0)?g/L,respectively (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the serum levels of VEGF between preeclampsia group and control group.A sFlt-1 cutoff value of 8.75?g/L at 26-28 gestation week yielded a sensitivity of 87.5%,specificity of 97.4%,positive predictive value of 80.0%,negative predictive value of 88.5%,respectively,for subsequent onset of preeclampsia.Conclusion Maternal serum sFlt-1 concentration at second trimester can be used as an early predictive marker of preeclampsia.

Objective To investigate the effect of curcumin(Cur)on proliferation and apoptosis of human esophageal carcinoma drug-resistant cells Eca-109/VCR in vitro and in vivo. Methods The inhibitory effect of Cur on Eca-109/VCR was detected by CCK-8 method. The apoptosis rate of Eca-109/VCR cells after treatment with Cur was determined by flow cytometry. Eca-109/VCR xenografts were established in nude mice and inhibitory effect of Cur on xenografts was observed. HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes. Apoptosis was detect-ed by TUNEL. ELISA was used to measure Caspase-3,Caspase-8 and Caspase-9 expression in nude mice serum. Results Cur significantly inhibited the proliferation of Eca-109/VCR in a time and concentration-dependent man-ner and it could induce apoptosis of Eca-109/VCR. Cur significantly inhibited the growth of xenografts and a large number of necrosis existed in Cur group. Cur induced apoptosis in xenografts and the expression of Caspase-3,Cas-pase-8 and Caspase-9 in serum increased with the increase of Cur concentrations. Conclusion Cur could inhibit the growth of esophageal carcinoma xenografts in vitro and in vivo and its role might be up-regulating the expression of Caspase-3,Caspase-8 and Caspase-9 and associated with the apoptosis induction of drug-resistant esophageal carcinoma cells.

OBJECTIVEParkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder, has been reported to be associated with brain neuroinflammation in its pathogenesis. Herein, changes in peripheral immune system were determined to better understand PD pathogenesis and provide possible target for treatment of PD through improvement of immune disorder.

METHODS1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) was intraperitoneally injected into mice to prepare PD model. Expression levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and transcription factors of CD4+ T lymphocyte subsets in spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes and concentrations of the cytokines in serum were examined on day 7 after MPTP injection. Percentages of CD4+ T lymphocyte subsets were measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTSMPTP induced PD-like changes such as motor and behavioral deficits and nigrostriatal impairment. Expression levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines including interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-17 and IL-22, in spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes were upregulated and their concentrations in serum were elevated in PD progression. But, the concentrations of the anti-inflammatory cytokines including IL-4, IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β were not altered in the two lymphoid tissues or serum of PD mice. In addition, expression of T-box in T cells (T-bet), the specific transcription factor of helper T (Th) 1 cells, was downregulated, but expression of transcription factor forkhead box p3 (Foxp3), the transcription factor of regulatory T (Treg) cells, was upregulated. In support of the results, the numbers of IFN-γ-producing CD4+ cells (Th1 cells) were reduced but CD4+CD25+ cells (Treg cells) were elevated in both the lymphoid tissues of PD mice.

CONCLUSIONPD has a dysfunction of peripheral immune system. It manifests enhancement of proinflammatory response and CD4+ T cell differentiation bias towards Treg cells away from Th1 cells.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine ; Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cytokines ; blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Flow Cytometry ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukins ; blood ; Lymph Nodes ; cytology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Mice ; Parkinson Disease ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Spleen ; cytology ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Th1 Cells ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; blood

OBJECTIVEWe used an animal model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) to study changes and roles of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expressed by CD4+ T cell subsets, and then explore the relationship between CD4+ T cell subset-derived catecholamines and inflammatory responses in CIA.

