PMID: 

Ann Med. 2013 Mar ;45(2):182-93. Epub 2011 Dec 22. PMID: 22188159

Abstract Title: 

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine policy and evidence-based medicine: are they at odds?

Abstract: 

All drugs are associated with some risks of adverse reactions. Because vaccines represent a special category of drugs, generally given to healthy individuals, uncertain benefits mean that only a small level of risk for adverse reactions is acceptable. Furthermore, medical ethics demand that vaccination should be carried out with the participant's full and informed consent. This necessitates an objective disclosure of the known or foreseeable vaccination benefits and risks. The way in which HPV vaccines are often promoted to women indicates that such disclosure is not always given from the basis of the best available knowledge. For example, while the world's leading medical authorities state that HPV vaccines are an important cervical cancer prevention tool, clinical trials show no evidence that HPV vaccination can protect against cervical cancer. Similarly, contrary to claims that cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide, existing data show that this only applies to developing countries. In the Western world cervical cancer is a rare disease with mortality rates that are several times lower than the rate of reported serious adverse reactions (including deaths) from HPV vaccination. Future vaccination policies should adhere more rigorously to evidence-based medicine and ethical guidelines for informed consent.

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PMID: 

Cell Physiol Biochem. 2018 ;48(6):2231-2246. Epub 2018 Aug 16. PMID: 30114701

Abstract Title: 

Anti-Cancer Effects of Radix Angelica Sinensis (Danggui) and N-Butylidenephthalide on Gastric Cancer: Implications for REDD1 Activation and mTOR Inhibition.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Radix Angelica Sinensis (danggui in Chinese) is widely used in traditional chinese medicine (TCM). N-butylidenephthalide (BP), a bioactive compound in danggui, is a potential antitumor agent for various cancer types. However, its clinical effect and mechanism in the treatment of gastric cancer remain undetermined.METHODS: The in vivo protective effect of danggui in patients with gastric cancer were validated using data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). The genes induced by BP-treatment were analyzed by whole transcriptome RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and validated by real-time PCR, western blot and siRNA transfection. The effect of BP on AGS cell migration and invasion was evaluated in transwell assays. The antitumor effects of BP were evaluated in vivo in an AGS xenograft animal model.RESULTS: Danggui users were found to have an increased survival rate when compared with danggui nonusers (log-rank test p = 0.002) . The use of danggui highly associated with decreased mortality (the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of danggui user was 0.72 [95 % CI, 0.57-0.92] (p = 0.009). The in vitro results showed that BP inhibited gastric cancer cell proliferation, and triggered cellular apoptosis depending on the activation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Using RNA-seq analysis we found that REDD1 was the highest transcript induced by BP in gastric cancer cells. BP induce an increase of REDD1 expression that inhibits mTOR signaling, thus inhibiting gastric cancer growth. We used RNA interference to demonstrate that the knock-down of REDD1 attenuated the BP-induced mTORC1 activation and growth inhibition. BP suppressed the growth of AGS xenografts tumor in vivo.CONCLUSION: Danggui can prolong the survival rate of gastric cancer patients in Taiwan. BP caused gastric cancer cell death through the activation of mitochondria-intrinsic pathway and induced the REDD1 expression leading to mTOR signal pathway inhibition in gastric cancer cells. BP inhibited the in vivo growth of AGS xenograft tumors. These results may provide the basis for a new therapeutic approach toward the treatment of gastric cancer progression.

