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Introduction A two armed clinical before and after study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of a proprietary Chinese herbal formula, PSP-1, to improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients and pre-diabetic subjects over a 3 month period. Methods Sixty-two subjects were recruited and divided into a Diabetic Group (DG) and a Pre-diabetic Group (PG). All subjects were prescribed PSP-1 or placebo and followed-up for 3 months. Blood and spot urine samples were collected at baseline, 1st month and 3rd month for each subject for laboratory tests. Results For the DG group, PSP-1 subjects showed significant decrease in blood HbA1c level between baseline and 3 months post PSP-1 (p < 0.005), but there was no significant change in fasting plasma glucose concentration. PSP-1 subjects in the PG group showed a significant decrease in both fasting glucose (p < 0.05) and HbA1c (p = 0.001) after 3-months’ treatment. Combining PG and DG groups, a significant decrease in HbA1c was observed for PSP subjects between baseline and 3 months post PSP. Comparison with those on placebo demonstrated no significant changes in either HbA1c level or glucose concentrations. Conclusions It appeared that 3 months supplementation of PSP-1 formulation was able to reduce blood glucose concentrations in pre-diabetic subjects and lowered blood HbA1c levels for both pre-diabetic and diabetic subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Monoclonal antibody against TNF-α such as infliximab has shown clinical efficacy in controlling the inflammatory signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the detailed immunotherapeutic mechanism is not fully understood. We investigated 19 patients with active RA who were treated with infliximab (3 mg/kg) at weeks 0, 2, 6 and 14. Peripheral blood was obtained from the patients at weeks 0 and 14 and cultured with mitogens phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The concentrations of cytokines and soluble adhesion molecules (sICAM-1, sICAM-3, sE-selectin, sP-selectin, sVCAM-1 and sPECAM-1) in supernatant fluids or plasma were measured by flow cytometry and ELISA. After infliximab treatment, the absolute and percentage increases in release of inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and potent neutrophil chemoattractant IL-8 upon PHA and LPS activation were significantly decreased when compared to those of before treatment (all P <0.01). The increased releases of IL-6, IL-1β, IL-18 and IL-12 upon mitogen activation were similar before and after infliximab treatment (all P >0.05). Plasma concentrations of these cytokines and soluble adhesion molecules did not differ significantly before and after infliximab treatment. Our study suggests that the reduction in synovial inflammation may be due to the decreased production of TNF-α and IL-8, and hence the number of neutrophils and other pro-inflammatory leukocytes infiltrating into the inflamed sites. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Eosinophils are principal effector cells of inflammation in allergic asthma, characterized by their infiltration and accumulation at inflammatory sites mediated by chemokine eotaxin, and interaction with adhesion molecules expressed on bronchial epithelial cells. In this study, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and/or the interaction of eosinophils and bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells were found to up-regulate the cell surface expression of adhesion molecules intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and vascular adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 on BEAS-2B cells, and ICAM-1 and leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) on eosinophils. Interaction of eosinophils and BEAS-2B cells could induce the release of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and activate both p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB activities in BEAS-2B cells but only NF-κB activity in eosinophils. Both proteasome inhibitor MG-132 and selective p38 MAPK inhibitor SB 203580 could significantly decrease the expression of ICAM-1 on BEAS-2B cells and CD18 on eosinophils upon co-culture with or without TNF-α treatment. However, the expression of VCAM-1 on BEAS-2B cells was only up-regulated by TNF-α-induced NF-κB activity. The interaction of eosinophils and bronchial epithelial cells therefore plays an important role in the up-regulation of adhesion molecules on eosinophils and epithelial cells via differential intracellular signalling pathways during allergic inflammation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. Western medications such as glucocorticoids are effective therapeutic agents but may be associated with side effects. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for treating allergic diseases with observable clinical benefits. The present study investigated whether a novel TCM concoction, the wheeze-relief formula (WRF), possesses in vitro anti-allergic activities. We measured the effects of WRF on the release of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) by human eosinophils using fluorescence enzyme immunoassay, expression of chemokine receptor CCR3 and adhesion molecule CD49d on eosinophils using immunophenotyping, cytokine induction from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using cytometric bead array (CBA), and the gene expression of cytokines and cytokine receptors using cDNA expression array. Results demonstrated that WRF dose-dependently and significantly: (1) suppressed ECP release from eosinophils activated with granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and platelet activating factor (PAF); (2) inhibited the expression of CCR3 and CD49d on PAF-activated eosinophils; and (3) attenuated the production of tumor necrosis factor α and gene expression of IL-2 receptor chain α (CD25) on house dust mite (Der p 1) activated PBMC. The above results suggest a possible anti-allergic role of WRF and provide a biochemical basis for further clinical trial on human subjects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Immunostimulating polysaccharides extracted from the Chinese medicinal plant Yun Zhi (Coriolus versicolor) have been found to enhance various immunological functions, and Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) to show beneficial effects on the circulatory system. In the present clinical study, we investigated if regular consumption of Yun Zhi and Danshen capsules could improve cellular immunity in healthy subjects. One hundred healthy subjects were recruited to take Yun Zhi (50 mg/kg body weight) plus Danshen (20 mg/kg body weight) or placebo capsules daily for four successive months and, after a 2-month wash-out period, crossover to take placebo or Yun Zhi plus Danshen capsules for four successive months. Flow cytometry was used to assess the lymphocyte subtypes and concentration of T helper (Th) cell cytokines in culture supernatant. Gene expression of cytokines and cytokine receptors of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was analyzed by cDNA expression array. Results showed that regular oral consumption of Yun Zhi–Danshen capsules could significantly elevate PBMC gene expression of interleukin (IL)-2 receptor, increase the percentage and absolute counts of T helper cell and ratio of CD4+ (T helper)/CD8+ (T suppressor and cytotoxic T) cell, and significantly enhance the ex vivo production of typical Th1 cytokine interferon-γ from PBMC activated by phytohemagglutinin and lipopolysaccharide (all p<0.005). Such consumption had no adverse effects on liver and renal functions, and the biochemical bone profile. Therefore, regular consumption of Yun Zhi and Danshen could be beneficial for immunological functions by potential enhancement of cell-mediated immunity in healthy subjects without any adverse effects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]