Clinical observation of Shuanghuang Shengbai Granule () on prevention and treatment of myelosuppression caused by chemotherapy in cancer patients / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the efficacy and safety of Shuanghuang Shengbai Granule (, SSG), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on myelosuppression of cancer patients caused by chemotherapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 330 patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (220 cases, analysed 209 cases) and the control group (110 cases, analysed 102 cases) with a 2:1 ratio by envelope method. The patients in the treatment group at the first day of chemotherapy started to take SSG for 14 days, while the patients in the control group took Leucogon Tablets. The changes of the blood routine, clinical symptoms and immune function in both groups were observed for safety and efficacy evaluation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the 7th day of chemotherapy, the white blood cells (WBCs) level in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the WBCs rate in the normal range accounted for 50.2% in the treatment group, the myelosuppression of WBCs and neutrophil were mainly grade I, while 8.1% and 5.7% of patients emerged grade III and grade IV myelosuppression, respectively. The incidence of myelosuppression of the treatment group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate of Chinese medicine syndrome in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (84.2% vs. 72.5%, P<0.05). The immune cell levels in both groups were maintained in the normal range. Compared with that before treatment, the levels of CD3and CD4cells were significantly increased in the treatment group after treatment (P<0.05). The discrepancy of CD3and CD4cell activity before and after treatment in both groups were significantly different (P<0.05). No obvious adverse event occurred in both groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SSG had a protection effect on bone marrow suppression, and alleviated the clinical symptoms together with clinical safety.</p>

Effect of bufalin combined gefitinib on lung cancer H1975 cells and its mechanisms research / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of bufalin combined Gefitinib on lung cancer H1975 cells, and to explore its potential mechanisms for anti-tumor.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cytostatic effects of bufalin (1 -100 nmol/L), gefitinib (0.1-20 micromol/L), and bufalin plus gefitinib on H1975 cells were evaluated by MTT assay. Their effects on apoptosis of H1975 cells were determined by flow cytometry (FCM). Their effects on expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Met signal pathway related proteins in H1975 cells were detected by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Results of MTT assay showed that gefitinib over 5 micromol/L could inhibit H1975 cells. But combined therapy of bufalin and gefitinib could potently inhibit the growth of H1975 cells. Results of FCM showed the apoptotic rate was 61.64% +/- 5.61% in the bufalin plus gefitinib group, obviously higher than that of the bufalin group (18.34% +/- 3.42%) and the gefitinib group (7.32% +/- 1.08%), showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). Results of Western blot showed the protein expressions of p-EGFR, p-Met, p-Akt, and p-mTOR in H1975 cells could be markedly down-regulated by bufalin plus gefitinib.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Combination of bufalin and gefitinib potently inhibited the growth of H1975 cells, and induced cell apoptosis. The potential mechanism for anti-tumor might be involved in blocking EGFR-PI3k/Akt pathway.</p>

The relationships between angiogenesis and matrix metalloproteinase-2, -9 in mice tumor intervened by feiyanning recipe's components / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of Feiyanning Recipe's (FR) components on the microvessel density (MVD), the mRNA and protein expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 in Lewis tumors loaded in C57BL/6 mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>C57BL/6 Lewis lung cancer mouse model was established. Mice were randomly divided into five groups, i.e., the model group, the FR group, the qi benefiting group, the Shen-tonifying group, and the anti-cancer group. The mice were killed on the 22nd day after 21-day gastrogavage. Tumors were extracted. The MVD of Lewis tumor was detected by immunohistochemical SP method. The mRNA and protein expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were measured using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and SP method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the model group and the qi benefiting group, the MVD was significantly reduced in the FR group, the Shen-tonifying group, and the anti-cancer group (P<0.01, P<0.05). But there was no significant difference between the qi benefiting group and the model group (P>0.05). The mRNA and protein expressions of MMP-2 in the FR group, the Shen-tonifying group, and the anti-cancer group were also significantly less than those in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). At the same time the expression of MMP-2 mRNA in the Shen-tonifying group and the anti-cancer group was also less than that in the qi benefiting group (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expressions of MMP-9 in the FR group, the Shen-tonifying group, and the anti-cancer group were significantly lower than those in the model group and the qi benefiting group (P<0.05, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The target for Shen-tonifying and anti-cancer Chinese herbs to inhibit tumor angiogenesis might be correlated with restraining expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9, and protecting tumor microenvironment.</p>

Objectified study on tongue images of patients with lung cancer of different syndromes / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To describe the characteristic of tongue images of patients with lung cancer of different Chinese medicine (CM) syndromes and to reveal the elemental rule on the changes of the tongue images.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 207 patients with lung cancer were divided into four syndrome groups according to the theory of CM: Fei and Shen deficiency syndrome (Group A, 72 cases), Pi deficiency and phlegm deficiency and phlegm) and Shen (deficiency and phlegm) deficiency syndrome (Group A, 72 cases), Pi (deficiency and phlegm) deficiency and phlegm dampness syndrome (Group B, 57 cases), phlegm-heat retention in Fei (Group C, 36 cases) and yin asthenia generating intrinsic heat syndrome (Group D, 42 cases). The tongue parameters were detected by tongue image digital analysis instrument, and the tongue images were described with qualitative, tongue color and quantitative analysis, respectively. The International Commission on Illumination (CIE) L·a·b (CIELAB) color model was used for the quantitative classification.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a significant statistical difference between different syndrome groups of lung cancer on tongue color, coating color, and thickness of tongue coating (P<0.01), and there was significant statistical difference between the four syndrome groups on Lab values of the tongue and coating (P<0.05). The correct identification rate of discriminant function on the raw data was 65.7%, including 72.2% for Group C, 69.4% for Group A, 69.0% for Group D and 54.4% for Group B.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>A tongue image digital analysis instrument can objectively describe the tongue features of patients with different syndromes of lung cancer. The tongue diagnosis is very important to syndrome differentiation in CM. Tongue diagnosis should be combined with some important characteristics of syndromes in the future to establish a "combination of four examination methods, including inspection, auscultation, interrogation, and pulse-feeling and palpation" in the tongue diagnostic system.</p>

Clinical study on treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer with kangliu zengxiao decoction / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Kangliu Zengxiao Decoction (KLZX) in treating patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-one patients with confirmed diagnosis of NSCLC of IIIa-IV stage were randomly assigned to the treatment group (32 patients) and the control group (29 patients). Both groups were treated with two cycles of chemotherapy NP regimen, while KLZX was given to the treatment group additionally.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>As compared with the control group, the improvements in the treatment group was better in terms of majority of clinical symptoms, median survival time, Karnofski score and body weight, also in increasing immune function, decreasing levels of tumor marks (CEA, VEGF, CYFRA21-1) and alleviating hemopoietic and digestive adverse reactions. But the two groups showed insignificant difference in reducing tumor size and stabilizing tumor foci.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combined use of KLZX and chemotherapy has the toxicity reducing and effect enhancing action, is one of the effective approaches for treatment of advanced NSCLC.</p>