Thermal analysis during partial carbonizing process of rhubarb, moutan and burnet.

Control of temperature and duration of partial carbonization for Chinese medicines have been mainly based on experience of the processors. No quantitative methods and parameters are available that can be used to precisely control the temperature and determine the energy changes during the process. In our research, with a simulated atmosphere air condition, the partial carbonization processes of three Chinese herb medicines rhubarb, moutan and burnet were simulated at different heating rates (5, 10 and 20°C • min-1) and analyzed by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) to quantify the upper limits of the temperature.

HSP70-1 is required for interleukin-5-induced angiogenic responses through eNOS pathway.

We report a pivotal role for IL-5 as an angiogenic activator. IL-5 increased proliferation, migration and colony tube formation in HUVECs associated with the phosphorylation of ERK and AKT/eNOS, and promoted microvessel sprouting from an angiogenesis animal model. The angiogenic effects were confirmed in IL-5-deficient mice and addition of IL-5 antibody.

Irinotecan-loaded double-reversible thermogel with improved antitumor efficacy without initial burst effect and toxicity for intramuscular administration.

Unlabelled: Intramuscularly administered, anti-tumour drugs induce severe side effects due to their direct contact with body tissues and initial burst effect. In this study, to solve this problem, a novel double-reversible thermogel system (DRTG) for the intramuscular administration of irinotecan was developed. This irinotecan-loaded DRTG was prepared by dispersing the irinotecan-loaded thermoreversible solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) in the thermoreversible hydrogel.

The Effects of Acupuncture Stimulation for Brain Activation and Alcohol Abstinence Self-Efficacy: Functional MRI Study.

We attempted to investigate whether acupuncture stimulation at HT7 can have an effect on brain activation patterns and alcohol abstinence self-efficacy. Thirty-four right-handed healthy subjects were recruited for this study. They were randomly assigned into two groups: the HT7 (Shenmen) group and the LI5 (Yangxi) group.

Striatal Glutamate and GABA after High Frequency Subthalamic Stimulation in Parkinsonian Rat.

Objective: High frequency stimulation (HFS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is recognized as an effective treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease. However, the neurochemical basis of its effects remains unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of STN HFS in intact and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned hemiparkinsonian rat model on changes of principal neurotransmitters, glutamate, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the striatum.

A Single Case of Tourette's Syndrome Treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The objective of this case study was to investigate the effectiveness of Chinese medicine in treating Tourette's syndrome. Tourette's syndrome is a childhood- onset disorder that is characterized by sudden, involuntary movements or tics. The participant in this study was a 33-year-old male who had been diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome at the age of 9 years.

Antitumor and Immunomodulatory Effect of Gastrodia elata on Colon Cancer In Vitro and In Vivo.

Gastrodia elata Blume (GE) is a well-known kind of herb that has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. The extrusion of raw materials from it could improve flavor and enhance bioavailability in food and drug development. The purpose of this study is to investigate antitumor and immune boosting effects of extruded GE in human colon carcinoma cells, splenocytes, and mice-bearing CT26 colon carcinoma cell.

Glutamine deprivation sensitizes human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells to TRIAL-mediated apoptosis.

Tumor cell metabolism is a promising target for various cancer treatments. Apart from aerobic glycolysis, cancer cell growth is dependent on glutamine (Gln) supply, leading to their survival and differentiation. Therefore, we examined whether treatment with TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) sensitizes MDA-MB-231 cells to apoptosis under Gln deprivation condition (TRAIL/Gln deprivation).

Thioridazine enhances sensitivity to carboplatin in human head and neck cancer cells through downregulation of c-FLIP and Mcl-1 expression.

Carboplatin is a less toxic analog of cisplatin, but carboplatin also has side effects, including bone marrow suppression. Therefore, to improve the capacity of the anticancer activity of carboplatin, we investigated whether combined treatment with carboplatin and thioridazine, which has antipsychotic and anticancer activities, has a synergistic effect on apoptosis. Combined treatment with carboplatin and thioridazine markedly induced caspase-mediated apoptosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (AMC-HN4) cells.

Irinotecan-encapsulated double-reverse thermosensitive nanocarrier system for rectal administration.

Intravenously administered for the treatment of rectum cancer, irinotecan produces severe side effects due to very high plasma concentrations. A novel irinotecan-encapsulated double reverse thermosensitive nanocarrier system (DRTN) for rectal administration was developed as an alternative. The DRTN was fabricated by dispersing the thermosensitive irinotecan-encapsulated solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) in the thermosensitive poloxamer solution.

Lasalocid induces cytotoxic apoptosis and cytoprotective autophagy through reactive oxygen species in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells.

Lasalocid is an antibiotic from the group of carboxylic ionophores, produced by Streptomyces lasaliensis. But there was limited information of lasalocid on human prostate cancer cells. In the present studies, to better understand its effect in human prostate cancer cells, apoptosis and autophagy associated with possible signal pathways in vitro was examined.

Super-Users at an Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Teaching Clinic: Demographics and Unique Clinical Characteristics.

Objective: The use of acupuncture in the United States has consistently grown over the last two decades, and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health has recently called for greater understanding of "real life outcomes and use" by complementary and alternative medicine users. This study assesses the demographics and utilization patterns of "super-users" treated at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine intern clinic.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM) intern clinic, a large acupuncture and oriental medicine (AOM) school in Portland, Oregon.

