PMID: 

J Integr Med. 2019 Sep ;17(5):383-386. Epub 2019 May 23. PMID: 31253578

Abstract Title: 

Beneficial effects of hirudotherapy in a chronic case of complex regional pain syndrome.

Abstract: 

We report about hirudotherapy in a patient with chronic complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) in the right hand. CRPS is a multifactorial disease associated with disabling pain as well as sensory and motor deficits. The optimal therapeutic management is based on personalized multimodal treatment approaches; however, hirudotherapy has not been described in the available literature. To date, we have completed five medicinal leech treatments. Altogether, hirudotherapy led to rapid and substantial relief of symptoms, especially with respect to pain intensity ratings and skin temperature asymmetries. In addition, the patient's active and passive agility of the affected limb improved obviously.

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PMID: 

J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2019 Dec 14. Epub 2019 Dec 14. PMID: 31838618

Abstract Title: 

Successful Treatment of Long Standing Complex Regional Pain Syndrome with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.

Abstract: 

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a devastating posttraumatic neuroinflammatory condition with both autoinflammatory and autoimmune features, characterized by unrelenting severe pain and disability, with the majority of affected patients being unable to function socially or vocationally. Remission is more likely in children than adults, and if treatment is started early. Once established, there are no universally effective treatments, and these are desperately needed. A single limb is often involved, but there can be multi-limb spread, and systemic autonomic manifestations. We describe a case of long-standing CRPS with multi-limb spread and systemic autonomic features, controlled only with very high dose oral corticosteroids, which led to several complications. Multiple other treatment modalities failed or were insufficient to control the CRPS and allow tapering of the corticosteroids, but the patient had a dramatic response to hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), allowing a reduction in prednisone dose to just over the physiologic range. When symptoms started to increase several months later, a second course of HBOT treatments allowed reduction in prednisone dose into the physiologic range while still controlling CRPS symptoms. This case is unique in that it shows that HBOT can be effective in long-standing CRPS, both initially, and for subsequent flares, and adds to the evidence supporting HBOT as a potential treatment for this condition. Graphical Abstract HBOT effect on prednisone dose for symptom control.

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PMID: 

J Pain. 2020 Jan 29. Epub 2020 Jan 29. PMID: 32006698

Abstract Title: 

Electroacupuncture Alleviates Mechanical Allodynia in a Rat Model of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type-I via Suppressing Spinal CXCL12/CXCR4 Signaling.

Abstract: 

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) results in chronic and excruciating pain in patients. Conventional therapies lack effectiveness, rendering it one of the most difficult to treat neurological conditions.. Electroacupuncture (EA) is an effective alternative therapy for pain relief. Here, we investigated whether EA exerts analgesic effect on a rat model of CRPS type-I (CRPS-I) and related mechanisms. The rat chronic post-ischemic pain (CPIP) model was established to mimic CRPS-I. 100Hz EA exerted robust and persistent anti-allodynic effect on CPIP model compared with 2Hz EA or sham EA. EA markedly suppressed the overexpression of CXCL12/CXCR4 in spinal cord dorsal horn (SCDH) of CPIP model, leading to substantial decrease in neuronal and glial cell activities in SCDH. Pharmacological blocking CXCR4 mimicked EA-induced anti-allodynic effect and related cellular events in SCDH, whereas exogenous CXCL12 abolished EA's effect. CXCR4 signaling resulted in ERK activation in SCDH, contributing to mechanical allodynia of CPIP model rats, whereas EA markedly reduced ERK activation. Therefore, we demonstrated that EA interferes with CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling in SCDH and downstream ERK pathway to exert robust anti-allodynic effect on an animal model of CRPS-I. Our work suggests that EA may be a potential therapeutic option for CRPS-I in clinic. PERSPECTIVE: Our work identified that EA exerts robust anti-allodynic effect on an animal model of CRPS-I, via mechanisms involving inhibition of CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling. EA further attenuates downstream neuronal and glial cell activation and ERK pathway in SCDH. This work suggests that EA may be a potential therapeutic option for CRPS-I management in clinic.

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PMID: 

Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2020 Feb 21. Epub 2020 Feb 21. PMID: 32086676

Abstract Title: 

In Vitro Assay of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) and Lupin (Lupinus spp.) Extracts on Human Platelet Aggregation.

Abstract: 

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death throughout the world. A major risk factor for CVD is platelet aggregation. Various plant extracts exhibit anti-aggregatory action in vitro. The dietary intake of traditional plant crops such as quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) and lupin (Lupinus spp., Fabaceae family), highly recognized for their high nutritional value, is increasing worldwide. The aim of the study was to assay possible antiplatelet effects of quinoa and lupin bean extracts in vitro. The proximate chemical composition of quinoa grains and the three most widely known lupin cultivars: blue (L. angustifolius), yellow (L. luteus or mutabilis) and white (L. albus) grown in Chile were analyzed. The anti-aggregation activity of the ethanol extracts of the crops was assayed using flow cytometry in ADP-stimulated human platelets, and their inhibition of the maximal platelet aggregation was measured. All the lupin extracts exhibited a significant anti-aggregatory effect (p 

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PMID: 

Int J Biol Macromol. 2019 Nov 9. Epub 2019 Nov 9. PMID: 31712149

Abstract Title: 

Comparative study on hepatoprotection of pine nut (Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc.) polysaccharide against different types of chemical-induced liver injury models in vivo.

