[Effect of low-frequency electrical acupoint stimulation on gastrointestinal motility function following radical gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of low-frequency electrical acupoint stimulation on gastrointestinal motility in patients undergoing radical gastrectomy, and its impact on regulation of inflammatory response, so as to evaluate its clinical value. METHODS: A total of 177 patients undergoing radical gastrectomy were randomly divided into conventional group (n＝43), low-frequency electrical acupoint stimulation (LEAS) group (n＝45), fast track surgery (FTS) group (n＝46) and FTS＋LEAS group (n＝43). Patients of the conventional group received conventional treatment (pre-surgical mechanical bowel preparation, post-surgical fasting, and indwelling abdominal drainage tube, etc.). Patients in the LEAS group were treated by low-frequency electrical stimulation at bilateral Zusanli (ST36), Shangjuxu(ST37), Xiajuxu(ST39) and Sanyinjiao(SP6) for 30 min, once daily from 1 day after the operation to first postoperative flatus. FTS group was given fast track surgery treatment, such as preoperative education, preoperative nutritional support, early oral feeding, early removal of abdominal drainage tube, etc. The FTS＋LEAS group was given low-frequency electrical acupoint stimulation on the basis of the FTS treatment. Levels of white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils (N), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) at 1, 3, and 6 d after the operation in the 4 groups were assayed. The first postoperative flatus and defecation time were recorded. RESULTS: After the treatment, the first postoperative flatus and defecation time in the LEAS, FTS and FTS＋LEAS groups were significantly shorter than those of the conventional group (P<0.05), and the first flatus time of the FTS＋LEAS group was even earlier than that of the FTS group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found among the 3 groups in the postoperative defecation time (P>0.05). The CRP levels in the 4 groups on 3 and 6 d after operation were higher than those on the 1st postoperative day, and the highest level was on 3 d after the operation. Compared with the conventional group, CRP level on 3 d and CRP and IL-6 levels on 3 and 6 d in the LEAS and FTS＋LEAS groups were significantly lower (P<0.05). Compared with the LEAS group, the levels of N, CRP on 3 d and the levels of N, CRP, IL-6 on 6 d in the FTS group were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the FTS group, the level of CRP on 3 d and the levels of N, CRP, IL-6 on 6 d in the FTS＋LEAS group were significantly decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: FTS combined with LEAS is superior to simple FTS or LEAS treatment in shortening the first flatus and defecation time and promoting the recovery of gastrointestinal motility function in patients undergoing radical gastrectomy, which may be associated with its effect in alleviating postoperative inflammatory responses.

The anti-tumour effect of Mel and its role in autophagy in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Melittin (Mel), a major component of venom of honey bee (Apismellifera), has various biological effects. Recent researches have reported the anti-tumor activity of Mel in various human cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we aimed to further discuss the role of Mel in HCC and investigate the correlation of autophagy with the effect of Mel in HCC cells. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and flow cytometry were used to detect the viability and apoptosis of HCC cells, respectively. To examine the changes of autophagy in HCC cells treated with Mel, transmission electronmicroscope (TEM) and immunofluorescence detection were adopted. Finally, we used western blot method to detect the changes of pivotal proteins in autophagy and mitochondrial apoptotic pathways. The results of MTT assay and flow cytometry revealed that Mel could suppress the cell viability and promote the apoptosis of HCC cells. Autophagy could be induced by the treatment with Mel in HCC cells. The inhibition of autophagy by chloroquine (CQ) contributed to the enhanced anti-tumor effect of Mel, but autophagy induction by RAPA decreased Mel effect in HCC cells. Mel was closely associated with the expression of proteins in mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. In summary, Mel could induce the autophagy of HCC cells, and the autophagy might offer protection against apoptosis in HCC. Mel might suppress the tumor through activating mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.

