Cai Zai-long

Study on therapeutic mechanism of Neiyifang in treating endometriosis

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of Neiyifang (NYF) in treating endometriosis and to explore its therapeutic mechanism through observing its influence on plasma β-endorphin (β-EP) in different menstrual stages and levels of prostaglandins (PGs) in menstruation.Methods:NYF was administered to 104 patients with endometriosis one dose daily with 3 successive menstrual cycles as one therapeutic course. Peripheral blood β-EP level in follicular, luteal and menstrual stages, as well as PGF2α, PGE2, thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-PGFl α levels in menstrual stage were detected by RIA, and controlled with those in 15 healthy persons.Results: (1) The total effective rate of NYF was 81.3% and it showed significant effect in improving patients’ clinical symptoms and physical signs; (2) In menstrual stage, the levels of β-EP, 6-keto-PGFα/ TXB2 were lower(P <0.05) and levels of PGF2α, PGE2, TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1α were higher (P< 0. 05) in patients than those in control, and the higher the level of PGE2, the severer the menalgia, (3) NYF could increase levels of β-EP, 6-keto-PGF1α, and reduce levels of PGF2α, PGE2α in menstrual stage of patients (all P<0.05).Conclusion: (1) NYF has good clinical effect in treating endometriosis; (2) Patients’ symptom of menalgia is closely related with the excessive high levels of PGF2α and PGE2, PGI2/TXA2 ratio disturbance, and excessive low level of β-EP; (3) NYF could significantly decrease the PGE2, PGF1α levels, increase the 6-keto-PGF1α/TXB2 ratio and the level of β-EP, so as to alleviate the menalgia in patients with endometriosis.

Adenovirus-mediated PTEN gene transfection suppresses growth and promotes chemosensitivity of endometrial carcinoma

Abstract Objective To determine the potential of sustained transgene expression by intratumoral injection of Ad-PTEN in the nude mouse model of endometrial carcinoma. Methods and Results We constructed recombinant adenovirus carrying the wild-type PTEN gene (Ad-PTEN). RL95-2 cells, an endometrial carcinoma cell line lacking PTEN function, was infected with Ad-PTEN and showed increased expression of PTEN and chemosensitivity to doxorubicin, decreased proliferation rate, and elevated apoptosis and G0/G1 arrest. Furthermore, the tumorigenicity of these cells was also completely suppressed. These results indicated that gene therapy with Ad-PTEN could significantly inhibit the endometrial carcinoma xenografts growth in nude mice by intratumoral injection, induce apoptosis of tumor cells, and reduce expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Immunohistochemistry analysis also showed that the expression of progesterone receptors (PR) in Ad-PTEN treated tumor cells were induced, while P-glycoproteins (P-gp) and estrogen receptors (ER) decreased significantly. Conclusion PTEN may play an important role in the development of endometrial carcinoma. Our findings cast new lights for treatment of endometrial carcinoma.