Clinical observation on the treatment of premature ventricular beats with Zaobo decoction combined with bisoprolol / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To observe the clinical effects of Zaobo decoction combined bisoprolol treating premature ventricular contractions.Methods 108 patients of ventricular premature beat were recruited intoa control group and an observation group (n=54) according to the random number table method.The control group was treated with bisoprolol, while the observation group was treated with Zaobo decoction on the basis of the control group, and both groups were treated for 8 weeks.24 h dynamic electrocardiogram (ECG), renin activity plasma (PRA), angiotensin Ⅱ (angiotensionⅡ) and ALD (Ang) were observed before and after treatment.The clinical effects were evaluated.Results The total effective rate showed significant difference between the observation group and the control group (75.9％ vs.57.4％;x2=4.167, P=0.041) after the treatment.After treatment, Ang-Ⅱ (56.22 ± 12.7 pg/ml vs.68.45 ± 12.7 pg/ml, t=5.004) in the observation group was significantly lower than the control group (P＜0.01);24 h sinus RR interval standard deviation (129.16 ± 28.56 ms vs.116.13 ± 17.38 ms, t=2.864), every 5 min sinus RR interval mean standard deviation within 24 h (123.57 ± 25.24 ms vs.112.46 ± 18.23 ms, t=2.622), and within 24 h of sinus RR interval difference rms (31.76 ± 11.42 ms vs.22.64 ± 10.32 ms, t=4.354) in the observation group were significantly higher than the control group (P＜0.01).Conclusion Zaobo decoction combined with bisoprolol can effectively improve heart rate variability, regulate rernin vascular angiotensin system, and improve the clinical efficacy of the patients with ventricular premature beat.

Starvation-induced autophagy in cultured non-small cell lung cancer cells / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe autophagy induced by starvation in non-small cell lung cancer A459 and 95D cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A549 and 95D cells in logarithmic growth in 1640 medium were cultured in Earle's balanced salt solution (EBSS) for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 h. Autophagosome formation in the cell culture was observed by MDC fluorescent staining, and the expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin1 in the cells were detected using Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control cells, the cells with prolonged starvation showed increased MDC-positive cells and autophagosome formation. The expression of Beclin-1 and the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio also increased as the starvation prolonged, reaching the peak levels at 3 h and 4 h, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Autophagy can be induced by starvation in A549 and 95D cells in correlation with the expression of autophagy-related proteins LC3 and Beclin-1. These cell models of nutritional deficiency-induced autophagy may allow for a better understanding of the role of autophagy in the development of non-small cell lung cancer.</p>

CXCR4 and Nrf2 expressions in non-small cell lung cancer and their clinical implications / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the expressions of CXCR4 and Nrf2 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and analyze their association with the clinicopathological features of NSCLC.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We investigated the expressions of CXCR4 and Nrf2 in 66 NSCLC and corresponding distant normal tissue specimens using immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expressions of CXCR4 protein and mRNA were significantly higher in NSCLC tissue specimens than in the distant normal tissues, while the expression of Nrf2 protein and mRNA increased significantly in NSCLC tissues compared to those in the distant normal tissues (P<0.01). A high expression level of CXCR4 was positively correlated with a large tumor size (P=0.048), poor differentiation (P=0.024), advanced TNM stage (P=0.018), lymph node metastasis (P=0.004), and distant metastasis (P=0.016). The expression of Nrf2 protein was positively correlated with a large tumor size (P=0.008), advanced TNM stage (P=0.028), lymph node metastasis (P=0.038), and distant metastasis (P=0.023). A strong correlation was found between CXCR4 and Nrf2 expressions in NSCLC tissues (r=0.324, P<0.01), and the co-expression of CXCR4 and Nrf2 was strongly correlated with lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Abnormal expressions of CXCR4 and Nrf2 may contribute to the progression and malignant biological behavior of NSCLC.</p>