Integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine for Menopausal syndrome: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background: To critically assess the evidence of integrated Chinese and western medicine for treating  Menopausal syndrome (MPS).Methods and Materials: A search across the Chinese Biomedical Medicine (CBM), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP database (VIP), Wangfang database (Wanfang), PubMed and the Cochrane Library databases was conducted (up to October 31st, 2013) in commonly used integrated Chinese and western medicine therapies for menopausal syndrome. A number of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of integrated Chinese and western medicine in patients with PPS were included. The quality of the included studies was evaluated and a meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan5.0 software.Results: Twelve RCTs with 1155 patients were evaluated in this review. The results of meta-analysis showed that the therapy of using integrated Chinese and western medicine was significantly superior to that of western medicine alone towards improving the efficacy, relieving the clinical symptoms and decreasing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH）levels (P<0.05), even though the effects of two treatments were the same in regulating the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2).Conclusion: Compared to a regular treatment with western medicine alone, the therapeutic approach that utilizes integration of Chinese with western medicine can effectively improve the clinical efficacy and serum hormone levels in patients with menopausal syndrome. However, the evidence was not very strong due to the poor quality of the included studies.Key words: Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Menopausal Syndrome, Meta-analysi

2-Ferrocenyl-3-meth­oxy-6-methyl­pyridine

In the title compound, [Fe(C5H5)(C12H12NO)], the dihedral angle between the pyridyl and substituted cyclo­penta­dienyl rings is 23.58 (3)°. The crystal structure is characterized by weak inter­molecular C—H⋯N hydrogen-bonding contacts, leading to the formation of chains running parallel to the n-glide planes. A weak inter­molecular C—H⋯π contact is also present

The use of Rheum palmatum L. In the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials

Background: Chinese medicine theory shows that “lung being connected with large intestine”, and the modern western medicine also shows that the lung and intestinal tract affect each other in physiological and pathological conditions. If the lung ventilation dysfunction is caused by inflammatory exudate or secretions obstruction of the small airway ventilation, blood gas partial pressure is increased and intestinal gas absorption difficulty may lead to intestinal inflation and dysfunction (Wang N et al., 2011). Rheum palmatum L. can play the roles of anti-coagulation and anti-thrombosis, and improve microcirculation through lowering the endotoxin-induced permeability of microvascular tissue, reducing tissue oedema, decreasing inflammatory exudation and necrosis, and enhancing cyto-protection mechanism (Yang TZ et al., 2014). Therefore, systemic evaluation of the evidence pertaining to the usage of Rheum palmatum L. in treating acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has significant clinical significance.Materials and Methods: Various Electronic Databases CBM, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, PubMed and Cochrane Library were searched until December 2015. Numerous randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of Rheum palmatum L. for the treatment of acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome were collected. The quality of the included studies was evaluated and a meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan5.0 software.Results: Eight RCTs involving 489 patients were selected for this review. The results of the Meta-analysis revealed that Rheum palmatum L. therapy, combined with routine comprehensive treatment, was significantly superior to that of routine comprehensive treatment alone, in the areas of decreasing mortality, the mechanical ventilation time, the level of interleukin-6,8 and the untoward effect, and also in improving arterial blood gas (PaO2/FiO2, PaO2) (P<0.05).Conclusion: Compared with treatment with routine comprehensive alone, Rheum palmatum L. treatment combined with routine comprehensive, has been shown to effectively decrease the mortality, mechanical ventilation time and ameliorate the arterial blood gas, the cytokine levels, and the untoward effect. However, the evidence appears not to be very compelling due to the poor quality of the original studies.Keywords: Rheum palmatum L., Western medicine therapy, ALI/ARDS, Systematic Review, Meta-analysi

1-[4-(2,3,4,6-Tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-allo­pyranos­yloxy)benzyl­idene]thio­semi­carbazide

The title compound, C22H27N3O10S, was synthesized by reaction of an ethanol solution of helicid (systematic name: 4-formylphenl-β-d-allopyranoside), thio­semicarbazide and acetic acid. The mol­ecule exhibits a trans conformation with respect to the C=N double bond. The pyran ring adopts a chair conformation. In the crystal structure, the mol­ecules are linked into chains parallel to the b axis by inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

