Astragalus-Containing Chinese Herbal Medicine Combined With Chemotherapy for Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Analysis of the effects of postoperative cluster nursing care on the incidence rate of postoperative complications and nutritional indicators in patients with primary laryngeal cancer

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we investigated the effects of cluster nursing care on postoperative infection risk and nutritional indicators in patients with primary laryngeal cancer.

METHODS

This study comprised 50 patients with primary laryngeal cancer diagnosed between March 2020 and December 2022. They were randomly divided into the test and control groups, with each group comprising 25 patients. The test group received cluster nursing care, while the control group received standard nursing care. Indicators for quantitative scoring, such as Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), Zubrod Performance Status (ZPS), Karnofsky score, and Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002), measurement indicators such as body mass index (BMI), body mass, hip circumference, calf circumference, grip strength, weight loss, and laboratory indicators, such as hemoglobin, albumin, and transaminase levels, were used to analyze change.

RESULTS

Improvements were observed in the scores of PG-SGA, ZPS, and NRS-2002 in the test group following the implementation of nursing care for the test and control groups for 1 week, which were statistically significantly different from those at baseline (P < 0.05), and compared to the control group (P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in other indicators (P > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between the incidence rate of infections and complications in the test and control groups, which were 20.00% and 48.00%.

CONCLUSION

The postoperative nutritional status of patients with primary laryngeal cancer improved in phases through specialized nursing care. It is also a factor closely related to postoperative complications.

Herbal Medicines for the Improvement of Immune Function in Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate of all cancers worldwide. Conserving the immune system and reducing the adverse events associated with cancer treatment have become increasingly important. Our study aimed to investigate the immunological effects of herbal medicine (HM) alone, independent of conventional cancer therapies, in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: We searched 8 databases for articles published until March 2023. Bias risk was assessed using RevMan 5.4. Meta-analyses of CD4+ and CD8+ levels reported in the included RCTs were also performed. Results: A total of 610 patients from 5 RCTs were included in the analysis. Immune markers in the peripheral blood of patients treated with HM alone were compared with those in the control group. As a result of meta-analyses, CD4+ (three studies; mean difference(MD) = 5.21, 95 confidence interval (CI) [3.26, 7.27], I2 = 61%, n = 428) and CD4+/CD8+ (two studies; MD = 0.22, 95% CI [0.18, 0.26], I2 = 0%, n = 278) significantly increased in the treatment group, while CD8+ levels (three studies; MD = -3.04, 95% CI [-5.80, -0.29], I2 = 74%, n = 428) decreased in HM groups compared to comparison groups. In a single trial, IL-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a levels and the number of Tregs in the treatment group significantly decreased, while Th17 levels and the Th17/Treg ratios increased. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive and systematic review of the immunological effects of HM in patients with NSCLC. Future studies should explore how the immunological effects of HM correlate with clinical outcomes, such as tumor response and survival rates.PROSPERO registration: CRD42023459.

Characteristics and Challenges of Providing Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine in Oncology Treatment: Report of Survey Data and Experience of Five Unique Clinical Settings

Acupuncture is an integrative therapy with strong evidence to support its use in the oncology setting, yet barriers exist for implementation into conventional medical clinics. Though acupuncture is recommended in clinical practice guidelines for oncology, there is little data in the literature showing how acupuncture and other related therapies, including herbal medicine are successfully implemented in some oncology clinics, while others experience barriers to care. To characterize the current use of acupuncture (ACU) and herbal medicine (HM) in oncology clinics, we collected general demographic and usage data from 5 example clinics. In addition, to better understand the barriers faced by ACU and HM clinics in implementing acupuncture as a treatment modality, a survey was deployed to 2320 members of the Society for Integrative Oncology. This article examines the characteristics of oncology settings around the world, and shares data from the survey on the use of these therapies in the field of oncology. The primary barrier to acupuncture care, as reported by providers, was cost. With just under 70% of the oncologists reporting it as the most important obstacle. Additional barriers to implementation included concerns about competency and training, accessibility and safety of herbal medicine during treatment. Though acupuncture is being incorporated into more conventional oncology settings, organized strategies for implementation involving payers and policymakers is needed.

