Polysaccharides from the root of Angelica sinensis promotes hematopoiesis and thrombopoiesis through the PI3K/AKT pathway

Background

Dozens of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulas have been used for promotion of "blood production" for centuries, and we are interested in developing novel thrombopoietic medicines from these TCMs. Our previous studies have demonstrated the hematopoietic effects of DangGui BuXue Tong (DBT), a formula composed of Radix Angelicae Sinensis and Radix Astragali in animal and cellular models. As a step further to identify and characterize the active chemical components of DBT, we tested the hematopoietic and particularly, thrombopoietic effects of polysaccharide-enriched fractions from the root of Radix Angelicae Sinensis (APS) in this study.

Methods

A myelosuppression mouse model was treated with APS (10 mg/kg/day). Peripheral blood cells from APS, thrombopoietin and vehicle-treated samples were then counted at different time-points. Using the colony-forming unit (CFU) assays, we determined the effects of APS on the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and megakaryocytic lineages. Using a megakaryocytic cell line M-07e as model, we analyzed the cellular apoptosis progression with and without APS treatment by Annexin V, Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and Caspase 3 assays. Last, the anti-apoptotic effect of APS on cells treated with Ly294002, a Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinse inhibitor (PI3K) was also tested.

Results

In animal models, APS significantly enhanced not only the recovery of platelets, other blood cells and their progenitor cells, but also the formation of Colony Forming Unit (CFU). In M-07e cells, we observed the anti-apoptotic effect of APS. Treatment by Ly294002 alone increased the percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis. However, addition of APS to Ly294002-treated cells significantly reduced the percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis.

Conclusions

APS promotes hematopoiesis and thrombopoiesis in the mouse model. This effect likely resulted from the anti-apoptosis activity of APS and is likely to involve the PI3K/AKT pathway.     

Impact of the RHANI Wives intervention on marital conflict and sexual coercion

Objective

To assess the effects of the RHANI (Reducing HIV among Non-Infected) Wives intervention on marital conflict and intimate partner violence (IPV) in urban India.

Methods

A 2-armed cluster-randomized controlled trial (7 intervention, 6 control clusters) of the RHANI Wives intervention was conducted with 220 women contending with a history of IPV and/or husband’s drunken behavior. Participants were surveyed at baseline and 4.5-month follow-up. Outcome measures included marital conflict (arguments with husband in past 3 months), marital IPV (physical or sexual violence from husband in past 3 months), and marital sexual coercion (husband forcing sex at last sex). Intention-to-treat logistic generalized linear mixed models were used to determine intervention impact.

Results

One-third (35.0%) of participants reported physical or sexual abuse from their husband in the past 3 months, and 58.6% reported that their husband was drunk in the past 30 days. Intention-to-treat analyses indicated time × treatment reductions in marital conflict (risk ratio [RR] 0.4; 90% confidence interval [CI], 0.1–0.9; P = 0.06) and marital sexual coercion (RR 0.2; 90% CI, 0.05–0.9; P = 0.08), but not IPV.

Conclusion

The findings suggest the potential utility of this intervention in reducing marital conflict and sexual coercion among women in urban India.ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01592994.     

Predictors of exercise compliance in individuals with Gulf War veterans illnesses: Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study 470

Although the health benefits of exercise for individuals with Persian Gulf War veterans illnesses (GWVI) are documented, many of these individuals do not exercise regularly enough to obtain benefits. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors predicting exercise compliance among individuals with GWVI in a multicenter, randomized, clinical trial. Participants were 1,092 veterans who reported at least two of the following cardinal symptoms of GWVI: (1) fatigue, (2) musculoskeletal pain, and (3) cognitive problems. Participants received exercise alone or exercise and cognitive-behavioral therapy. The overall level of compliance was relatively low during the exercise treatment phase (46.2%) and decreased by one-half during the follow-up period (23.0%). Predictors of compliance during treatment included less pain and greater age, motivation, and body mass index. Predictors of compliance during the follow-up period included less pain and greater age. The results highlight factors that affect adoption and maintenance of physical activity in a population with GWVI.     

Labial Adhesion with Acute Urinary Retention Secondary to Bartholin's Abscess

Labial adhesions are usually seen in early childhood or in the postmenopausal years, but this clinical entity is rarely seen in the reproductive years. We report a case of labial adhesion with acute urinary retention secondary to Bartholin's abscess in a reproductive‐aged woman with normal menstrual periods. We emphasize the possible occurrence of labial adhesion following Bartholin's abscess in the reproductive years with normal estrogen levels.     

Atrioesophageal Fistula After Cryoballoon Pulmonary Vein Isolation

Atrioesophageal Fistula After Cryoballoon PV Isolation . The risk of atrioesophageal fistula after cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation is thought to be much lower than after radiofrequency ablation, seeing that no data exist on this complication so far. We report for the first time on the occurrence of an atrioesophageal fistula 4 weeks after cryoballoon ablation at the site of the left inferior pulmonary vein. We suggest that even when using cryothermal ablation technique, an imaging modality to assess the proximity of esophagus and left atrium should be routinely performed to avoid this fatal complication. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 1254–1257, November 2012)