Paroxetine-induced apoptosis in human osteosarcoma cells: activation of p38 MAP kinase and caspase-3 pathways without involvement of [Ca2+]i elevation

Tea made from the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis is a popular beverage. The possible cancer-preventive activity of tea and tea polyphenols has been studied extensively. This article briefly reviews studies in animal models, cell lines, and possible relevance of these studies to the prevention of human cancer. The cancer-preventive activity of tea constituents have been demonstrated in many animal models including cancer of the skin, lung, oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, small intestine, colon, bladder, prostate, and mammary gland. The major active constituents are polyphenols, of which (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is most abundant, most active, and most studied, and caffeine. The molecular mechanisms of the cancer-preventive action, however, are just beginning to be understood. Studies in cell lines led to the proposal of many mechanisms on the action of EGCG. However, mechanisms based on studies with very high concentrations of EGCG may not be relevant to cancer prevention in vivo. The autooxidation of EGCG in cell culture may also produce activities that do not occur in many internal organs. In contrast to the cancer prevention activity demonstrated in different animal models, no such conclusion can be convincingly drawn from epidemiological studies on tea consumption and human cancers. Even though the human data are inconclusive, tea constituents may still be used for the prevention of cancer at selected organ sites if sufficient concentrations of the agent can be delivered to these organs. Some interesting examples in this area are discussed.     

银杏叶提取物联合SSRIs对老年冠心病患者合并抑郁的疗效分析

目的探讨银杏叶提取物(Extract of Ginkgo Biloba,EGb)联合常规抗抑郁治疗老年冠心病(CAD)伴抑郁症(depression)的效果。方法老年冠心病伴抑郁患者分别进入西肽普兰单药治疗组及银杏叶联合西肽普兰提取物治疗组,并对冠心病症状、心电图及抑郁量表进行评价。结果两组患者冠心病、抑郁症状均明显改善,银杏叶提取物联合治疗组症状的改善更加明显。结论老年冠心病伴抑郁症患者抗抑郁治疗效果较好,银杏叶提取物对老年冠心病伴抑郁症有良好治疗效果。     

Effects of ayahuasca on psychometric measures of anxiety, panic-like and hopelessness in Santo Daime members

The use of the hallucinogenic brew ayahuasca, obtained from infusing the shredded stalk of the malpighiaceous plant Banisteriopsis caapi with the leaves of other plants such as Psychotria viridis, is growing in urban centers of Europe, South and North America in the last several decades. Despite this diffusion, little is known about its effects on emotional states. The present study investigated the effects of ayahuasca on psychometric measures of anxiety, panic-like and hopelessness in members of the Santo Daime, an ayahuasca-using religion. Standard questionnaires were used to evaluate state-anxiety (STAI-state), trait-anxiety (STAI-trait), panic-like (ASI-R) and hopelessness (BHS) in participants that ingested ayahuasca for at least 10 consecutive years. The study was done in the Santo Daime church, where the questionnaires were administered 1h after the ingestion of the brew, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled procedure. While under the acute effects of ayahuasca, participants scored lower on the scales for panic and hopelessness related states. Ayahuasca ingestion did not modify state- or trait-anxiety. The results are discussed in terms of the possible use of ayahuasca in alleviating signs of hopelessness and panic-like related symptoms.     

Quetiapine as monotherapy for social anxiety disorder: a placebo-controlled study

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is one of the most common anxiety disorders. Reports have suggested an effect of the atypical antipsychotic quetiapine in anxiety disorders. Given these considerations, we conducted a controlled trial of quetiapine monotherapy in SAD. Fifteen patients were randomized to quetiapine (up to 400 mg/day) or placebo for 8 weeks. The Brief Social Phobia Scale (BSPS) and the Clinical Global Impression of Improvement Scale (CGI-I) were the primary outcome measures, while the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) and the Sheehan Disability Inventory (SDI) were secondary measures. There was no significant difference on the BSPS score at endpoint between the quetiapine and placebo groups. There was a significant time effect but not a significant time x treatment group interaction, indicating that both the quetiapine and placebo patients did better over the course of the trial. 20% of the quetiapine patients had a 50% or greater drop in BSPS score at the end of the trial compared to baseline, while 0% had such a drop in the placebo group. There was no significant difference in responders (CGI-I score of 1 or 2) versus non-responder (CGI-I score of 3 or more) across the groups. However, 40% of quetiapine patients and 0% of the placebo patients showed much or very much improvement on the CGI-I. The Number Needed to Treat (NNT) to be a responder on the CGI-I was 3. Significant time effects were noted for the SPIN and SDI, as well as a significant time x treatment effect in favor of quetiapine on the SPIN. Additionally, quetiapine showed a large effect size on the SPIN.     

针灸结合选择性5-羟色胺再摄取抑制剂治疗抑郁症的临床疗效分析

目的 探究针灸结合选择性5-羟色胺再摄取抑制剂(SSRIs)在治疗抑郁症患者中的临床疗效.方法 选择本院在2019年1月—2020年1月间收治的83例抑郁症患者作为研究对象,对照组抑郁症患者给予SSRIs治疗,联合治疗组在对照组基础上加以针灸治疗,比较两组抑郁症患者的临床疗效,以及治疗前后焦虑(HAMA)和抑郁量表(H...