OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-angiogenic effects and mechanisms of Zengmian Yiliu Granule (ZMYLG) on ovarian carcinoma xenograft.

METHODSThe SKOV3 ovarian carcinoma bearing mouse model was established. The tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into the control group, the paclitaxel group, the high, medium, and low dose ZMYLG group, 8 in each group. The medication was lasted for ten days. The microvessel density (MVD) in the xenograft was calculated by the method of using cell membrane differentiation antigen 34 (CD34) antibody marking new vascular endothelial cells. The protein and mRNA expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor fetal liver kinase-1 (FLK-1), hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) in the tumor were determined using immunohistochemical assay and RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe MVD of ovarian carcinoma xenografts in the paclitaxel group, the high, medium, and low dose ZMYLG group obviously decreased, showing statistical difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Each ZMYLG dose group could down-regulate the protein and mRNA expressions of VEGF, FLK-1, and HIF-1alpha (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSZMYLG could inhibit neogenesis of tumor vessels. Its mechanisms might be associated with down-regulating the expression of HIF-1alpha, modifying the hypoxic state, inhibiting the expressions of VEGF and FLK-1, and exerting its anti-angiogenic effects.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; blood supply ; drug therapy ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; prevention & control ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; blood supply ; drug therapy ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; metabolism ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical effects of Yupei Qisun Sequential Method (YQSM, by Shen supplementing and Pi invigorating) of Chinese medicine on correlated indices of repeated implantation failure patients in the fresh cycle.

METHODSSixty patients with more than three failure cycles of in virto fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were recruited. They were assigned to the treatment group (treated by IVF/ICSI and Chinese medicine) and the control group (treated by IVF/ICSI alone), 30 in each group. The total dose of gonadotropin (Gn), the days of controlled ovary hyperstimulation (COH), the thickness of endometrium on the day of embryo transplantation, the number of retrieved oocytes, the fertilization number, the embryo number, the high quality embryo number, the pregnancy rate, and the implantation rate were compared.

RESULTSIn the treatment group the numbers of embryo and high quality embryo were 7.5 +/- 4.9 and 5.1 +/- 3.2 respectively, which were both higher than those of the control group with significant difference (5.1 +/- 3.2, 3.2 +/- 1.8; P < 0.05). No significant difference existed in aspects of the total numbers of Gn, the days of COH, the thickness of endometrium on the day of embryo transplantation, the numbers of retrieved oocytes, the fertilization number, the pregnancy rate, and the implantation rate between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONYQSM combined with COH could improve the quantity and the quality of embryos, which was promising to increase the accumulative pregnancy rate of RIF patients.

Adult ; Embryo Transfer ; Endometrium ; physiology ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Gonadotropins ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Treatment Failure

ObjectiveTo explore the inhibitory effect of Bushen Jiedu prescription （BSJDP） on the metastasis of colorectal cancer （CRC） via activation of M2 tumor-associated macrophages （M2-TAMs） in vivo. MethodThe model of xenograft tumor was established with C57BL/6 mice， and then the model mice were randomly assigned into blank control group， Bushen Jiedu recipe-low dose （11.2 g·kg^-1） group （BSJDP-L）， and Bushen Jiedu Recipe-high dose （22.4 g·kg^-1） group （BSJDP-H）. Tumors were abolished when the volume reached 1.5-2.0 cm³. The mice were sacrificed 28 days post tumor abolishing and then the lung metastasis was observed. Histopathological changes in lung metastasis were examined by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining of metastasis tissues， and immunofluorescence （IF） staining was employed to observe the effect of BSJDP on tumor apoptosis and hypoxia. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze the macrophages M1/M2 ratio of tumor tissue. The expression levels of the genes （Arg1， CD206， and CD163） associated with the polarization of M2-TAMs were determined by Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultThe metastasis rate was 70%， 40%， and 10% in the blank control group， BSJDP-L group， and BSJDP-H group， respectively. The lower metastasis rates of BSJDP-L and BSJDP-H groups proved that BSJDP significantly inhibited lung metastasis of CRC. Compared with the blank control group， BSJDP-L and BSJDP-H reduced the tumor cell infiltration in tumor tissue （P<0.01）， increased the apoptosis of tumor cells， alleviated the hypoxic environment， and down-regulated the expression of Arg1， CD206， and CD163 in the tumor tissue （P<0.01）. In addition， the ratio of M2 macrophages ranked in a descending order of blank control group （34.867%） > BSJDP-L group （22.033%） > BSJDP-H group （11.633%） （P<0.01）. ConclusionBSJDP inhibits the lung metastasis of CRC by inhibiting the activation of M2-TAMs in the tumor microenvironment.