(E)-4-(β-d-Allopyran­os­yloxy)cinnamyl 4-bromo­phenyl ketone ethanol solvate

The title compound, C21H21BrO7·C2H6O, was synthesized by the Claisen–Schimidt reaction of helicid (systematic name: 4-formyl­phenyl-β-d-allopyran­oside) with 4-bromo­aceto­phenone in ethanol. The pyran ring adopts a chair conformation. In the crystal structure, mol­ecules are linked into a three-dimensional network by inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Aberrant expression of semaphorin 6B affects cell phenotypes in thyroid carcinoma by activating the Notch signalling pathway

Introduction: Numerous semaphorins have been widely clarified to be involved in the development of multiple cancers. However, semaphorin 6B (SEMA6B) has not yet been extensively reported in cancers, especially in thyroid carcinoma. Material and methods: Thyroid carcinoma RNA-Seq dataset from the TCGA database was used to assess the expression of SEMA6B in tissues, as well as its clinical significance. We adopted qRT-PCR and western blot analyses to measure the mRNA and protein expression of SEMA6B in thyroid carcinoma cells. The biological roles of SEMA6B in thyroid carcinoma cells were examined through cell counting kit 8, clone formation, and Transwell assays. Also, GSEA was used to identify the gene sets modulated by SEMA6B, which is further verified by western blot. Results: According to the public dataset from the TCGA database, we found that the expression of SEMA6B was upregulated in thyroid carcinoma tissues compared to adjacent non-tumour tissues, and a high level of SEMA6B resulted in a poorer prognosis compared to the low-level SEMA6B group. Functional experiments showed that silencing SEMA6B suppressed the B-CPAP cells viability, invasiveness, and motility, whereas up-regulating SEMA6B in FTC-133 cells led to opposite outcomes. Furthermore, knockdown of SEMA6B in B-CPAP cells could significantly elevate the protein expression of NUMB and reduce the expression of NOTCH1, HES1, and Cyclin D1. Conversely, overexpression of SEMA6B in FTC-133 cells presented opposite results on the protein expression of these Notch signalling pathway-related markers. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that SEMA6B exerts a tumourigenic effect in thyroid carcinoma partly by activating Notch signalling pathway, which provides a possible biomarker for the therapeutic intervention in thyroid carcinoma

Relationship between gestational weight gain during different phases and maternal complications or neonatal outcomes

Objectives: Improper gestational weight gain (GWG) causes many adverse obstetrical and neonatal outcomes. This study evaluates the relationship between weight gain in different phases and maternal outcomes or neonatal outcomes. Material and methods: Finally, this study recruited 2,608 women delivered at Fujian Provincial Maternity and Child Health, affiliated hospital of Fujian Medical University from December 2017 to January 2019. To evaluate the relationship between maternal outcome and neonatal outcome, the participants were divided into four groups based on their baseline BMI and weight gain in the second/third trimester of pregnancy. Results: This study demonstrated that neonate weight, small-for-gestational-age infants, macrosomia, neonatal death, cesarean delivery, and GDM significantly differed across the baseline BMI, weight gain in the second and third trimester. The umbilical cord's abnormality, bulging membrane, abruptio placentae, and postpartum hemorrhage were significantly related to baseline BMI. Furthermore, gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia/eclampsia were significantly correlated with baseline BMI and weight gain in the second trimester. The maternal and infant outcomes are different, and the GWG curves are significantly different. Finally, multivariate regression analysis showed that baseline BMI and weight gain in the second/third trimester were the independent risk factors for GDM and macrosomia. Also, baseline BMI and weight gain in the third trimester were the independent risk factors for developing gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, respectively. Conclusions: The baseline BMI and weight gain in the second/third trimester are significant with maternal outcomes and neonatal outcomes to a varying degree. Thus, maintaining appropriate baseline BMI and weight gain in different phases are essential in preventing pregnancy complications and maternal and neonatal prognosis

CT Findings of an Ectopic Pancreas in the Anterior Mediastinum

We report here on a rare case of an ectopic pancreatic tissue in the anterior mediastinum. A 32-year-old woman without any symptoms was transferred to our hospital because of an abnormal large mediastinal shadow on her chest radiograph during a checkup. The computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a giant cystic-solid mass that measured 16 × 13 × 8 cm and it was located in the center of the anterior mediastinum and it symmetrically grew to two sides. On enhanced CT scans, the solid component of the mass showed marked enhancement. We performed total surgical resection of the mass and complete pancreatic tissues were verified on the pathological examination