Abstract: 

A novel polysaccharide (PNP80b-2) was obtained from Pinus koraiensis pine nut, which has been proved to possess good hepatoprotective effects in vitro. This study comprehensively investigated its hepatoprotective activities against different types of chemical-induced liver injury in vivo. Carbon tetrachloride, alcohol and acetaminophen were used as hepatic toxicants to establish chemical pollutant-induced liver injury (CILI) model, alcohol induced-liver injury (AILI) model and drug-induced liver injury (DILI) model, respectively. The results showed that PNP80b-2 prevented elevation of biomarkers for liver injury in each model, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin (TBIL). The expression of cytochrome P450 in damaged hepatocytes was also downregulated. Additionally, PNP80b-2 enhanced hepatic antioxidant capacity through upregulating the expression of NRF2 and HO-1, thereby increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) activities and decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The uncontrolled production of inflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in CILI, AILI and DILI models was also suppressed by PNP80b-2. By contrast, PNP80b-2 exerted the strongest hepatoprotection against AILI model, through improving hepatic antioxidant capacity via NRF2/ARE pathwayand regulating inflammation response. Thus, PNP80b-2 is a promising functional food to prevent AILI.

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PMID: 

Nutrients. 2020 Feb 15 ;12(2). Epub 2020 Feb 15. PMID: 32075228

Abstract Title: 

An Acute, Placebo-Controlled, Single-Blind, Crossover, Dose-Response, Exploratory Study to Assess the Effects of New Zealand Pine Bark Extract (Enzogenol) on Glycaemic Responses in Healthy Participants.

Abstract: 

An acute, placebo-controlled, single-blind, crossover, dose-response, exploratory study was designed to investigate the hypoglycaemic effects of New Zealand pine bark extract (Enzogenol). Twenty-five healthy participants categorised into having a monophasic or complex (biphasic or triphasic) glucose curve shape at the control visit consumed a placebo and Enzogenol(50 and 400 mg) on three separate occasions before an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). In the monophasic group, 50 and 400 mg of Enzogenolsignificantly reduced the mean glucose incremental area under the curve (iAUC) compared to control 241.3± 20.2 vs. 335.4 ± 34.0 mmol/L·min,= 0.034 and 249.3± 25.4 vs. 353.6 ± 31.5 mmol/L·min,= 0.012, respectively. The 400 mg dose further reduced the percentage increment of postprandial glucose (%PG) 31.4%± 7.9% vs. 47.5% ± 8.6%,= 0.010, glucose peak 7.9± 0.3 vs. 8.9 ± 0.3 mmol/L,= 0.025 and 2h-OGTT postprandial glucose (2hPG) 6.1± 0.3 vs. 6.7 ± 0.3 mmol/L,= 0.027. Glucose iAUC was not significantly different in the complex group, except for reductions in %PG 28.7%± 8.2% vs. 43.4% ± 5.9%,= 0.012 after 50 mg dose and 27.7%± 5.4% vs. 47.3% ± 7.2%,= 0.025 after 400 mg dose. The results suggest that Enzogenolmay have hypoglycaemic effects in healthy participants, especially those exhibiting monophasic shapes.

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PMID: 

Nutrients. 2020 Jan 18 ;12(1). Epub 2020 Jan 18. PMID: 31963703

Abstract Title: 

Fermented(Noni) Alleviates DNCB-Induced Atopic Dermatitis in NC/Nga Mice through Modulating Immune Balance and Skin Barrier Function.

Abstract: 

, a fruit generally known as"Noni", has been traditionally used in parts of East Asia to relieve inflammatory diseases. Although several studies using noni have been reported, the effect of fermented(F.NONI) on atopic dermatitis (AD) has not been investigated. Thus, we aimed to investigate the improving effect of F.NONI treatment on AD-like skin lesions and elucidate molecular mechanisms. F.NONI was prepared by the fermentation of noni fruit with probiotics and then extracted. F.NONI was orally administrated to NC/Nga mice to evaluate its therapeutic effect on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD. Oral administration of F.NONI significantly alleviated AD lesions and symptoms such as dermatitis scores, ear thickness, scratching behavior, epidermal thickness, and infiltration of inflammatory cells (e.g., mast cells and eosinophils). In addition, F.NONI treatment reduced the levels of histamine, IgE and IgG1/IgG2a ratio, thymus and activation regulated chemokine (TARC), and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in serum and beneficially modulated the expressions of Th1, Th2, Th17, and Th22-mediated cytokines in lesioned skin and splenocytes. Furthermore, the expressions of the skin barrier-related proteins including filaggrin (FLG), loricrin (LOR), involucrin (IVL), zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), and occludin (OCC) were restored by F.NONI treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that F.NONI could be a therapeutic agent to attenuate AD-like skin lesions through modulating the immune balance and skin barrier function.