Triple-controlled oncolytic adenovirus expressing melittin to exert inhibitory efficacy on hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly malignant disease, and its outcome of routine therapies is poor. Comprehensive treatment including gene therapy is an important way to improve patients' prognosis and survival. In this study, we successfully constructed a triple-controlled cancer-selective oncolytic adenovirus, QG511-HA-Melittin, carrying melittin gene, in which the hybrid promoter, hypoxia-response element (HRE)-AFP promoter, was used to control viral E1a expression targeting AFP-positive cancer cells in hypoxia microenviroment, and the E1b-55 kDa gene was deleted in cancer cells with p53-deficiency. The cytological experiments found that the viral replication of QG511-HA-Melittin was increased to 12800-folds in Hep3B cells within 48 h, and 130-folds in SMMC-7721, but the virus did not replicate in L-02 cells. QG511-HA-Melittin had a strong inhibition effect on AFP-positive HCC cell proliferation, such as Hep3B and HepG2, whereas, there was low or no inhibition effect of QG511-HA-Melittin on AFP-negative cancer cells SMMC-7721 and normal cells L-02. In the in vivo experiment, compared with the blank control group, QG511-HA-Melittin can significantly inhibit the growth of HCC xenografts (P<0.05). The survival of mice in QG511-HA-Melittin group was much longer than that of the blank control group. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments manifested that QG511-HA-Melittin exerts an inhibitory effect on HCC cells, which may provide a new strategy for HCC biotherapy.

[Effects of huqi extractum on the viability and apoptosis in mouse thymic lymphocytes against 60Co radiation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Huqi Extractum (HQE) on the viability and apoptosis in mouse thymic lymphocytes against 60Co radiation. METHODS: Thymic lymphocytes were isolated from 4 -8 weeks healthy male Kunming mice and primarily cultured. Then they were divided into the control group, the irradiation group, the low dose HQE group, the medium dose HQE group, and the high dose HQE group. Equal volume of serum free RPMI-1640 culture solution was added in the control group and the irradiation group, while equal volume of HQE solution (at the daily dose of 25, 50, and 100 mg/mL) was respectively added in the low, medium, and high dose HQE groups. Except the control group, those in the rest groups were exposed radiation at a single dose of 5 Gy gamma-ray. Changes of the thymic lymphocytes' viability were measured by MTT colorimetric assay at 12, 24, 36, and 48 h after radiation. The early apoptosis rate was detected using flow cytometry (FCM) after 10-h radiation. The apoptosis was detected using agarose gel electrophoresis to observe the DNA injury after 24-h radiation. RESULTS: The viability level decreased more obviously in the irradiation group than in the control group at 24 -48 h after radiation (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The average viability level was obviously higher in the low, medium, and high dose HQE groups than in the irradiation group (P < 0.05) in a dose dependent manner. The early apoptosis rate was obviously lower in the low, medium, and high dose HQE groups than in the irradiation group, with statistical difference shown in the high dose HQE group (P < 0.01). Typical DNA ladder fragments were found in the electrophoresis in all groups except the control group. But the DNA injury was comparatively milder in the low, medium, and high dose HQE groups, with more obvious effects shown in the high dose HQE group. CONCLUSION: HQE showed protection for the viability of early thymic lymphocytes exposed to the 60CO radiation, and could lower the early apoptosis level.

Endorsement of the CONSORT statement by high-impact medical journals in China: a survey of instructions for authors and published papers.

BACKGROUND: The CONSORT Statement is a reporting guideline for authors when reporting randomized controlled trials (RCTs). It offers a standard way for authors to prepare RCT reports. It has been endorsed by many high-impact medical journals and by international editorial groups. This study was conducted to assess the endorsement of the CONSORT Statement by high-impact medical journals in China by reviewing their instructions for authors. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A total of 200 medical journals were selected according to the Chinese Science and Technology Journal Citation Reports, 195 of which publish clinical research papers. Their instructions for authors were reviewed and all texts mentioning the CONSORT Statement or CONSORT extension papers were extracted. Any mention of the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals (URM) developed by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) or 'clinical trial registration' was also extracted. For journals endorsing the CONSORT Statement, their most recently published RCT reports were retrieved and evaluated to assess whether the journals have followed what the CONSORT Statement required. Out of the 195 medical journals publishing clinical research papers, only six (6/195, 3.08%) mentioned 'CONSORT' in their instructions for authors; out of the 200 medical journals surveyed, only 14 (14/200, 7.00%) mentioned 'ICMJE' or 'URM' in their instructions for authors, and another five journals stated in their instructions for authors that clinical trials should have trial registration numbers and that priority would be given to clinical trials which had been registered. Among the 62 RCT reports published in the six journals endorsing the CONSORT Statement, 20 (20/62, 32.26%) contained flow diagrams and only three (3/62, 4.84%) provided trial registration information. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Medical journals in China endorsing either the CONSORT Statement or the ICMJE's URM constituted a small percentage of the total; all of these journals used ambiguous language regarding what was expected of authors.