Antioxidant therapy in the management of acute,chronic and post-ERCP pancreatitis:A systematic review

We systematically reviewed the clinical trials which recruited antioxidants in the therapy of pancreatitis and evaluated whether antioxidants improve the outcome of patients with pancreatitis. Electronic bibliographic databases were searched for any studies which investigated the use of antioxidants in the management of acute pancreatitis （AP） or chronic pancreatitis （CP） and in the prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography （post-ERCP） pancreatitis （PEP） up to February 2009. Twenty-two randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials met our criteria and were included in the review. Except for a cocktail of antioxidants which showed improvement in outcomes in three different clinical trials, the results of the administration of other antioxidants in both AP and CP clinical trials were incongruent and heterogeneous.Furthermore, antioxidant therapy including allopurinol and N-acetylcysteine failed to prevent the onset of PEP in almost all trials. In conclusion, the present data do not support a benefit of antioxidant therapy alone or in combination with conventional therapy in the management of AP, CP or PER Further double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials with large sample size need to be conducted.

The Effect of Chloroquine on Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines Levels in Graves’ Disease: Historical Cohort from a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: Analyzing the trend in the serum inflammatory cytokines levels in a historical cohort of patients treated with combination of chloroquine and methimazole. Material and methods: We analyzed the pro-inflammatory serum cytokines level [Interleukin-6(IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 α) and Interferon gamma (INF-γ)] in the stored blood samples of 22 patients with Graves’ disease who previously randomized to receive either chloroquine and methimazole combination therapy or methimazole monotherapy. Total T3, T4 and TSH levels were measured by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method (DRG, New York, USA) and the result was published previously. In this study we used an ELISA method (Bender Medsystem Vienna Austria) to measure serum pro-inflammatory cytokines in the first 6 months of trial. Results: No significant differences in serum cytokines concentration were observed between the two treatment groups (p > 0.05). Although it was not statistically significant, serum INF-gamma concentration tended to be lower in the chloroquine group after four months of therapy (p = 0.12). Conclusion: In this study we found changes in the serum thyroid hormones level did not accompany concomitant changes in the serum cytokines levels in two treatment groups. Therefore it is possible that chloroquine reduce serum thyroid hormones levels independent of its immunomodulatory effect.

The Comparison of the Effect of Oat and Shiitake Mushroom Powder to Prevent Body Weight Gain in Rats Fed High Fat Diet

Preventing obesity could be done by lowering plasma TAG that inhibits adipogenesis. Oat and mushroom beta-glucans in the diet has been reported to lower plasma lipid;however the data focusing on their effects on TAG and obesity are insufficient. In the present study, lowering plasma triacylglycerol, fat deposition, body weight gain (BWG) in rats fed a high fat diet (HFD) was evaluated. Rats in the control group were given HFD only and rats in the treatment group fed HFD enriched with 0.2%, 0.6% and 1.8% (wt:wt) beta-glucan from oats (LD-O, MD-O, HD-O) or mushroom (LD-M, MD-M, HD-M). After 6 weeks dietary intervention, the rats fed HD-M showed significantly lower plasma TAG, total fat mass, white adipose tissue, inguinal fat and BWG level more than HD-O treated rats (p < 0.05). The underlying mechanism in lowering plasma TAG, fat pad masses and BWG in HD-M was increasing ratio of fat faecal to faecal weight which was significantly higher than HD-O (p < 0.05). This study demonstrated that the preventing obesity via lowering plasma TAG and fat deposition was different depending on beta-glucan origin, either from oats and Shiitake mushroom.

An Updated Overview of the Treatment of Colorectal and Gastric Cancer Using Saffron

Despite the increasing number of drugs and treatments available for cancer patients,the effect of cancer on the quality of life of patients and their life expectancy is significant.Moreover,many new therapeutic options have shown to have adverse effects without improving outcomes.These days,natural plants and chemopreventive drugs are commonly used.Chemoprevention is a new form of therapy that targets specific premalignant-malignant transformations.Plant-derived substances,such as polyphenols,flavonoids,carotenoids,alkaloids,etc.,have a range of biological effects.Despite extensive studies on the anti-inflammatory effect of saffron carotenoids,they are also bioactive in some other ways,including the inhibition of tumor growth and the induction of cell death.In addition to interfering with a wide array of signaling molecules,this substance has pleiotropic effects:it inhibits pro-inflammatory molecules,transcription factors,enzymes,protein kinases,protein transport proteins,proteins that are crucial for cell survival,growth factors,proteins that regulate the cell cycle,and chemokines.Saffron has high oral bioavailability and is,therefore,suitable for treating gastrointestinal diseases.This antioxidant and anti-proliferative property of saffron makes it a promising chemopreventive agent for colorectal cancer.In contrast with in vitro studies devoted to saffron and in vivo studies on animal models,saffron has rarely been assessed in clinical studies dealing with gastrointestinal oncology.However,several clinical trials are in progress in this domain,although saffron has no approved medical indication as of yet.

Casticin Attenuates Stemness in Cervical Cancer Stem-Like Cells by Regulating Activity and Expression of DNMT1

Objective:To explore whether casticin(CAS)suppresses stemness in cancer stem-like cells(CSLCs)obtained from human cervical cancer(CCSLCs)and the underlying mechanism.Methods:Spheres from He La and Ca Ski cells were used as CCSLCs.DNA methyltransferase 1(DNMT1)activity and m RNA levels,self-renewal capability(Nanog and Sox2),and cancer stem cell markers(CD133 and CD44)were detected by a colorimetric DNMT activity/inhibition assay kit,quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction,sphere and colony formation assays,and immunoblot,respectively.Knockdown and overexpression of DNMT1 by transfection with sh RNA and c DNA,respectively,were performed to explore the mechanism for action of CAS(0,10,30,and 100 nmol/L).Results:DNMT1 activity was increased in CCSLCs compared with He La and Ca Ski cells(P<0.05).In addition,He La-derived CCSLCs transfected with DNMT1 sh RNA showed reduced sphere and colony formation abilities,and lower CD133,CD44,Nanog and Sox2 protein expressions(P<0.05).Conversely,overexpression of DNMT1 in He La cells exhibited the oppositive effects.Furthermore,CAS significantly reduced DNMT1 activity and transcription levels as well as stemness in He La-derived CCSLCs(P<0.05).Interestingly,DNMT1 knockdown enhanced the inhibitory effect of CAS on stemness.As expected,DNMT1 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of CAS on stemness in He La cells.Conclusion:CAS effectively inhibits stemness in CCSLCs through suppression of DNMT1 activation,suggesting that CAS acts as a promising preventive and therapeutic candidate in cervical cancer.

Efficacy and safety of Aloe vera syrup for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a pilot randomized positive-controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the use of Aloe vera(A.vera) for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) symptoms and compare its effects with those of omeprazole and ranitidine.METHODS: In this pilot, randomized controlled trial, 79 subjects were allocated to A. vera syrup(standardized to 5.0 mg polysaccharide per m L of syrup)at a dose of 10 m L/d, omeprazole capsule(20 g/d)or ranitidine tablet(150 mg in a fasted state in the morning and 150 mg 30 min before sleep at night)for a period of 4 weeks. The frequencies of eight main symptoms of GERD(heartburn, food regurgitation, flatulence, belching, dysphagia, nausea,vomiting and acid regurgitation) were assessed at weeks 2 and 4 of the trial.RESULTS: A. vera was safe and well tolerated and reduced the frequencies of all the assessed GERD symptoms, with no adverse events requiring withdrawal.CONCLUSION: A. vera may provide a safe and effective treatment for reducing the symptoms of GERD.