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PMID: 

Food Microbiol. 2019 Dec ;84:103260. Epub 2019 Jul 5. PMID: 31421758

Abstract Title: 

Antibacterial activity of the noni fruit extract against Listeria monocytogenes and its applicability as a natural sanitizer for the washing of fresh-cut produce.

Abstract: 

This study was conducted to investigate the antibacterial activity of the noni fruit extract (NFE) against Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC, 19111 and 19115) and assess its applicability for the washing of fresh-cut produce. Based on the results of the disc diffusion test, L. monocytogenes (ATCC, 19111 and 19115) was susceptible to the activity of NFE than other pathogens studied. Additionally, results of the time-kill assay indicated that NFE at a concentration of 0.5-0.7% effectively killed L. monocytogenes within 7 h. Furthermore, analysis of the intracellular components such as nucleic acids and proteins released from the bacterial cells and their SEM imaging revealed that NFE could increase the membrane permeability of cells resulting in their death. Compared to their unwashed samples, washing of romainelettuce, spinach, and kale with 0.5% NFE gave a reduction of 1.47, 2.28, and 3.38 log CFU/g, respectively against L. monocytogenes (ATCC, 19111 and 19115), which is significantly different to that of NaOCl. A significant correlation was observed between the antibacterial effect induced due to NFE washing with the surface roughness of the fresh-cut produce than its surface hydrophobicity. Moreover, washing with NFE was not found to affect the color of the samples. These results indicated that NFE demonstrates good antibacterial activity against L. monocytogenes and can be used as a natural sanitizer to ensure the microbiological safety of fresh-cut produce.

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PMID: 

Sci Rep. 2020 Jan 28 ;10(1):1290. Epub 2020 Jan 28. PMID: 31992775

Abstract Title: 

Cucurbitacin B and I inhibits colon cancer growth by targeting the Notch signaling pathway.

Abstract: 

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have the ability to self-renew and induce drug resistance and recurrence in colorectal cancer (CRC). As current chemotherapy doesn't eliminate CSCs completely, there is a need to identify novel agents to target them. We investigated the effects of cucurbitacin B (C-B) or I (C-I), a natural compound that exists in edible plants (bitter melons, cucumbers, pumpkins and zucchini), against CRC. C-B or C-I inhibited proliferation, clonogenicity, induced G/M cell-cycle arrest and caspase-mediated-apoptosis of CRC cells. C-B or C-I suppressed colonosphere formation and inhibited expression of CD44, DCLK1 and LGR5. These compounds inhibited notch signaling by reducing the expression of Notch 1-4 receptors, their ligands (Jagged 1-2, DLL1,3,4), γ-secretase complex proteins (Presenilin 1, Nicastrin), and downstream target Hes-1. Molecular docking showed that C-B or C-I binds to the ankyrin domain of Notch receptor, which was confirmed using the cellular thermal shift assay. Finally, C-B or C-I inhibited tumor xenograft growth in nude mice and decreased the expression of CSC-markers and notch signaling proteins in tumor tissues. Together, our study suggests that C-B and C-I inhibit colon cancer growth by inhibiting Notch signaling pathway.

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PMID: 

Arch Biochem Biophys. 2020 Feb 20:108314. Epub 2020 Feb 20. PMID: 32088220

Abstract Title: 

Cucurbitacin B inhibits gastric cancer progression by suppressing STAT3 activity.

Abstract: 

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is expressed aberrantly in multiple tumors, including gastric cancer (GC). STAT3 overexpression and excessive activation have been confirmed to play vital roles in tumorigenesis. Cucurbitacin B (CuB) is a natural product with potent anti-cancer activities in solid tumors. Here, we systematically studied the underlying molecular mechanisms of CuB inhibition of GC both in vitro and in vivo. In GC cell lines, nanomolar concentrations of CuB decreased the phosphorylation of TYR-705 in STAT3 and suppressed STAT3 target gene expression, including c-Myc and Bcl-xL. Computational docking analysis showed that CuB interacts with the DNA-binding domain of STAT3 at several hydrophobic residues. In addition, pull-down experiments showed that CuB is a direct inhibitor of STAT3. CuB in combination with the conventional chemotherapy drug cisplatin exerted enhanced cytotoxicity in GC cells, possibly due to the potentiated inhibition of STAT3 activation. Moreover, a xenograft mouse model confirmed the therapeutic effect of CuB in vivo. These characteristics render CuB a promising candidate drug for further development in the design of new effective STAT3 inhibitors for treating GC.

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