Study on the Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Mechanisms of Breast Lump Resolution Detergent in a Rat Model of Breast Hyperplasia

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic mechanisms of a breast lump resolution detergent in a rat model of breast hyperplasia. Methods: A rat model of breast hyperplasia was established using injections of estradiol benzoate combined with progesterone. The effects of the breast lump resolution detergent on nipple height and diameter in the rat model were observed, along with its impact on serum levels of estradiol (E2), prolactin (PRL), and progesterone (P). Additionally, the study examined the morphological changes in breast tissue. The impact of the breast nodule detergent on blood rheology parameters was also observed. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory effect of the breast nodule detergent was assessed using the cotton ball granuloma experiment, and the analgesic effect was observed using the writhing test. Results: The breast lump resolution detergent reduced nipple height and diameter in the rat model, decreased serum levels of E2, PRL, and P, and alleviated pathological changes in breast tissue. It also lowered hemorheological parameters including whole blood high, medium, and low shear viscosity, plasma viscosity, red blood cell hematocrit, red blood cell aggregation index, red blood cell deformability index, red blood cell electrophoresis time, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the acute “blood stasis” rat model. The detergent reduced the weight of cotton ball granulomas in mice and decreased the number of writhing episodes caused by acetic acid. Conclusion: The breast lump resolution detergent demonstrates favorable therapeutic effects in treating breast hyperplasia, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, exerting anti-inflammatory properties, and providing analgesic effects. The downregulation of serum E2 and PRL levels and the upregulation of P levels may be critical mechanisms underlying its efficacy.

Plasma β-Endorphin Levels in Women with Early Threatened Abortion before and after the Treatment of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine

To observe plasm a β-endorphin (β-EP) and gonadotrophin releasing horm one (GnRH), hum an chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), progesterone (P4) levelsin w om en w ith early threatened abortion and w ith a history of recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA). Tw enty patientsw ith threatened abortion at7～8 w eeksof gestation w ere re- cruited, allof them had a history of 3 or m ore recurrentunexplained abortions. They w ere treated w ith psychologicalconsultation accompanied by traditionalChinese herbs. Blood samples w ere taken to m easure β-EP, GnRH, hCG and P4 levels by radioim - m unoassay (RIA). The treatm ents w ere continued till10～12 w eeks, blood w astaken during this period to compare changes in these peptides / horm ones. Tw enty norm al pregnantw om en at7～8 and 10～12 w eeksand 20 patientsw ith incompleteabortion at 10～12 w eeksw ererecruited for comparativestudies. Results: (1) In norm alpregnant w om en, plasm a β-EP, GnRH, hCGand P4 levelsat10～12 w eeksw ere significantly higher than thatat7～8 w eeks (P< 0.01). (2) In patients w ith threatened abortion and a history of RSA, plasm a β-EP levels at7～8 w eeks w ere significantly higher than those of norm al pregnantw om en (P< 0.01); on the contrary, plasm a GnRH, hCGand P4 levelsin these patientsw ere significantly low er than thosein norm alcases (P< 0.01). After treatm ent, 16 of the 20 patients succeeded in m aintaining their pregnancies, the levels of the four plasm a contents at10～12 w eeks w ere sim ilar to thosein norm alpregnantw om en (P> 0.05). (3) Plasm a β-EPlevelsin patientsw ith incomplete abortionsat10～12 w eeksw ere dram atically higher and GnRH, hCGand P4 levelsw ere low er than in norm alpregnantw om en (P< 0.01). β-EP m ightplay a role in the pathophysiology of spontaneousabortion.

Higher IL-8 Response to <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>Antigens in Women above 40 Years

Objective: Circulating levels of sex hormones vary with age. Moreover, there is emerging evidence supporting that sex hormones have an influence on the immune response of women. Here, we investigated age-associated levels of sex hormones and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) specific cytokines response in women. Design: Using immunoassay methods, we have measured and compared secretion levels of E2, P4 and Mtb specific secretion of 11 cytokines including Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), Interferon gamma (IFN-γ), Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, and Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in forty-two (42) HIV-negative females. Results: Estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels were significantly higher in younger women irrespective of their LTB status (p < [0.0001 - 0.05]). Mtb IL-8 specific response was significantly higher in women above 40 years old than in women under 40 years old. Conclusion: In premenopausal women, there is an increase in the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 secretion in response to Mtb-antigen. This observation suggests an underlying link between the pro-inflammatory cytokine and age associated hormonal changes, which may have implications on the course of tuberculosis infection women.