The fatigue-sleep disturbance symptom cluster is prevalent among patients with advanced cancer. Baduanjin is a promising cost-effective exercise for symptom management among frail patients.This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a tailored and simplified sitting Baduanjin (SSBDJ) program in alleviating the fatigue-sleep disturbance symptom cluster and improving quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced cancer. A multi-centre, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 210 participants (intervention: n = 105; control: n = 105). The intervention group were required to participate in a four-movement SSBDJ program for 12 weeks, with 15–20 min for each session, while the control group received usual care. The primary outcome was the fatigue-sleep disturbance symptom cluster, and secondary outcomes included fatigue, sleep disturbance, and QOL. Outcomes were assessed at baseline (T0), and at weeks 4 (T1), 8 (T2), 12 (T3) during the program, and 4 weeks post-intervention (T4). The average age of participants was 57.02 years (± 10.92), and 35.2
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remain challenging to treat because of treatment-related toxicity, drug resistance, and disease relapse. Alpha-mangostin, a xanthone derivative from Garcinia mangostana, has demonstrated anticancer and pro-apoptotic activities in several experimental models. This study investigated the cytotoxic and apoptosis-associated effects of alpha-mangostin in acute leukemic cells and its interaction with daunorubicin. Cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assay in NB-4 and MOLT-4 cell lines and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Drug interactions with daunorubicin were evaluated using the Chou-Talalay combination index method. Apoptosis was assessed by Annexin V/PI flow cytometry in leukemic cell lines and patient-derived bone marrow leukemic cells. Predicted protein associations were explored using STITCH. Expression of PARP1, caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 was evaluated by RT-qPCR, and PARP1 and caspase-3 cleavage by western blotting. Statistical analyses were performed using unpaired two-tailed Student’s t-tests or one-way ANOVA followed by Sidak’s multiple-comparisons test. Alpha-mangostin showed dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity, with IC50 values of 37.21 and 35.61 µM at 24 h and 18.76 and 19.67 µM at 48 h in NB-4 and MOLT-4 cells, respectively. At 48 h, selectivity indices were 1.77 and 1.69, respectively. At the IC50 combination, combination index values were 0.89–0.92 in NB-4 and 0.81 in MOLT-4, whereas values at the half-IC50 combination were > 1. Alpha-mangostin increased total apoptosis to 43.17 ± 2.45
Hyperreactive onchocerciasis (HO) is characterized by a severe skin inflammation. We previously showed that hydro-ethanolic crude extracts of Aframomum melegueta K.Schum. (AM) and Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A.Rich. (XA) possess anti-helminthic activities and exhibit Th2 and Th17 anti-inflammatory responses on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HO individuals. However, the specific bioactive fraction of the plant extracts that carries this activity remain unknown. This study aims to assess the anti-inflammatory potential of bioactive fractions-derived from the crude hydro-ethanolic extracts (HEE) of these plants. The crude HEE underwent bioguided fractionation between ether fraction (EF), dichloromethane (DCMF), and aqueous fraction (AF), yielding three fractions per plant. PBMCs from HO individuals were co-cultured with DCMF, AF, and EF of XA and AM at a final concentration of 200 µg/mL, as well as 0.005
Evidence synthesis research methodologies rigorously and methodically scrutinize scientific literature with the intent to analyze and summarize. The purpose of this study was to engage United States (U.S.) chiropractic profession stakeholders to identify evidence synthesis research priorities to inform an organizational research agenda for Clinical Compass. A multi-phased approach was conducted from April through December 2025: (1) Open-ended survey to gather topics within a “Population”, “Intervention”, “Comparator”, and “Outcomes” (PICO) framework; (2) e-Delphi process to rate importance of PICO; (3) Rating of PICO topic priorities with consensus set at ≥ 80
Cigarette smoke induces persistent pulmonary inflammation and oxidative stress. Shenling Baizhu San (SLBZS) has shown anti-inflammatory activity, but its complex composition limits standardization. This study evaluated a SLBZS-derived defined-component formula (DCF) in rats during ongoing cigarette smoke exposure. Seventy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to seven groups (n = 10/group): control, model, dexamethasone, commercial SLBZS, and low-, medium-, and high-dose DCF groups. DCF was administered at approximately 2.75, 5.49, and 10.98 mg/kg/day, respectively. Except for controls, rats underwent cigarette smoke exposure for 120 min/day for 8 weeks, with drug administration initiated concurrently. Lung tissue levels of IL-1 β , IL-6, TNF- α , CXCL1, CCL2, 8-iso-PGF2 α , MDA, and SOD were measured. Lung histopathology and p-p38 and p-p53 protein levels were also assessed. Cigarette smoke exposure increased IL-1 β , IL-6, TNF-α, CXCL1, CCL2, and 8-iso-PGF2 α levels, reduced SOD activity, and increased p-p38 and p-p53 protein levels compared with controls ( p < 0.05 ). Medium- and high-dose DCF reduced these inflammatory and oxidative injury-related changes and improved histopathological abnormalities ( p < 0.05 ). MDA levels did not differ significantly among groups. Concurrent DCF administration attenuated cigarette smoke-induced lung inflammation and oxidative injury during continued smoke exposure. The accompanying reductions in p-p38 and p-p53 suggest possible involvement of related stress-response pathways, although causal pathway regulation was not established.
