Diabetes mellitus increases the risk of breast cancer and affects the prognosis of breast cancer patients. Metformin, an anti-diabetic drug, decreases blood glucose level and has a role in suppressing various cancers. In addition, metformin has a unique in-hibitory effect on breast cancer, i.e., it can inhibit breast cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, metformin exerts its anti-tumor ef-fect on epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) positive and monoclonal antibody trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer cell lines, breast cancer stem cells, and triple negative breast cancer cells. Metformin can reduce the risk of the breast cancer in patients with dia-betes, lower histologic grade, and increase expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors. Furthermore, metformin has certain effect on neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. This review aims to clarify the mechanism of metformin in restraining breast cancer based on basic and clinical study results.

Conventional diagnostic methods used for pathologic nipple discharge (PND) include color ultrasound, mammary mo-lybdenum target X-ray radiography (mammography), nipple cytologic smears, and ductography. Diagnosis of PND through inspection yields indirect signs and has low positive rate. Fiberoptic ductoscopy (FDS) allows direct visualization of intra-ductal lesions, evaluates etiology of PND, and accurately locates intraductal lesions through wire marking. FDS is a valuable test for the early diagnosis of breast cancer and can help identify appropriate location for surgical excision. Interventional treatment for ductal ectasia and inflamma-tion is also efficient. Our study discusses FDS as a novel diagnosis and treatment method for PND patients.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), also named as a cancer of cardiovascular disease, is a rare disease and has complicated pathogenesis. Recently, there are more understandings of PAH pathogeneses. According to the pathogenesis and active pathways, the clinically used drugs are classified into several groups incluidng prostacyclin analogues and prostacyclin receptor agonists, endothelin receptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitors, etc. To elevate the efficacy of the drugs, numerous drug delivery systems are developed. This review mainly summarized the pathological mechanism of PAH, drugs and drug delivery approaches in the treatment of PAH.

Objective To investigate the molecular characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Guizhou Province. Methods Using a convenience sampling strategy, 8 583 samples were collected in Guizhou and an investigation was conducted including face-to-face questionnaire interview and HIV testing. Results 1 511 cases failed in HIV suppression (viral load, VL>1 000 copies/ml). 1 410 cases (93.31%) were successfully genotyped with HIV pol gene, among which 51.42% were genotyped as CRF01_AE, 26.67% as CRF07_BC and 16.1% as CRF08_BC. Conclusion The subtype changes caused by HIV gene mutation should precede the changes of main transmission routes of HIV through the analysis in recent years. Timely monitoring the changes of HIV subtypes can be one of the main bases for the prevention and control of AIDS.

OBJECTIVETo observe the differences in the efficacy on xerophthalmia treated with the needling technique for warming-promotion at Fengchi (GB 20) as the main acupoint in comparison with the conventional needling technique.

METHODSThirty cases were randomly divided into a warming-promotion needling group (n = 15) and a routine needling group (n = 15). In warming-promotion needling group, the needling technique for warming-promotion was applied to Fengchi (GB 20). Additionally, the local and distal acupoints [such as the point beneath Cuanzu (BL 2), Neiguan (PC 6), Guangming (GB 37), Taichong (LR 3), Fulio (KI 7) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6)], as well as the scalp acupuncture (bilateral supraoccipital lateral line and supraoccipital midline) were selected and stimulated with even-needling technique by rotating the needle. In routine needling group, the acupoints were same as warming-promotion needling group and were stimulated with even-needling technique by rotating the needle. After 2 sessions of treatment, the efficacy, tear secretion volume and the total score of symptoms were compared between two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 86.7% (13/15) in warming-promotion needling group, which was superior to 66.7% (10/15) in routine needling group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the tear secretion volume and the total score of symptoms were all apparently improved in two groups (all P < 0.05), in which, the improvement in warming-promotion needling group was much obvious (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of warming-promotion needling technique is apparently superior to that of conventional one.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Xerophthalmia ; therapy

OBJECTIVEThe study aimed to test if Paridis Rhizoma total saponins (PRTS) could induce apoptosis of human gastric cancer cell MKN-45.

METHODBased on the previous researches, PRTS was set by different concentrations to treat human gastric cancer cell for 12 h (5, 10, 20 mg x L(-1)). Fluorescent staining methods were adopted to observe apoptotic morphological changes of MKN-45. The apoptosis rates were analyzed by flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. The enzymatic activities of caspase-3 and caspase-8 were measured by ELISA. The protein levels of Fas and FasL were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTUnder a fluorescence microscope, MKN-45 treated by PRTS was seen typical apoptotic morphological features. PRTS significantly increased the rate of apoptosis. Compared with the control group, there exsited significant differences in apoptosis rate of PRTS concentration of 20 mg x L(-1) (P < 0.01); besides, the enzymatic activities of caspase-3 and caspase-8 were promoted obviously after the effect of PRTS on MKN-45 cells for 12 h (P < 0.01). The protein levels of Fas and FasL in the MKN-45 were upgraded significantly.

