Glucose transporter-1 as an independent prognostic marker for cancer: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) as the major glucose transporter present in human cells is found overexpressed in a proportion of human malignancies. This meta-analysis is attempted to assess the prognostic significance of GLUT-1 for survival in various cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted an electronic search using the databases PubMed, Embase and Web of Science, from inception to Oct 20th, 2016. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: Fourty-one studies with a total of 4794 patients were included. High GLUT-1 expression was significantly associated with poorer prognosis [overall survival: HR = 1.833 (95% CI: 1.597-2.069, P < 0.0001); disease-free survival: HR = 1.838 (95% CI: 1.264-2.673, P < 0.0001); progression-free survival: HR = 2.451 (95% CI: 1.668-3.233, P < 0.0001); disease specific survival: HR = 1.96 (95% CI: 1.05-2.871, P < 0.0001)]. CONCLUSIONS: High GLUT-1 expression may be an independent prognostic marker to predict poor survival in various types of cancers. Further clinical trials with high quality need to be conducted to confirm our conclusion.

Exploring the chemopreventive properties and perspectives of baicalin and its aglycone baicalein in solid tumors.

Solid tumors contain a huge mass of malignant tumors other than hematological malignancies. Novel therapies based on bio-safe agents against solid tumors are urgently required. Baicalin and its aglycone baicalein, the major bioactive flavones derived from Scutellaria baicalensis, have potential roles in the management of cancer. The chemopreventive properties governed by baicalin and baicalein were multi-fold, via apoptosis induction, autophagy triggering, cell cycle arrest, inhibition of 12-lipoxygenase and metastasis suppression. However, their poor solubility and low oral bioavailability severely limited the clinical application. This extensive review focused on the promising anti-cancer activities of baicalin and baicalein and new techniques to improve their bioavailability.

Study on effects of zhi zi (fructus gardeniae) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the rat.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Zhi Zi (Fructus Gardeniae) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by a high-fat diet in the rat. METHODS: A rat model of NAFLD was established using a high-fat diet. Twenty one rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group and a Zhi Zi treatment group, 7 rats per group. Drinking water and the drug were intragastrically administrated for 5 weeks. Samples were then taken to observe pathological changes of the liver tissue (HE staining); changes in the fat metabolism pathway e. g. triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid (FFA) content; alterations in liver function, i.e. serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity; and differences in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and P-IkB protein expression in the liver tissue. RESULTS: Fatty degeneration and vacuole-like changes of different degrees occurred in hepatic cells of the model group. Markers for fat metabolism, serum ALT and AST activities, and expression of TNF-alpha and P-IkB proteins in liver tissue significantly increased. Fat metabolism in the Zhi Zi group significantly reduced, as shown by a drop in marker levels. Serum ALT and AST activities, and expression of TNF-alpha, P-IkB proteins in liver tissue were also significantly decreased in this group. CONCLUSION: Zhi Zi has a very strong inhibitory action on lipidosis and inflammatory injury in the rat model of NAFLD. This mechanism may possibly be related to the inhibition of the free fatty acid metabolism pathway.

[Evolution of the concept of wind stroke of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)].

The wind stroke is a common syndrome in clinical disease; the physicians of past generations accumulated much experience in long-term clinical practice and left abundant literature. Looking from this literature, the physicians of past generations had different cognitions of the wind stroke, especially the concept of wind stroke. The connotation of wind stroke differed at different stages, going through a gradually changing process from exogenous disease, true wind stroke, apoplectic wind stroke to cerebral apoplexy.