Anticancer Secondary Metabolites: From Ethnopharmacology and Identification in Native Complexes to Biotechnological Studies in Species of Genus Astragalus L. and Gloriosa L

Some of the most effective anticancer compounds are still derived from plants since the chemical synthesis of chiral molecules is not economically efficient. Rapid discovery of lead compounds with pronounced biological activity is essential for the successful development of novel drug candidates. This work aims to present the chemical diversity of antitumor bioactive compounds and biotechnological approaches as alternative production and sustainable plant biodiversity conservation. Astragalus spp., (Fabaceae) and Gloriosa spp. (Liliaceae) are selected as research objects within this review because they are known for their anticancer activity, because they represent two of the largest families respectively in dicots and monocots, and also because many of the medicinally important plants are rare and endangered. We summarized the ethnobotanical data concerning their anticancer application, highlighted the diversity of their secondary metabolites possessing anticancer properties such as saponins, flavonoids, and alkaloids, and revealed the potential of the in vitro cultures as an alternative way of their production. Since the natural supply is limited, it is important to explore the possibility of employing plant cell or organ in vitro cultures for the biotechnological production of these compounds as an alternative.

Astragalus mongholicus Bunge and Curcuma aromatica Salisb. inhibits liver metastasis of colon cancer by regulating EMT via the CXCL8/CXCR2 axis and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

One of the most challenging aspects of colon cancer (CC) prognosis and treatment is liver-tropic metastasis. Astragalus mongholicus Bunge-Curcuma aromatica Salisb. (AC) is a typical medication combination for the therapy of many malignancies. Our previous studies found that AC intervention inhibits liver metastasis of colon cancer (LMCC). Nevertheless, the comprehensive anti-metastasis mechanisms of AC have not been uncovered.

METHODS

In bioinformatics analysis, RNA-seq data of CC and LMCC patients were collected from TCGA and GEO databases, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. The biological processes and signaling pathways involved in DEGs were enriched by GO and KEGG. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of DEGs was established and visualized using the Cytocape software, followed by screening Hub genes in the PPI network using Degree value as the criterion. Subsequently, the expression and survival relevance of Hub gene in COAD patients were verified. In the experimental study, the effects of AC on the inhibition of colon cancer growth and liver metastasis were comprehensively evaluated by cellular and animal models. Finally, based on the results of bioinformatics analysis, the possible mechanisms of AC inhibition of colon cancer EMT and liver metastasis were explored by in vivo and in vitro pharmacological experiments.

RESULTS

In this study, we obtained 2386 DEGs relevant to LMCC from the COAD (colon adenocarcinoma) and GSE38174 datasets. Results of GO gene function and KEGG signaling pathway enrichment analysis suggested that cellular EMT (Epithelial-mesenchymal transition) biological processes, Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways might be closely related to LMCC mechanism. We then screened for CXCL8, the core hub gene with the highest centrality within the PPI network of DEGs, and discovered that CXCL8 expression was negatively correlated with the prognosis of COAD patients. In vitro and in vivo experimental evidence presented that AC significantly inhibited colon cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion ability, and suppressed tumor growth and liver metastasis in colon cancer orthotopic transplantation mice models. Concomitantly, AC significantly reduced CXCL8 expression levels in cell supernatants and serum. Moreover, AC reduced the expression and transcription of genes related to the PI3K/AKT pathway while suppressing the EMT process in colon cancer cells and model mice.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our research predicted the potential targets and pathways of LMCC, and experimentally demonstrated that AC might inhibit the growth and liver metastasis in colon cancer by regulating EMT via the CXCL8/CXCR2 axis and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, which may facilitate the discovery of mechanisms and new therapeutic strategies for LMCC.