Acupuncture for Alcohol Use Disorder: A Meta-Analysis.

Empirical research has produced mixed results regarding the effects of acupuncture on the treatment of alcohol use disorder in humans. Few studies have provided a comprehensive review or a systematic overview of the magnitude of the treatment effect of acupuncture on alcoholism. This study investigated the effects of acupuncture on alcohol-related symptoms and behaviors in patients with this disorder.

Antiaging effects of the mixture of and in human dermal fibroblasts and healthy human skin.

Background: Human skin undergoes distinct changes throughout the aging process, based on both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. In a process called photoaging, UVB irradiation leads to upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-1, which then causes collagen degradation and premature aging. Mixtures of medicinal plants have traditionally been used as drugs in oriental medicine.

Effect of Paeotang on tumor necrosis factor α-induced vascular inflammation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Objective: To investigate whether Paeotang (10-50 μg/mL) suppresses tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)-induced vascular inflammatory processes in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

Methods: The ingredients composed of Paeotang include Glycyrrhiza glabra, Zingiber officinale, Cinnamomum zeylanuicum, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Prunus persica, Paeonia szechuanica, Poria cocos and Cynanchum wilfordii. Herbs were mixed according to equal ratio of weight and ground into a crude powder.

Biological age as a useful index to predict seventeen-year survival and mortality in Koreans.

Background: Many studies have been conducted to quantitatively estimate biological age using measurable biomarkers. Biological age should function as a valid proxy for aging, which is closely related with future work ability, frailty, physical fitness, and/or mortality. A validation study using cohort data found biological age to be a superior index for disease-related mortality than chronological age.

Characterization of VNTRs Within the Entire Region of SLC6A3 and Its Association with Hypertension.

The dopamine transporter SLC6A3 (DAT1) mediates uptake of dopamine into presynaptic terminals. In addition, in previous reports, hypertensive rats were associated with DAT gene, but the genetic association with SLC6A3 and hypertension is still unknown. We examined the distribution of variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) and conducted polymorphic analysis of the entire region of SLC6A3.

Erratum: Increased Expression of Herpes Virus-Encoded hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2-miR-H9-5p in Cancer-Containing Prostate Tissue Compared to That in Benign Prostate Hyperplasia Tissue.

[This corrects the article on p. 122 in vol. 20, PMID: 27377944.

Delphinidin inhibits angiogenesis through the suppression of HIF-1α and VEGF expression in A549 lung cancer cells.

Delphinidin, a polyphenol that belongs to the group of anthocyanidins and is abundant in many pigmented fruits and vegetables, possesses important antioxidant, anti‑inflammatory, anti-mutagenic and anticancer properties. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of delphinidin on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, an important factor involved in angiogenesis and tumor progression, in A549 human lung cancer cells. Delphinidin inhibited CoCl2- and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced VEGF mRNA expression and VEGF protein production.

2'-Hydroxycinnamaldehyde induces apoptosis through HSF1-mediated BAG3 expression.

BAG3, a member of BAG co-chaperone family, is induced by stressful stimuli such as heat shock and heavy metals. Through interaction with various binding partners, BAG3 is thought to play a role in cellular adaptive responses against stressful conditions in normal and neoplastic cells. 2'-Hydroxycinnamaldehyde (HCA) is a natural derivative of cinnamaldehyde and has antitumor activity in various cancer cells.

2-Methoxycinnamaldehyde inhibits the TNF-α-induced proliferation and migration of human aortic smooth muscle cells.

The abnormal proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a crucial event in the development of atherosclerosis, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is actively involved in this process by enhancing the proliferation and migration of VSMCs. 2-Methoxycinnamaldehyde (MCA) is a natural compound of Cinnamomum cassia. Although 2-hydroxycinnamaldehyde (HCA), another compound from Cinnamomum cassia, has been widely studied with regard to its antitumor activity, MCA has not attracted researchers' interest due to its mild toxic effects on cancer cells and its mechanisms of action remain unknown.

Liqustri lucidi Fructus inhibits hepatic injury and functions as an antioxidant by activation of AMP-activated protein kinase in vivo and in vitro.

Medicinal herbs are used to treat or prevent various diseases, and function to regulate protective mechanisms as nutraceuticals. Fructus Ligustri lucidi is the fruit of Ligustrum lucidum and has been used for its tonic effects on the liver. This study was designed to examine the effects of Fructus Ligustri lucidi water extract (FLL) against severe oxidative stress and mitochondrial impairment in vivo and in vitro and to elucidate its cellular mechanisms of action.

Toyocamycin induces apoptosis via the crosstalk between reactive oxygen species and p38/ERK MAPKs signaling pathway in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells.

Background: Toyocamycin, an antibiotic agent isolated from Streptomyces species, has been shown to have anticancer and chemopreventive effects on various cancer cells. Until now, Toyocamycin-induced apoptosis has not been reported to be involved in the regulation between mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.

Methods: Cell viability assay, western blot, cell-cycle arrest, annexin V/propidium iodide assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular Ca flux were assayed.

Protective effect of betulinic acid on early atherosclerosis in diabetic apolipoprotein-E gene knockout mice.

Atherosclerosis, a chronic and progressive disease, is a leading cause of endothelial dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. Betulinic acid (BA), a pentacyclic triterpene, has been reported to have a variety of biological effects, including anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. This study was designed to determine whether BA could prevent atherosclerosis in diabetic apolipoprotein-E gene knockout (ApoE KO) mice.