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PMID: 

Biomed Pharmacother. 2018 Dec ;108:1320-1327. Epub 2018 Oct 4. PMID: 30372834

Abstract Title: 

Angelica polysaccharide protects PC-12 cells from lipopolysaccharide-induced injury via down-regulating microRNA-223.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a damage of spinal cord that caused by trauma or diseases. Angelica Polysaccharide (AP) is one of the most major active components isolated from the root of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels. This study aimed to investigate the effects of AP on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced SCI cell injury model (PC-12 cell injury model).METHODS: Cell viability was detected using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Cell apoptosis was assessed using Guava Nexin assay. qRT-PCR was conducted to measure the expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and microRNA-223 (miR-223). Cell transfection was performed to up-regulate the expression of miR-223. Finally, protein expression levels of key factors involved in cell apoptosis, inflammatory reaction and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway were evaluated using western blotting.RESULTS: We found that AP pre-treatment or post-treatment both significantly alleviated LPS-induced PC-12 cell viability inhibition, apoptosis and the elevated expression of inflammatory cytokines. Mechanistically, we revealed that AP pre-treatment attenuated LPS-induced miR-223 expression level increase in PC-12 cells. Overexpression of miR-223 reversed the protective effects of AP pre-treatment on LPS-treated PC-12 cells. Furthermore, we pointed out that AP pre-treatment inactivated NF-κB pathway in LPS-treated PC-12 cells by down-regulating miR-223.CONCLUSION: AP protected PC-12 cells from LPS-induced inflammatory injury at least partially by down-regulating miR-223 and then inactivating NF-κB pathway. This study provides evidence for further understanding the anti-inflammatory effects of AP and offers theoretical basis for deeply exploring the prevention and treatment of SCI by using AP.

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PMID: 

Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol. 2019 Dec ;47(1):3194-3201. PMID: 31353963

Abstract Title: 

Angelica polysaccharide mitigates lipopolysaccharide-evoked inflammatory injury by regulating microRNA-10a in neuronal cell line HT22.

Abstract: 

Angelica polysaccharide (AP) is disengaged from the roots of. The extensive pathological activities of AP have been discovered in disparate diseases. Nevertheless, the impression of AP in epilepsy (EP) remains unaware. The research attempted to probe the impact of AP on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-evoked inflammatory injury in HT22 cells.AP were exploited to stimulate HT22 cells, cell cytotoxicity was monitored by CCK-8 assay. LPS was utilized to administrate HT22 cells to evoke inflammatory injury, meanwhile the involvements of AP in cell proliferation, apoptosis and inflammatory cytokines productions were examined. MicroRNA-10a (miR-10a) inhibitor and its negative control were one by one transfected into HT22 cells, the effect of miR-10a inhibition on LPS- and AP-treated cells was determined. NF-κB and JAK2/STAT3 pathways were ultimately detected.AP promoted cell proliferation, inhibited apoptosis and suppressed IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 productions in LPS-stimulated HT22 cells. Additionally, AP raised miR-10a expression in HT22 cells administration with LPS. These functions of AP in LPS-disposed cells were conversed by miR-10a suppression. Further, AP interdicted NF-κB and JAK2/STAT3 pathways via enhancing miR-10a.Data corroboarted that AP mitigated LPS-evoked inflammatory injury through repression of NF-κB and JAK2/STAT3 pathways by regulating miR-10a in HT22 cells.

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PMID: 

Bone Joint Res. 2019 Jul ;8(7):323-332. Epub 2019 Aug 2. PMID: 31463041

Abstract Title: 

Angelica polysaccharide promotes proliferation and osteoblast differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells by regulation of long non-coding RNA H19: An animal study.

Abstract: 

Objectives: Osteoporosis is a systemic bone metabolic disease, which often occurs among the elderly. Angelica polysaccharide (AP) is the main component of angelica sinensis, and is widely used for treating various diseases. However, the effects of AP on osteoporosis have not been investigated. This study aimed to uncover the functions of AP in mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) proliferation and osteoblast differentiation.Methods: MSCs were treated with different concentrations of AP, and then cell viability, Cyclin D1 protein level, and the osteogenic markers of runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), osteocalcin (OCN), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) were examined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and western blot assays, respectively. The effect of AP on the main signalling pathways of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) and Wnt/β-catenin was determined by western blot. Following this, si-H19#1 and si-H19#2 were transfected into MSCs, and the effects of H19 on cell proliferation and osteoblast differentiation in MSCs were studied. Finally,experimentation explored bone mineral density, bone mineral content, and the ash weight and dry weight of femoral bone.Results: The results revealed that AP significantly promoted cell viability, upregulated cyclin D1 and increased RUNX2, OCN, ALP, and BMP-2 protein levels in MSCs. Moreover, we found that AP notably activated PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathways in MSCs. Additionally, the relative expression level of H19 was upregulated by AP in a dose-dependent manner. The promoting effects of AP on cell proliferation and osteoblast differentiation were reversed by H19 knockdown. Moreover,experimentation further confirmed the promoting effect of AP on bone formation.Conclusion: These data indicate that AP could promote MSC proliferation and osteoblast differentiation by regulating H19.: X. Xie, M. Liu, Q. Meng. Angelica polysaccharide promotes proliferation and osteoblast differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells by regulation of long non-coding RNA H19: An animal study.2019;8:323-332. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.87.BJR-2018-0223.R2.