OBJECTIVE: Traditional Chinese medicine plays a significant role in the treatment of the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Tanreqing Capsule (TRQC) was used in the treatment of COVID-19 patients in the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center. This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of TRQC in the treatment of COVID-19. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 82 patients who had laboratory-confirmed mild and moderate COVID-19; patients were treated with TRQC in one designated hospital. The treatment and control groups consisted of 25 and 57 cases, respectively. The treatment group was given TRQC orally three times a day, three pills each time, in addition to conventional Western medicine treatments which were also administered to the control group. The clinical efficacy indicators, such as the negative conversion time of pharyngeal swab nucleic acid, the negative conversion time of fecal nucleic acid, the duration of negative conversion of pharyngeal-fecal nucleic acid, and the improvement in the level of immune indicators such as T-cell subsets (CD3, CD4 and CD45) were monitored. RESULTS: COVID-19 patients in the treatment group, compared to the control group, had a shorter negative conversion time of fecal nucleic acid (4 vs. 9 days, P = 0.047) and a shorter interval of negative conversion of pharyngeal-fecal nucleic acid (0 vs. 2 days, P = 0.042). The level of CD3 CONCLUSION Significant reductions in the negative conversion time of fecal nucleic acid and the duration of negative conversion of pharyngeal-fecal nucleic acid were identified in the treatment group as compared to the control group, illustrating the potential therapeutic benefits of using TRQC as a complement to conventional medicine in patients with mild and moderate COVID-19. The underlying mechanism may be related to the improved levels of the immune indicator CD3
Adult ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use* ; COVID-19/pathology* ; Capsules ; DNA, Viral/analysis* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Feces/virology* ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics* ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study therapeutic effects and mechanisms of fixed-point release with small needle knife for the treatment of upper plexus thoracic outlet syndrome.

METHODSAmong 32 patients, 22 patients were female, and 10 patients were male, ranging in age from 25 to 55 years. The disease course ranged from one month to 3 years. All the patients were unilateral thoracic outlet syndrome. The painful trabs at the facet joints of C(5,6) and infraspinatus muscle were fixed-point released one to four times every week.

RESULTSAll the patients relieved pain immediately after treatment. Among 26 patients with decreased muscle strength before operation, 20 patients got muscle strength improved after treatment immediately. Among 18 patients with touch and pain sensation compromised, 8 patients got the sensation improved after operation. All the patients were followed up for 1 year. According to Wood evaluation criterion, 19 patients got an excellent result, 7 good, 3 poor, and 3 bad. One patient was transferred to operation. There were no complications.

CONCLUSIONFixed-point release with small needle knife for the treatment of upper plexus thoracic outlet syndrome is safe and curative.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Thoracic Outlet Syndrome ; surgery

OBJECTIVESTo study the mechanism of Yanlieping Formula in treating chronic nonbacterial prostatitis.

METHODSThirty-two C57BL/6 mice were divided into Chinese Traditional Medicine group(Yanlieping group, 10 mice), treatment control group(Cernilton group, 10 mice), model group(6 mice) and normal group(6 mice). The animal model was created by using immunologic adjuvant, and Yanlieping (0.84 g per mouse), Cernilton (7.5 mg per mouse), distilled water(1.05 ml per mouse) and distilled water (0.5 ml per mouse) were respectively administered to the four groups every day for one month. The prostate weight, pathological changes, TNF-alpha and IL-2 in serum were observed.

RESULTSThe prostate weight in Yanlieping group and Cernilton group became significantly lower than in the model group(P < 0.05). Pathologic sign of chronic inflammation became better significantly(Yanlieping group showed more significant improvement). The expression of IL-2 in Yanlieping group and Cernilton group were downregulated significantly. And the expression of TNF-alpha in Yianlieping group was higher than that of the model group and the normal group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe mechanism of Yanlieping Formula in treating chronic prostatitis may lie in the max urethral close pressure reduction, anti-inflammation, local blood circulation improvement.

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Prostate ; pathology ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Secale ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis