Poria cocos, which refers to the dry sclerotium of Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf, is used as a traditional Chi-nese medicine (TCM). This review summarized the chemical constituents of P. cocos, their bioactivity and the extrac-tion technology of polysaccharides and triterpenes in order to provide in-depth study on the development and appli-cation of P. c oc os .

Purpose To evaluate the relative bioavailability of a domestic sustained-release metformin tablets (SRM) compared against an immediate-release metformin tablets (IRM) using a multiple-dose,two-way crossover design after a single-dose study. Methods Eighteen healthy adult male volunteers,aged 18 to 22 years (mean,20 years),weighing 55 to 76 kg (mean,64 kg) and with height ranging from 166 to 180 cm (mean,173 cm),and blood glucose levels from 4.0 to 5.9 mmol/L (mean,4.3 mmol/L) participated in the study.The concentrations of metformin in plasma were determined using a ion-pair liquid chromatographic method. Results In single-dose study,the mean residence time (MRT),Tmax,and apparent elimination half-life (T1/2) for SRM were significantly longer and Cmax significantly lower than the corresponding values determined for IRM.The similar results were also demonstrated in multiple-dose study.The mean values of the relative bioavaibility of SRM compared with IRM in two administration ways were (85.95±0.97)% and (86.44±7.88)%,respectively.The single-dose and multiple-dose administration of the 90% confidence interval for the ratio of the logarithmic transformed AUC values of SRM over those of IRM were calculated to lie between 0.83 and 0.88,0.83 and 0.89,respectively,being within the acceptable bioequivalence limit of 0.80～1.25. Conclusion SRM was of the characteristic of sustained-release pharmacokinetics.The relative bioavailability for single dosing was similar to that of multiple dosing,and both of the administration ways demonstrated bioequivalence in absorption between SRM and IRM.

This study examined the cytotoxicity of a new implant material modified by microarc oxidation technique. Cells on different surfaces of the implant were evaluated 2, 4 and 6 days after treatment. The results showed that cell attachment, cell morphology, and cell proliferation were influenced by the different surface treatments, and a significant increase in the osteoblast cell activity was observed on the porous MAO-Ti coating. Our results suggest that the porous MAO-Ti surface has a better biocompatibility and electrochemical performance than pure titanium surface.

This study examined the cytotoxicity of a new implant material modified by microarc oxidation technique. Cells on different surfaces of the implant were evaluated 2, 4 and 6 days after treatment. The results showed that cell attachment, cell morphology, and cell proliferation were influenced by the different surface treatments, and a significant increase in the osteoblast cell activity was observed on the porous MAO-Ti coating. Our results suggest that the porous MAO-Ti surface has a better biocompatibility and electrochemical performance than pure titanium surface.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects among aconite cake-separated moxibustion, moxibustion and acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) with kidney-marrow deficiency and to explore the feasibility of cake-separated moxibustion as a home remedy solution.

METHODSNinety patients were randomized into an aconite cake-separated moxibustion group, a moxibustion group and an acupuncture group, 30 cases in each one. The acupoints in the three groups were Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Dubi (ST 35) in the affected side, and bilateral Xuehai (SP 10), Liangqiu (ST 34), Heding (EX-LE 2), Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36). All the treatment was given for 3 sessions, 10 days as a session with 2 to 3 days between 2 sessions, and once a day. The first 2 courses of aconite cake-separated moxibustion was applied in the hospital and the other 1 session was used at home guided by officer physician. Symptoms and physical signs classification score and life quality scores were recorded before and after treatment and 6 months after treatment, including walking pain, knee pain in stoop and squat, knee discomfort in stair activity and daily discomfort. The effects were evaluated.

RESULTSThe symptoms and physical signs classification scores in the three groups after treatment and at follow-up were lower than those before treatment (<0.01,<0.05), and the scores in the aconite cake-separated moxibustion group were better than those in the moxibustion group and acupuncture group (all<0.01). The scores of walking pain, knee pain in stoop and squat, knee discomfort in stair activity and daily discomfort were lower in the three groups after treatment and 6 months after treatment (<0.01,<0.05), and the scores of walking pain and daily discomfort in the aconite cake-separated moxibustion group were lower than those in the moxibustion group and acupuncture group (<0.01,<0.05). After treatments, the cured and markedly effective rate in the aconite cake-separated moxibustion group was 63.3% (19/30); that in the moxibustion group was 50.0% (15/30) and one in the acupuncture group was 43.3% (13/30). The cured and markedly effective rate of aconite cake-separated moxibustion group was more promising than those in the other two groups (both<0.05). At follow-up, the cured and markedly effective rate in the aconite cake-separated moxibustion group was 56.7% (17/30), which was better than 36.7% (11/30) in the moxibustion group and 40.0% (12/30) in the acupuncture group (both<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAconite cake-separated moxibustion can be used for KOA patients with kidney-marrow deficiency, which can improve patients' life quality and is better than moxibustion and acupuncture. The method is feasible as a home remedy solution.

BACKGROUND: The clinical importance of hypokalemia is likely underrecognized in Chinese dialysis patients, and whether its clinical effect was mediated by serum albumin is not fully elucidated. This study aimed to explore the association between serum potassium and mortality in dialysis patients of a Chinese nationwide multicenter cohort, taking albumin as a consideration. METHODS: This was a prospective nation-wide multicenter cohort study. Restricted cubic splines were used to test the linearity of serum potassium and relationships with all-cause (AC) and cardiovascular (CV) mortality and a subsequent two-line piecewise linear model was fitted to approach the nadir. A mediation analysis was performed to examine relations of albumin to potassium and mortalities. RESULTS: A total of 10,027 patients were included, of whom 6605 were peritoneal dialysis and 3422 were hemodialysis patients. In the overall population, the mean age was 51.7 ± 14.8 years, 55.3%(5546/10,027) were male, and the median dialysis vintage was 13.60 (4.70, 39.70) months. Baseline serum potassium was 4.30 ± 0.88 mmol/L. After a median follow-up period of 26.87 (14.77, 41.50) months, a U-shape was found between potassium and mortality, and a marked increase in risk at lower potassium but a moderate elevation in risk at higher potassium were observed. The nadir for AC mortality risk was estimated from piecewise linear models to be a potassium concentration of 4.0 mmol/L. Interestingly, the significance of the association between potassium and mortality was attenuated when albumin was introduced into the extended adjusted model. A subsequent significant mediation by albumin for potassium and AC and CV mortalities were found ( P < 0.001 for both), indicating that hypokalemia led to higher mortality mediated by low serum albumin, which was a surrogate of poor nutritional status and inflammation. CONCLUSIONS Associations between potassium and mortalities were U-shaped in the overall population. The nadir for AC mortality risk was at a potassium of 4.0 mmol/L. Serum albumin mediated the association between potassium and AC and CV mortalities.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; East Asian People ; Hypokalemia/etiology* ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/mortality* ; Potassium/blood* ; Prospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis ; Serum Albumin/analysis*