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PMID: 

Food Sci Nutr. 2019 Jul ;7(7):2205-2213. Epub 2019 Jun 17. PMID: 31367349

Abstract Title: 

Pharmacological effects of different ginger juices on the concurrent symptoms in animal models of functional dyspepsia: A comparative study.

Abstract: 

Objective: Patients with gastrointestinal disorders commonly suffer from poor treatment outcomes and adverse effects of traditional pharmacological therapy. Herbal medicine is a favorable alternative due to the low risk of side effects. This study was performed to explore the antiemetic effects and the improvement effect on gastrointestinal function of components of three ginger juice excipients.Methods: The compositions were analyzed by liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer (LC-MS), especially the gingerols of dried ginger juice (DGJ), fresh ginger juice (FGJ), and fresh ginger boiled juice (FGBJ). Furthermore, the respective gastrointestinal effects on rat models with functional dyspepsia (FD) were compared.Results: The 6-keto-PGFlevels in the serum of the treated groups were significantly reduced (0.05), as compared with the control group. Compared with the cisplatin group, there was an apparent reduction in kaolin intake for DGJ, FGJ, and FGBJ (0.01;0.01;0.05). The intestinal propulsive rate of the rats in the treated group was significantly higher than that in the control group (0.05). Ginger juices significantly improved gastrointestinal function in rats. Eight common components were found in DGJ, FGJ, and FGBJ, among which 6-paradol, 10-gingerol, and 12-shogaol led to inhibited gastric mucosal damage function effect according to the Pearson correlation analysis. Only 6-shogaol was found to have a positive correlation with gastrointestinal function effect through Pearson correlation analysis.Conclusion: Ginger juice should be recommended for the medicinal materials used in the treatment of concurrent symptoms of FD.

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PMID: 

Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Aug 5 ;20(15). Epub 2019 Aug 5. PMID: 31387229

Abstract Title: 

Supercritical Fluid Extract ofandRoscoe Ameliorates TNBS-Induced Colitis in Rats.

Abstract: 

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a worldwide healthcare problem calling for the development of new therapeutic drugs.andRoscoe are two common dietetic Chinese herbs, which are traditionally used for complementary treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. As bioactive constituents, volatile and pungent substances of these two herbs could be effectively extracted together by supercritical fluid extraction. In this study, the supercritical fluid extract ofandRoscoe (AZ-SFE) was obtained by an optimized extraction process and it was chemically characterized. The anti-inflammatory effect and underlying mechanism of AZ-SFE were evaluated in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cell model and a 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis rat model. AZ-SFE notably inhibited the production of NO in LPS-stimulated macrophages, and it inhibited the proliferation of Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced splenocytes with suppression of the Th1 immune response. In vivo, the study demonstrated that AZ-SFE significantly alleviated disease activity, colonic shortening, macroscopic damage and histological injury of TNBS-treated rats with reduction of oxidative stress, suppression of inflammatory cytokines, and modulation of hepcidin and serum iron. These findings suggested that AZ-SFE may be a promising supplement for current IBD therapy.

