Objective Numerous Chinese patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) have benefited from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) from two decades ago. However, to date there is no systematic evaluation of this remedy for IgAN. Methods We conducted a meta-analysis of all eligible randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to assess the effect of TwHF on IgAN for the first time. In August 2009 a systematic search was performed among eight electronic databases. Review Manager (RevMan) version 5.0 was used. Results (i) Four eligible RCTs with 188 participants were included; (ii) The validities of included RCTs were generally acceptable; (iii) TwHF brought about a favorable increase in complete remission (CR) (RR 1.53, 95%CI 1.09 to 2.16, I2 =12%) and total remission (TR) (RR 1.27, 95%CI 1.08 to 1.48, I 2 =0%) compared with non-TwHF treatment; and this result was further confirmed by intention-to-treat analysis; (iv) Exploiting subgroup meta-analysis, TwHF led to significantly greater improvements of IgAN with non-nephrotic proteinuria with regard to the increase of CR (RR 1.80, 95%CI 1.21 to 2.68, I2 =0%) and TR (RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.57, I 2 =0%), and decrease of urinary proteinuria excretion (UPE) (MD -467.41 mg/24h, 95%CI -633.99 to -300.82, I 2 =0%). Meanwhile, the renal function was well preserved (MD -2.66 μmol/L, 95%CI -9.26 to 3.94, I 2 =0%). Conclusion Although the results of this meta-analysis should be interpreted with caution and warrant further investigation, TwHF was certainly a valuable and promising immunosuppressive remedy for IgAN, which was in accordance with the accruing evidence from numerous large clinical and experimental studies.

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 15 (15), 6181-6186 IntroductionOvarian cancer is associated with the highest mortality rate among gynaecological malignancies (Hennessy et al., 2009). There are over 205, 000 new cases and 125, 000 deaths annually from ovarian cancer (Jemal et al., 2011). Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women and the most common gynecological cancer in the USA (Jemal et al., 2009). Multiple lines of evidence support a central role of hormones in the etiology of endometrial and ovarian cancers (Lundin et al., 2012). Polymorphisms within genes responsible for estrogen catabolism could alter cellular levels of genotoxic 4-hydroxylated catechol estrogens and antiangiogenic 2-methoxyestradiol, thus influencing risk of developing endometrial and ovarian cancers.Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) catalyzes catechol estrogens to form methyl conjugates, a process that detoxifies the catechol estrogens and prevent them from forming depurinating adducts. In addition, the intermediate products of catechol estrogen metabolism,