METHODSThirty-six male DBA/1 mice were randomly divided into control group, CIA model group (day 35) and CIA model group (day 55) (n = 12). CIA model was induced by type II collagen (CII) in DBA/1 mice. On the 35th and 55th day following primary immunization, the joints of the mice were observed for clinical score of swelling and the level of anti-CII IgG antibody in serum was examined. Expression of specific transcription factors and cytokines of Th1, Th17, Th2 and Treg cells and TH in mesenteric lymph nodes was measured by means of Western blot. The changes of TH expressed by CD4+ T cell subsets in mesenteric lymph nodes were determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTSClinical score and anti-CII antibody level increased in CIA compared with that in intact mice. Specific transcription factors and cytokines expressed by Th1 and Th17 cells were upregulated and cytokines expressed by Th2 and Treg cells were downregulated in mesenteric lymph nodes in CIA mice. Expression of TH was upregulated and the increased expression of TH in CD4+ T cells was attributed to Th1 and Th17 cells in mesenteric lymph nodes of CIA.

CONCLUSIONThe increase in catecholamines from CD4+ T cell subsets in mesenteric lymph nodes of CIA may be related to inflammatory alleviation in CIA progression.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; immunology ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; enzymology ; Collagen Type II ; adverse effects ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lymph Nodes ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred DBA ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine combined with systemic chemotherapy and/or regional arterial perfusion for pancreatic cancer with liver metastases (PCLM).

METHODSWe retrospectively selected 292 patients with PCLM who were treated by Chinese herbal medicine combined with systemic chemotherapy and/or regional arterial perfusion at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital from January 2001 to December 2010. All patients were assigned to the Western medicine treatment group (157 cases) and the integrative medicine treatment group (135 cases). Patients in the Western medicine treatment group were treated with gemcitabine (GEM)-based chemotherapy, and partial of them received regional arterial perfusion. Those in the integrative medicine treatment group additionally took Chinese herbs of clearing heat and eliminating mass for at least 4 weeks. The median survival time (MST) , adverse reactions and the incidence of complications were observed.

RESULTSThere was no statistical significance in general data between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was statistical difference in MST between the two groups (4.8 months vs 5.5 months, P < 0.05). No death occurred during chemotherapy or regional arterial perfusion. All toxic or adverse reactions were tolerable.

CONCLUSIONChinese herbal medicine combined with systemic chemotherapy and/or regional arterial perfusion was effective and safe, and it could be optimally selected as palliative therapy for PCLM.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Complementary Therapies ; methods ; Deoxycytidine ; analogs & derivatives ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies

A new steroid with a long cross-conjugation structure, 15a-hydroxy-(22E, 24R)-ergosta-3, 5, 8 (14), 22-tetraen-7-one (1), was isolated from the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus aculeatus. Its structure was established by the extensive spectroscopic analyses, and its cytotoxicities against P388, HL-60, and PC-3 cell lines were measured in vitro.
Animals ; Aspergillus ; chemistry ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cholestenones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Molecular Structure ; Seawater ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of combination of Epimedii Folium and Ligustri Lucidi Fructus on osteoporosis rats induced by retinoic acid.

METHODSixty three-month-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, the model group, the Epimedii Folium group, the Ligustri Lucidi Fructus group, the combination group of Epimedii Folium and Ligustri Lucidi Fructus and the raloxifene group. The osteoporosis model was established through oral administration with retinoic acid for two weeks. Meanwhile, all of treatment groups were administered with corresponding drugs for three weeks. The contents of serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (StrACP) were detected, and the pathomorphological changes of femurs were observed.

RESULTThe model control group showed much lower contents of serum Ca and P than the normal control group, but with significantly higher AKP and StrACP activity than the normal control group. The femoral head area showed reduced, narrow and sparse trabecular bones, with typical osteoporosis-like changes. Compared with the model control group, all of treated groups showed significant increase in Ca and P contents in serum, and down-regulate AKP and StrACP levels, while trabecular bones became more and wider, and densely interweaved as a reticular formation. Among them, the combination group showed the most significant effect.

CONCLUSIONEpimedii Folium and Ligustri Lucidi Fructus could effectively correct the abnormal bone metabolism and improve pathological conditions of bone tissues, so as to show the anti-osteoporosis effect. The combined application of the two drugs showed a better efficacy.

Acid Phosphatase ; blood ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Calcium ; blood ; Drug Interactions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Femur ; drug effects ; pathology ; Isoenzymes ; blood ; Ligustrum ; chemistry ; Male ; Osteoporosis ; blood ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Phosphorus ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase ; Tretinoin ; adverse effects

Cerebral Infarction ; etiology ; Dextrocardia ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Spleen ; abnormalities ; Syndrome