Therapeutic effect and mechanisms study of Bawei Xilei Powder on ulcerative colitis patients / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the efficacy and mechanisms of Bawei Xilei Powder (BXP) in treating ulcerative colitis (UC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 103 patients with left hemicolon mild to moderate UC in the active phase at the outpatient clinics of West China Hospital from June 2009 to October 2010 were randomly assigned to the treatment group (55 cases) and the control group (48 cases). Patients in the treatment group were treated with BXP (adding 1 g in 60 mL worm boiled water) and those in the control group received by 50 mg/60 mL hydrocortisone edema solution (once every evening before sleep). The therapeutic course for all was 4 weeks. The disease activity degree (Mayo scoring), endoscopic, and histologic manifestations were compared between post-and pre-treatment in the two groups. The expression of toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), and Occludin were detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The clinical remission rate and the response rate in the treatment group were 78.2% and 89.1% respectively, higher than those of the control group (58.3% and 72.9%, P < 0.05).The endoscopically mucosal healing rate was 50.9% in the treatment group and 31.3% in the control group (P < 0.05). The histological remission rate and the effective rate in the treatment group were 32.7% and 65.5% respectively, but higher than those of the control group (27.1% and 58.3%, P > 0.05). The rate of adverse events was 3.8% in the treatment (occurred in 2 cases) and 4.3% in the control group (occurred in 2 cases, P > 0.05). Compared with pre-treatment, the expression of TLR4 and NF-kappaB p65 significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while the expression of Occludin significantly increased (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>BXP was effective and safe in patients with active mild to moderate UC. Its effects might be involved in regulating the expression of inflammatory factors and enhancing mucosa barrier functions. ulcerative colitis; Bawei Xilei Powder; enema therapy</p>

Expression of 5-lipoxygenase in colon mucosa of ulcerative colitis / 中华消化内镜杂志

Objective To investigate the expressions of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) protein and mRNA in colon mucosa of ulcerative colitis (UC) and to analyze its correlation with endoscopic and histological grading. Methods The biopsies from 32 UC patients and 26 healthy controls were collected, and the expressions of 5-LOX mRNA and protein in colonic mucosa was determined by real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry assay, respectively. The endoscopic and histological grading of 32 UC patients were also recorded. Results According to endoscopic grading, there were 10 cases of grade Ⅰ , 19 of grade Ⅱ and 3 of grade Ⅲ in 32 UC patients, and there were 19 cases of grade Ⅰ , 9 of grade Ⅱ and 4 of grade Ⅲ according to histological grading. The expressions of 5-LOX mRNA and protein in UC patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (P ＜0. 05 ). The rate of 5-LOX protein expression increased with endoscopic and histological grades, which was also positively correlated with endoscopic grades ( P ＜ 0. 05 ), but not with histological grades ( P ＞0. 05 ). Conclusion The expressions of 5-LOX mRNA and protein in colon mucosa from UC patients might be a marker for disease activity. 5-LOX may play a pivotal role in inflammation of UC and be a target site for treatment.

Expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 and 5-1ipoxygenase in colonic mucosa of ulcerative colitis and the relationship between them / 中华消化杂志

Objective To investigate the expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) in colonic mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC)and to analyze the relationship between them. Methods The specimens of colonic mucosa from 32 UC patients were graded according to endoscopic and histological grading standards, and specimens of colonic mucosa from 26 healthy controls were also collected. The expressions of COX-2 and 5-LOX mRNA and protein in colonic mucosa were determined using real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. The correlation between COX-2 and 5-LOX was analyzed. Results For UC patients,10 were class 1, 19 class 2 and 3 class 3 according to endoscopic grading, whereas 19 were class Ⅰ , 9 class Ⅱ and 4 class Ⅲ according to histological grading. The expressions of COX-2 and 5-LOX mRNA in active UC patients were 81. 25% and 53.13%, respectively, and were 11.54% and 19. 23% in healthy controls, respectively, with significant differences between the two groups (all P values＜0.01). The positive expressions of COX2 and 5-LOX increased in accordance with increasing of endoscopic grading and histological grading.The levels of COX-2 and 5-LOX were 20. 08±1.17 and 37.83 ±1.48 in colonic mucosa tissues of UC patients, respectively, and 48.42 ± 1.69 and 11.28 ± 1.62 in healthy controls, respectively. There was significant difference between the two groups (all P values＜0.05). A good positive correlation was found between COX-2 and 5-LOX. Conclusions The expressions of COX-2 is closely related to 5-LOX in UC patients. Both may play a pivotal role in inflammation of UC.