The use of homeopathy and flower therapy as an aid in the treatment of climacteric symptoms: an integrative review

Climacteric is characterized as the set of symptoms that usually start in the period of transition from the reproductive phase to female senility, and directly impacts woman's quality of life. Currently, the treatments approved by the FDA for this pathology mainly involve the use of antidepressants and hormone replacement, both having side effects. Clinical studies carried out in 2002, showed an increased risk of breast cancer, and other pathologies related to the prolonged use of these drugs. The impact ofthe studies resulted in a greater interest in complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs), such as the use of homeopathy and flower remedies for the treatment of climacteric symptoms. This abstract aims to present an integrative review on the use of homeopathy and flower remedies in the treatment of climacteric symptoms, in order to identify it main scientific evidence. For this, metodology consisted of research in the databases Web of Science, Google Scholar, HomeoIndex, LILACS and SciELO. The inclusion criteria were original human studies, totally available, and published in the last 10 years in Portuguese, English and Spanish, presenting the use of floral remedies or homeopathic treatment. The main homeopathic medicines used were Lachesis mutus, Belladona, Sepia officinalis, Sanguinaria canadensis and Sulfur. The main flower remedies were Cherry plum, Agrimony, Gentian, Walnut, Olive and Larch. The findings in this review demonstrate a positive outcome trend in favor of the effectiveness of these practices through the studies evaluated, encouraging the expansion of new designs and research that fully contemplate the principles of these practices. Thus, this work contributes to the advancement in the understanding of each one of these rationalities, making this work a source of consultation for health professionals and for future research, resulting in a strengthening of CAMs in the field of health.

Cancer metastases: challenges and opportunities

Cancer metastasis is the major cause of cancer morbidity and mortality, and accounts for about 90% of cancer deaths. Although cancer survival rate has been significantly improved over the years, the improvement is primarily due to early diagnosis and cancer growth inhibition. Limited progress has been made in the treatment of cancer metastasis due to various factors. Current treatments for cancer metastasis are mainly chemotherapy and radiotherapy, though the new generation anti-cancer drugs (predominantly neutralizing antibodies for growth factors and small molecule kinase inhibitors) do have the effects on cancer metastasis in addition to their effects on cancer growth. Cancer metastasis begins with detachment of metastatic cells from the primary tumor, travel of the cells to different sites through blood/lymphatic vessels, settlement and growth of the cells at a distal site. During the process, metastatic cells go through detachment, migration, invasion and adhesion. These four essential, metastatic steps are inter-related and affected by multi-biochemical events and parameters. Additionally, it is known that tumor microenvironment (such as extracellular matrix structure, growth factors, chemokines, matrix metalloproteinases) plays a significant role in cancer metastasis. The biochemical events and parameters involved in the metastatic process and tumor microenvironment have been targeted or can be potential targets for metastasis prevention and inhibition. This review provides an overview of these metastasis essential steps, related biochemical factors, and targets for intervention.

Pathophyslology of Bone Metastsis And Its Implications - A Review.

In tumors with a propensity to spread to bone a significant proportion of patients who present with cancer that appears to be localized will eventually develop incurable metastatic disease. Bone metastases are common in many advanced cancers and are an avoidable yet, annoying source of skeletal morbidity. The bone mineral matrix contains numerous growth factors that are released during normal bone remodeling, providing a fertile microenvironment for tumor cell colonization and proliferation. Tumor cells then release a variety of growth factors that promote bone resorption and increase the risk of skeletal complications. Metastasis of tumor cells to bone requires a complex cascade of events involving detachment from the primary tumor site, invasion of the vasculature, migration and adherence to distant capillaries of the bone, extravasation, and proliferation. Metastatic bone lesions are classified as osteolytic or osteoblastic, based on their radiographic appearance. Bone is the third most common site of metastatic disease .Carcinomas are much more likely to metastasize to bone than sarcomas. Routine use of whole body PET/CT in restaging HNSCC can therefore, facilitate early detection of occult bone metastases and this detection often influences therapeutic decision making.

Studies on HepG2 Growth Under Simulated Microgravity:to Establish a Method for Three-dimensional Cultivation In vitro as an Research Model / 生物化学与生物物理进展

Human hepatocarcinoma cells, HepG2 were cultured onto biodegradable polyglycolic acid (PGA) polymer scaffolds, which were cultured in a rotating cell culture system (RCCS) to form a three-dimensional (3D) multicellular culture in vitro. The RCCS can simulate microgravity effects with low shear stress and well exchanging for gas. Then the growth characteristics and some mechanism of the cells in RCCS were detected by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), RT-PCR and flow cytometry (FCM). The results indicate that the cells grew well with polyhedron morphology and lots of microvilli, mitochondria and tight junctions in this system, which means that this system is useful for cells to form 3D structure to mimic cell status in vivo. The expression of some cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) were changed markedly, which are closely associated with cancer invasion and metastasis. The characters of increased expression of integrin ?1(CD29), CD44, intercellular adhesion molecule-1(CD54) and depressed expression of E-cadherin presumably show that the HepG2 cells cultured in RCCS could recur some characters of primary liver cancer in vivo, the capacity of invasion and metastasis. It is necessary for acquiring perfect and external results to select an appropriate research model for studying in vitro. This 3D culture in vitro under simulated microgravity can provide a useful and reasonable model for oncology, anticancer drugs research and other research.

Advanced Researches on Cell Adhesion Molecules of Immune System under Microgravity / 航天医学与医学工程

Returning astronauts had experienced decreased immune function and increased vulnerability to infection during spaceflights.In immune system,cell adhesion molecules(CAMs) play an important role in regulating immune response in normal physiological conditions.Studying changes of CAMs under microgravity could not only understand the effects of microgravity and its molecular mechanism on immune function,but also help to study the relative mechanism about cell sensation of microgravity.In this review,we will introduce some downstream signal pathways,gene expression and the effects on cell functions under microgravity.All of them are regulated by cell adhesion molecules related with the immune system.

EFFECTS OF ANISODAMINE ON [Ca~(++) ]i RISES EVOKED BY A_(23187) IN HUMAN PLATELETS / 中国药理学通报

Intracellular [Ca+ + ]i was examined using Quin-2. Resting [Ca+ + ]i in platelets loaded with Quin-2 in media containing either 1 mmol/L CaCl2. or 2 mmol/L EGTA was 52.1?5.2nmol/L, 28.4+5.1 nmol/L, respectively. The concentration of external calcium appears to play an important role in cytosolic Cat++ hemeostasis in platelets. Stimulation with A2 3187( 25nmol/L ) caused [Ca++]i to peak at 145?30.8 nmol/L in the presense of extracellular 1mmol/L CaCl2 and 34.4?2.4 nmol/L after addition of 2 mmol/L EGTA. These data suggested that the most of this rise results from calcium entry across the plasma membrane, with a small contribution to the discharge of intracellular pool of Ca++.Anisodamine ( 100?mol/L ) had no effects on resting [Ca + + ]i and A23187-evoked [Ca++]i level in the absence of CaCl2, Anisodamine ( 100?mol/L, 25?mol/L), verapamil ( 10?mol/L ) decreased the A23187 -evoked [Ca++ ]i rises in the presence of CaCl2 by 38%, 34%, 25%, respectively. These results provided a mechanism for the calcium antagonistic effects of Anisodamine.