CONCLUSIONPRTS can induce apoptosis of human gastric cancer cell MKN-45 , which is concerned with caspase-3 and caspase-8 and upgraded Fas and FasL.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Caspase 8 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fas Ligand Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

Objective:To observe the instant analgesic effect of Governor Vessel-regulating and collateral-unblocking acupuncture method in treating primary headache and to inherit and carry forward the academic achievements of Gao's acupuncture school in Yanzhao (Hebei Province) area. Methods:Eighty eligible primary headache patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group following their visiting sequence, 40 patients in each group. The observation group was intervened by Yanzhao Gao's Governor Vessel-regulating and collateral-unblocking acupuncture, and the control group was intervened by ordinary acupuncture method. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the headache intensity before and after the first treatment session in the two groups, to compare the instant analgesic effect of the two acupuncture methods. Results:After the first treatment session, the VAS scores dropped significantly in both groups (both P<0.05). The change of VAS score after the initial treatment in the observation group was significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05). The percentage of patients with headache completely vanished instantly after the first treatment was markedly higher in the observation group than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The two acupuncture methods both can produce a significant instant analgesic effect in treating primary headache, while Yanzhao Gao's Governor Vessel-regulating and collateral-unblocking acupuncture method is superior to ordinary acupuncture method.

Objective To investigate the executive function of children with different sports training. Methods Forty children with Ping-Pong training (Ping-Pong group) and 41 children with swimming training (swimming group), aged 6-9 years, completed GO/NOGO task. Behavioral data (reaction time and accuracy) and event related potential component N2 were collected and analyzed. Results The reaction time was significantly faster and accuracy significantly lower of GO task and NOGO task in swimming group than in Ping-Pong group (P<0.05 and P<0.01). There were significant differences in the amplitude of NOGO-N2 on site CPz between swimming group and Ping-Pong group[(-11.36±9.4) μV vs (-7.55±7.99) μV, P<0.05]. Conclusion The inhibitory function of children with Ping-Pong training is stronger than those with swimming training.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the uptake of 68Ga-DOTATATE in pituitary adenoma and clinical parameters such as hormonal hypersecretion,and to evaluate the curative effect with 68Ga-DOTATATE imaging after octreotide therapy in patients with growth hormone-secreting adenoma (GH adenoma).Methods A total of 34 patients (15 males,19 females) with pituitary adenoma were recruited,including 5 adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting adenoma (ACTH adenoma),17 GH adenoma,and 12 non-functioning adenoma (NF adenoma).In the 17 patients with GH adenoma,there were 13 patients treated by octreotide intramuscular injection 3 times with a total dose of 60 mg for 3 months.The finial diagnosis was based on histology.68Ga-DOTATATE imaging was performed,and SUV tumor volume and density index (DI) were recorded in all patients.The DI was the ratio of tumor SUVmean to tumor volume.The effective therapy was defined as more than 50％ of hormonal suppression or more than 20％ of tumor shrinkage.Non-parametric Mann-Whitney u test was used.Results NF adenoma showed greater tumor volume than secretory adenoma,((9.10±7.00) cm3 vs (2.92±1.60) cm3,u=43.0,P＜0.05),whereas DI of secretory adenoma was higher than that of NF adenoma (7.16±4.52 vs 1.08±1.40,u=48.5,P＜0.05).Additionally,DI was significantly higher(3.55±0.91 vs 1.38±0.69,u =2.0,P＜0.05) in patients (n =8) with effective treatment than that in patients without effective treatment (n =5).Conclusion 68 Ga-DOTATATE may be a useful probe for PET imaging in patients with pituitary adenoma,and may be valuable for predicting the therapeutic effect of somatostatin analog treatment.

OBJECTIVETo explore action mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Fenglong" (ST 40) for treatment of hyperlipidemia.

METHODSForty SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group (group A), a model group (group B), a model diet-control group (group C), a model + EA group (group D) and model diet-control + EA group (group E), 8 cases in each one. The rats in group A were fed with normal diet continuously while those in the rest 4 groups were fed with high-fat diet to establish hyperlipidemia model. Afterwards, the rats in group C and group E were fed with normal diet, while EA at "Fenglong" (ST 40) was applied in group D and group E, 30 min per time, once a day. After 28 days of treatment, macrophage was collected in each group. Oil red O-staining was applied to detect the formation of foam cells, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISE) was adopted to measure the contents of total cholesterol (TC) in macrophage and analyze the rate of cholesterol efflux.

RESULTSThe counts of positive cells of oil red O-staining and the contents of TC in the group B, group C and group D were significantly increased compared with those in the group A (all P < 0.01). The counts of positive cells and contents of TC in the group C, group D and group E were significantly clecreased compared with those in the group B (all P < 0.01), and the decline in group D was more obvious than that in the group C (all P < 0.01). Compared with group C and group D, the counts of positive cells and contents of TC in the group E was obviously decreased (all P < 0.01), which was not statistically different from group A (P > 0.05). In the meantime, compared with group C, the rate of cholesterol efflux in group D and group E was significantly increased (both P < 0.01), and the rise in group E was more obvious than that in the group D.

CONCLUSIONThe electroacupuncture at "Fenglong" (ST 40) could significantly prohibit the transformation of macrophage into foam cell and increase rate of cholesterol efflux in macrophage, which could prevent and reverse the formation of foam cell and play an essential role in treating hyperlipidemia and stopping it from developing into a further level.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Biological Transport ; Cells, Cultured ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Electroacupuncture ; Foam Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; metabolism ; therapy ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley