Investigating the Antitumor Activities of Curcumae Rhizoma by Building HepG2 Tumor-bearing Nude Mice Models and Exploring its Anticancer Mechanism by Observing Glycoprotein Expression of Tumor Tissues Using Lectin Microarray Technology

Background: Curcumae Rhizoma (CR) comes from Curcuma genus, functional breaking blood stasis, detumescence and acesodyne for treatment of Zhengjia accumulation, amenorrhea, traumatic injury and bruising pain. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the main monomer compositions of Curcumae Rhizoma, such as curcumol, β-elemene, curcumin, have good anti-tumor effects. However, the mechanisms are not clear yet. Previous studies have revealed that the associated glycoprotein showed significant differences with normal people after the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: In this study, the anticancer activities of CR extract were investigated by constructing HepG2 tumor bearing nude mice models. Furthermore, glycan profiles of tumor tissues were thoroughly characterized by lectin microarrays, a high-throughput technique, in an effort to explore the anticancer mechanism of Curcumae Rhizoma. Results: It is indicated that CR extract might inhibit the tumor proliferation in tumor-bearing model and the potential mechanisms might be CR treatment altered protein glycosylation of tumor cell, which plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of HCC. In detail, fucosylation (identified by PSA and UEA-I), bisecting GlcNAc or multianternnary (identified by PHA-E+L) and terminal GalNAc (identified by BPL) decreased, while sialylation (identified by WGA and SNA), high-mannose (identified by ConA) and T-antigen/TN-antigen/sialyl-T antigen (identified by ACA) increased in CR treatment group compared to model group. Similar phenomenon also occurred in two positive groups, western medicine cyclophosphamide (CTX) and Chinese medicine monomer β-elemene administration groups, especially in β-elemene administration one. The liver contains various receptors on sinusoidal and hepatocyte surfaces, and many proteins that bind to these receptors reply on carbohydrate moieties during the development of HCC. Conclusion: In this point of view, a search for the biological significance of glycosylation expression and its function after Chinese Medicine administration in HCC may open a new direction in glycobiology.

Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of epilepsy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of epilepsy. Methods: A comprehensive search of database in both Chinese and English was performed. Data from the selected studies was extracted and analyzed independently by two authors. Results: Twenty-two randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis with a total of 1773 patients. Among them, three trials (n=166) focused on TCM monotherapy, while the other 19 trials (n=1607) assessed the benefit of TCM add-on therapy to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). For the efficacy, meta-analysis found (1) TCM monotherapy had a higher effective rate compared with AEDs (OR=6.007, 95%CI: 2.570-14.037, Z=6.007, P<0.001); (2) the add-on of TCM increased the effective rate (OR=3.123, 95%CI: 2.356, 4.140), Z=7.916, P<0.001). In terms of safety, the add-on of TCM reduced the rate of total AEs (OR = 0.407, 95%CI: 0.274-0.605, P <0.0001) as well as AEs regarding the gastrointestinal and nervous system. Nineteen different TCM prescription was used in these RTCs. Among them, the five most frequently used herbs were Acorus tatarinowii (14 out of 19), Wolfiporia Cocos (10 out of 19), Pinellia Ternata (9 out of 19), Licorice Root (9 out of 19) and Rhizoma Gastrodiae (8 out of 19). Conclusion: TCM is an efficacy and safety strategy for the mono- or add-on treatment of epilepsy. However, as the small sample size, the diversified composition of TCM prescriptions, and the low quality of study design, further studies remain needed.

The high breathlessness, cough, fever treated by antibiotic therapy: Azithromycin – induced oral thrush

The oral thrush happens when a yeast disease creates within the mouth and on the tongue causing rich white knocks on the tongue, inward cheeks, gums, tonsils, marginally dying, torment, trouble gulping, irritability. A 35 years old female patient visited the hospital complaining of breathlessness, cough, fever the patient was treated with azithromycin -500mg PO once daily, co-trimoxazole -160mg+800mg, paracetamol -500mg PO (Per Os: by mouth, orally) t.d.s. (ter die sumendum three times a day) for ten days. After ten days of using azithromycin and co-trimoxazole, she developed severe oral thrush-white bumps, ulcers-involving bleeding, severe itching, difficulty swallowing. She completely left taking solid food because of severe itching and pain and she loses weight. As per our best knowledge, this was the first report, azithromycin and Co-trimoxazole induced oral thrush and it indicates that it should be considered as a possible side effect of azithromycin and Co-trimoxazole.