Matrine,oxymatrine, and compound Kushen injection from the roots of Sophora flavescens: an overview of their anticancer activities

In the present review, we updated current information on the chemistry, contents, and anticancer properties of matrine (MT), oxymatrine (OMT), and compound Kushen injection (CKI). The anticancer properties were focused on lung, breast, and liver cancer cells because they are most susceptible. Sources of information were from Google, Google Scholar, PubMed, PubMed Central, Science Direct, PubChem, J-Stage, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Reference was also made on botanical websites, such as Flora of China and World Flora Online. MT and OMT are dominant quinolizidine alkaloids from the roots of Sophora flavescens (Kushen) of the family Fabaceae. Against lung, breast, and liver cancer cells, MT and OMT inhibit cell proliferation; induce cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy; restrict angiogenesis; and inhibit cell metastasis, invasion, and migration. The processes involve various molecular targets and signaling pathways. CKI is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) composed of root extracts of S. flavescens and Smilax glabra (Baituling) of the family Smilacaceae. With MT and OMT as major components, CKI has been approved for the treatment of cancer in China more than 20 years ago. In recent years, systematic reviews and meta-analysis have been undertaken to evaluate the anticancer effects of CKI. When CKI is used alone and in combination with chemotherapy of western medicine, there is much to be learned concerning their interactions besides their individual and integrated efficacy. Some perspectives of MT, OMT, and CKI are discussed, and their suggestions for future research are provided.     

Impact of different types of olive oil on cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Background and aimThis network meta-analysis (NMA) compares the effects of different types of olive oil (OO) on cardiovascular risk factors.Methods and resultsLiterature search was conducted on three electronic databases (Medline, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central). Inclusion criteria: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (≥3 weeks duration of intervention) comparing at least two of the following types of OO: refined OO (ROO), mixed OO (MOO), low phenolic (extra) virgin OO (LP(E)VOO), and high phenolic (extra) virgin OO (HP(E)VOO). Random-effects NMA was performed for seven outcomes; and surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was estimated, using an analytical approach (P-score). Thirteen RCTs (16 reports) with 611 mainly healthy participants (mean age: 26–70 years) were identified. No differences for total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and diastolic blood pressure were observed comparing ROO, MOO, LP(E)VOO and HP(E)VOO. HP(E)VOO slightly reduce LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) compared to LP(E)VOO (mean difference [MD]: −0.14 mmol/L, 95%–CI: −0.28, −0.01). Both, HP(E)VOO and LP(E)VOO reduces SBP compared to ROO (range of MD: −2.99 to −2.87 mmHg), and HP(E)VOO may improve oxidized LDL-cholesterol (oxLDL-C) compared to ROO (standardized MD: −0.68, 95%–CI: −1.31, −0.04). In secondary analyses, EVOO may reduce oxLDL-C compared to ROO, and a dose-response relationship between higher intakes of phenolic compounds from OO and lower SBP and oxLDL-C values was detected. HP(E)VOO was ranked as best treatment for LDL-C (P-score: 0.83), oxLDL-C (0.88), and SBP (0.75).ConclusionsHP(E)VOO may improve some cardiovascular risk factors, however, public health implications are limited by overall low or moderate certainty of evidence.     

激光联合复方血栓通胶囊治疗糖尿病视网膜病变合并黄斑水肿的疗效观察

目的:分析糖尿病视网膜病变合并黄斑水肿联合采用激光与复方血栓通胶囊治疗的临床疗效。方法:选取我院2017年1月—2019年1月收治的200例糖尿病视网膜病变合并黄斑水肿患者为研究对象,随机分为两组。对照组单独行激光治疗,观察组于对照组基础上联合复方血栓通胶囊治疗,对比两组临床疗效、治疗前后IL-6(白介素-6)、VEGF(血管内皮生长因子)、NOS(血清一氧化氮合成酶)水平变化情况。结果:对照组总有效率(68.00%,68/100)较观察组总有效率(98.00%,98/100)更高(P<0.05);与对照组对比,观察组治疗后NOS水平更高,IL-6、VEGF水平更低(P<0.05)。结论:糖尿病视网膜病变合并黄斑水肿联合采用激光与复方血栓通胶囊治疗的临床疗效显著,值得推广。     

The preventive role of wheat germ oil against sertraline‐induced testicular damage in male albino rats

Sertraline is an antidepressant medication used extensively in the therapy of depression. The present investigation was intended to estimate the actual protective role of wheat germ oil on sertraline‐caused testicular injury in albino rats. Sertraline (human therapeutic dose, 15.63 mg/kg) was orally administrated to rats for 28 successive days. Sertraline‐administered rats were concurrently supplemented with wheat germ oil (human therapeutic dose, 68.75 mg/kg) for 28 successive days. Sertraline administration induced an elevation in testicular DNA damage and acute testicular damage illustrated by the histopathological alterations including marked degeneration and necrosis of germ cells lining seminiferous tubules, as well as interstitial oedema, congestion of interstitial blood vessel. Wheat germ oil administration potentially mitigated the histopathological alterations of sertraline‐administered rats. Lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress biomarker, showed a significant elevation in testicular tissue of sertraline‐administered rats. Furthermore, glutathione content and catalase activity were decreased in testicular tissue of sertraline‐administered rats. Serum testosterone level was elevated in sertraline‐administered rats. Wheat germ oil significantly reduced lipid peroxidation of testicular tissue and improved the antioxidant defences. Finally, wheat germ oil has a preventive role against testicular damage induced by sertraline in rats probably via its potential to prevent reactive oxygen species.     