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PMID: 

Adv Pharm Bull. 2019 Jun ;9(2):321-324. Epub 2019 Jun 1. PMID: 31380260

Abstract Title: 

The Gastro-protective Effect of Ginger (Roscoe) inPositive Functional Dyspepsia.

Abstract: 

The present study aimed to assess the effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) powder supplementation oneradication and improvement of dyspeptic symptoms in patients withpositive functional dyspepsia (FD).During this pilot study 15 patients withpositive FD received 3 g/d ginger powder as three 1-g tablets for 4-weeks. Dyspepsia symptoms were asked before and after the intervention using a questionnaire based on the Rome III criteria.eradication was also assessed by a non-invasive stool antigen (HpSAg) test.Ginger consumption accompanied by significanteradication rate of 53.3% (P = 0.019) and the odds ratio (95% CI) was 8 (1.07 to 357.14). Moreover, our results showed significant changes in most of the dyspepsia symptoms after ginger supplementation.According to our findings, Z. officinale can be considered as a useful complementary therapy for FD. However, due to the small number of clinical trials in this area, further welldesigned clinical trials are needed to explicitly talk about its effectiveness especially about the eradication of.

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PMID: 

Br J Nutr. 2019 Aug 22:1-21. Epub 2019 Aug 22. PMID: 31434581

Abstract Title: 

Tomato and Lycopene Consumption Is Inversely Associated with Total and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Population-based Cohort Study, on behalf of the International Lipid Expert Panel (ILEP).

Abstract: 

No data exist on the associations of dietary tomato and lycopene consumption with total and cause-specific mortality. Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 1999-2010, we evaluted the long-term impact of tomato and lycopene intake on total and cause-specific (coronary heart disease [CHD] and cerebrovascular disease) mortality. We also assessed the changes in cardio-metabolic risk factors according to tomato and lycopene intake. Vital status through December 31, 2011 was ascertained. Cox proportional hazard regression models (followed by propensity score-matching) were used to investigate the link between tomato and lycopene consumption total, CHD and cerebrovascular mortality. Among the 23,935 participants included (mean age = 47.6 years, 48.8% men), 3403 deaths occurred during 76.4 months of follow-up. Tomato intake was inversely associated with total (risk ratio (RR):0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI):0.81-0.92), CHD (0.76, 95%CI: 0.70-0.85) and cerebrovascular (0.70, 95%CI: 0.62-0.81) mortality. Similar inverse associations were found between lycopene consumption, total (0.76, 95%CI: 0.72-0.81), CHD (0.73, 95%CI: 0.65-0.83) and cerebrovascular (0.71, 95%CI: 0.65-0.78) mortality; these associations were independent of anthropometric, clinical and nutritional parameters. Age and obesity did not affect the associations of tomato and lycopene consumption with total, CHD and cerebrovascular mortality. C-reactive protein significantly moderated the link between lycopene and tomato intake with total, CHD and cerebrovascular mortality. Analysis of co-variance showed that participants with a higher tomato and lycopene consumption had a more cardio-protective profile compared with those with a lower intake. Our results highlighted the favorable effect of tomato and lycopene intake on total and cause-specific mortality as well as to cardio-metabolic risk factors. These findings should be taken into consideration for public health strategies.

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PMID: 

Phytother Res. 2019 Aug 30. Epub 2019 Aug 30. PMID: 31468596

Abstract Title: 

The effects of lycopene supplement on the spermatogram and seminal oxidative stress in infertile men: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Abstract: 

Infertility is a major, worldwide problem that is affected, and mediated, by several factors, in particular, oxidative stress. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of lycopene supplementation on spermatogram and seminal oxidative stress. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial study, 44 infertile men with oligozoospermia were randomly divided into two groups: The experimental group was supplemented with 25 mg of lycopene, and the control group received placebo for 12 weeks. Anthropometric, physical activity and dietary assessment, semen analysis, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde, and glutathione peroxidase were measured pre- and post-intervention. At the end of the study, there was a significant increase in total sperm count and concentration in the lycopene group, and the latter total count remained significant after adjustment (p

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