The Effect and Mechanisms of Proliferative Inhibition of Crocin on Human Leukaemia Jurkat Cells.

Targeted therapy is a potentially useful approach for the treatment of T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. This study aimed to find a highly effective, low toxic anti-tumour drug and further investigate its mechanisms. Jurkat cells were used as the object and were stimulated by different concentrations of crocin. By cell count, growth curve, MTT method for the detection of cell proliferation, annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) method for the apoptosis rates, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for bcl-2 and bax gene expression, the effect and mechanisms of proliferative inhibition of crocin on Jurkat cells were further explored. Crocin promoted Jurkat cell apoptosis and inhibited cell growth, in a dose-time-dependent manner. The mechanism might be related to the inhibition of bcl-2 gene expression and the promotion of bax gene expression. These results suggest that crocin can be used as a suitable clinical agent for the treatment of T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Torasemide reduces dilated cardiomyopathy, complication of arrhythmia, and progression to heart failure.

The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence and types of arrhythmia and their relationship with the severity and prognosis of chronic heart failure (CHF) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and to investigate the therapeutic effect of torasemide versus furosemide on CHF and incidence of arrhythmia. DCM patients with NYHA cardiac function II-IV were continuously monitored using a 24-h dynamic electrocardiogram (Holter), and arrhythmia incidence was analyzed by computer automatic analysis combined with manual assessment. In total, 125 participants were evenly divided into two groups: torasemide group which received 10 mg oral torasemide once daily) and regular anti-heart failure treatment (N=65), and furosemide group which received torasemide (20 mg once daily orally) and regular antiheart failure treatment (N=60). Another 60 normal healthy persons served as the normal control group. Incidence and severity of arrhythmia increased when degree of CHF was elevated. Size of left atrium was related to atrial fibrillation and size of left ventricle was related to malignant arrhythmia. At 3 months after treatment, cardiac function in both groups improved and incidence and severity of arrhythmia in both groups were reduced. However, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was higher in the torasemide group than in the furosemide group, while incidence of arrhythmia was lower in the torasemide group. Arrhythmias frequently occurred in patients with DCM and HF. Type of cardiac arrhythmia is closely related to ventricular enlargement and cardiac function grade. Torasemide is better for improving cardiac function to reduce arrhythmia and CHF compared to furosemide.