复方倍他米松注射液联合泛昔洛韦胶囊、普瑞巴林胶囊治疗带状疱疹的临床疗效观察

目的 对复方倍他米松注射液联合泛昔洛韦胶囊、普瑞巴林胶囊治疗带状疱疹的临床疗效进行观察并探讨。方法 选取2018 年1 月～2019 年12 月我院收治的118 例带状疱疹患者为研究对象，采用随机抽签的方式将患者分为对照组（泛昔洛韦胶囊+普瑞巴林胶囊+甲钴胺片+维生素B1 片）与观察组（联合复方倍他米松注射液），比较两组治疗总有效率、VAS 评分、QS 评分、C 反应蛋白、无新发皮疹时间、结痂时间及疼痛停止时间、随访2 个月后带状疱疹后遗神经痛发生率以及不良反应发生率。结果 观察组与对照组治疗总有效率分别为94.92%及76.27%，组间对比差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）；治疗后，观察组VAS 评分显著低于对照组；观察组QS 评分低于对照组（P＜0.05）；治疗后，观察组C 反应蛋白显著低于对照组（P＜0.05）；观察组无新发皮疹时间、结痂时间及疼痛停止时间分别显著短于对照组（P＜0.05）；随访2 个月后，发现观察组带状疱疹后遗神经痛发生率显著低于对照组（P＜0.05）；观察组不良反应发生与对照组比较，差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。结论 复方倍他米松注射液联合泛昔洛韦胶囊、普瑞巴林胶囊治疗带状疱疹不仅效果好且安全性高，值得使用。     

Diagnostic sensitivity of electrophysiology and ultrasonography in ulnar neuropathies of different severity

ObjectiveTo assess the diagnostic performance of electrophysiology and nerve ultrasound in ulnar neuropathies of varying clinical severity in 135 consecutive patients.MethodsClinical severity of ulnar neuropathy was graded on a 4 point scale from very mild (symptoms only) to severe (marked atrophy of intrinsic hand muscles). Sensitivity and localization ability of electrophysiology and nerve ultrasound were assessed for each point of the scale.ResultsUltrasound had higher sensitivity than electrophysiology in clinically very mild (20% and 3% for ultrasound and electrophysiology, respectively) and mild (62% and 47% for ultrasound and electrophysiology, respectively) neuropathies, had greater localizing ability in axonal ulnar neuropathies, and identified nerve hypermobility.Ultrasound nerve cross-sectional area had strong positive correlation with both clinical and electrophysiological severity scores, but with significant overlap across the severity groups.ConclusionThe diagnostic work-up of ulnar neuropathies was improved by using both electrophysiology and ultrasound at all levels of clinical severity. Ultrasound increased the diagnostic yield in very mild and mild neuropathies, localized all the ulnar neuropathies with abnormal non-localizing electrophysiology and identified nerve hypermobility.SignificanceThis is the first detailed analysis of the diagnostic performance of electrophysiology and ultrasound in ulnar neuropathies of varying severity.     

棕榈油对成人血脂和血小板功能的影响

报道了棕榈油（ＰＡ），花生油（ＰＥ）对血清总胆固醇水平（ＴＣ）在５．５～７．０ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ的受试者血脂和血小板功能的影响。５１名受试者（男３１人，女２０人，年龄３０～６６岁之间）分为两组，一组男１５人，女１１人，称ＰＥ组；另一组男１６人女９人，称ＰＡ组，预备期３周，膳食以当地日常食用的花生油烹调，实验期６周。ＰＡ组受试者食用以棕榈油烹调的实验膳；ＰＥ组受试者仍食花生油烹调的膳食。脂肪约占膳食能量的３０％，其中６０％～６５％来自实验油。实验结果表明：与起始值相比，６周末ＰＡ组受试者血清ＴＣ，低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（ＬＤＬ－Ｃ）和总胆固醇与高密度脂蛋白胆固醇比值（ＴＣ／ＨＤＬ－Ｃ）显著下降，血浆血栓素Ｂ２（ＴＸＢ２）／６－酮前列环素Ｆ１α、（６－ｋｅｔｏ－ＰＧＦ１α）比值显著下降，全血血小板聚集率未见显著变化。ＰＥ组受试者的血脂、血浆ＴＸＢ２、６－ｋｅｔｏ－ＰＧＦ１α及全血血小板聚集率等指标均未出现显著变化。提示，棕榈油作为我国居民家庭烹调用油并不会增加发生心血管疾病的危险。