Lagerstroemia speciosa Pers,also known as banaba,belongs to Lythraceae and contains ursolic acid,corosolic ac?id,asiatic acid and 30 other kinds of effective components.It has multiple pharmacological activities,including hypoglycemic,hypo?lipidemic,anti-oxidant and anti-viral activities,and is mainly used for the treatment of obesity and diabetes in folk medcine.This re?view summarizes the recent advances in chemical composition and pharmacological effects of L.speciosa Pers,so as to provide the theo?retical basis and reference for its further research and application.

Objective To investigate the correlation between asymmetric dimethylarginine (AD-MA) and endothelial dysfunction in patients with uremia.Methods Uremic patients who did not receive hemodialysis were defined as A group (n =40) ; uremic patients who had received hemodialysis were divided into B group (n =45) ;healthy people were defined as C group (n =20) ;and chronic kidney disease (stage 2 ～ 4) patients were defined as D group (n =20).The diameter of intima-media thickness,and endothelium-dependent or independent dilation (EDD or EID) of radial artery in right forearm were detected with diasonography.The levels of ADMA were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.Results Compared to C group,the levels of ADMA in A,B and D groups were significantly increased [C:(0.78 ±0.19) μmol/L,A:(1.51 ±0.16) μ mol/L,B:(1.13 ±0.14) μmol/L,D:(0.92 ±0.11) μmol/L; P ＜0.05].Compared to A group,the levels of ADMA were significantly decreased in B group (P ＜0.05).EDD and EID were decreased significantly in A,B and D groups compared to C group [EDD:C:(13.52±1.73)％ vs A:(7.32 ±0.54)％,B:(9.02 ±0.86)％,D:(10.13 ±1.25)％,P ＜0.05;EID:C:(14.45±1.85)％ vsA:(10.37 ±1.51)％,B:(9.54±1.39)％,D:(11.17±1.56)％,P ＜0.05].EDD in B group was significantly lower than A group (P ＜0.05).In group A,a negative correlation was found between EDD and the level of ADMA (r =-0.81,P =0.020).Conclusions ADMA level was significantly increased in uremic patients.A close correlation existed between ADMA and endothelial dysfunction of radial artery.

·AIM:To present a case of late onset bilateral keratectasis after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for myopia with rigid gas-permeable contact lenses with a brief review of literature on this subject.·METHODS:A 27-year-old woman underwent bilateral uneventful LASIK for moderate myopia. Preoperative cycloplegic refractions were -5.50/-0.50×50° right eye (OD) and - 4.50/-1.00×15° left eye (OS).Corneal pachymetry was 526μm OD and 541μm OS, Preoperative corneal topography was normal and did not reveal any keratoconus or forme fruste keratoconus.Following the creation of flaps with 160μm plates,ablations of 102μm OD and 86μm OS were performed,estimated to leave residual stromal beds of 264μm OD and 295μm OS.·RESULTS:Twenty-nine months postoperatively,the patient developed bilateral inferior keratectasia of -12.50/-4.00×160° OD and -6.00/- 4.25×125° OS.Visual acuity was reduced in both eyes;the central cornea had steepened; and pachymetry showed central corneal thinning.Keratectasia was diagnosed,and rigid contact lenses were fitted.Three years later,the patient achieved satisfactory visual acuity and all-day lens wear with minimal complications.·CONCLUSION:Late keratectasia may follow LASIK for low to moderate myopia despite a thorough preoperative work-up.Rigid contact lenses can offer a safe,reversible option for improving visual acuity in such patients by delaying or avoiding the need for intracorneal ring segments implanting or penetrating keratoplasty.

This study is to report the establishment of an UPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of plasma concentration of UA carried in self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) and its pharmacokinetics in rats. It was used for determination and analysis when serum with internal standard was extracted from C18 solid-phase column. Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (100 mm x 2.1 mm, 1.7 microm) was used for separation. The mobile phase was acetonitrile -0.1% ammonia with gradient elution at the flow rate of 0.2 mL x min(-1). The column temperature was 40 degrees C and the detection wave length was 210 nm. It was detected by negative ion using electrospray ionization source (ESI) and scanned by multiple reaction ion monitoring (MRM) mode. The liner relationship of UA was very good in the range of 1.19-3 815.00 ng x mL(-1) (r = 0.999 0). Recovery rate of different concentrations were 87.42%-89.95%. The precision of inter-day and intra-day were less than 11%. The method developed in our study was proved to be sensitive, rapid and simple. It is suitable for the pharmacokinetic study of UA-SMEDDS in rats.
Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Emulsions ; chemistry ; Rats ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Triterpenes ; blood ; pharmacokinetics

Objective To explore the protection of valsartan combined with simvastatin on kidney in early diabetic nephropathy rats. Methods Diabetic nephropathy rats model were induced by streptozocin (STZ) ,the experimental rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control (group C), diabetic nephropathy (group D) ,diabetes treated with valsartan (group X) ,diabetes treated with simvastatin (group Z) ,and diabetes treated with combined valsartan and simvastatin ( group L). Blood glucose (BG), HbA1c, blood cholesterol ( TC), trigalloylglycerol ( TG ), blood ureanitrogen ( BUN ), serum creatinine (SCr) , urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) were measured, and the podocyte ultrastructure was observed by transmission electronic microscopy. Results The levels of BG, HbA1c,TC,TG and UAER in group D increased significantly compared togroup C(BG:[20.3 ±3.2]mmol/L vs [6.1 -±0. 4]mmol/L;HbA1c:[7.18 ±0.47]% vs [3.37 ±0. 15]% ;TC: [2. 69 ±0. 35] mmol/L vs [1.28 ±0. 24] mmol/L;TG: [3.09 ±0. 37] mmol/L vs [1.18 ±0. 25]mmol/L) (P ＜ 0. 05 ). Creatinine clearance rates (Ccr) in group D ( [0. 89 ± 0. 19] ml/min ) decreased significantly compared to group C( [1.27 ±0. 33] ml/min) ,as well as group X,Z and L( Ps ＜ 0. 05 ). UAER in group D was significantly higher than that in group C ( [19. 87 ±3. 85] μg/24 h vs [3. 67 ± 1.01] μg/24 h) (P ＜ 0. 05 ), as well as group X, Z and L ( P ＜ 0. 05 ), and the improvement in group L was particularly significant ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). The projections of podocyte in group D severely syncretized, there were slightly improvement in group X, Z and L compared to group D, and the improvement in group L was remarkable. Conclusion The treatment with valsartan, simvastatin and their combination will effectively protect the kidney in early diabetic nephropathy rats,and the effect of using the combination therapy is much better.

OBJECTIVETo study the plasma concentration-time curve, pharmacokinetic parameters and bioavilability of oxymatrine-phospholipid complex and to compare with oxymatrine in rats.

METHODRats were given oxymatrine-phospholipid 100 mg x kg(-1). Blood samples were collected at different times after oral administration. The internal standard was cimetidine. Protein in plasma was precipitated with merhanol and centrifuged at high speed. The supernatant was directly injected and assayed by CE method. The running buffer was 0.04 mol x L(-1) Tris-10 mmol x L(-1) sodium phosphate monobasic-40% isopropanol pH to 7.6 with phosphoric acid. The wavelength of detection was 205 nm.

RESULTThe AUC of oxymatrine and oxymatrine-phospholipid complex were 4.52 mg x mL(-1) x h(-1) and 6.21 mg x mL(-1) x h(-1), respectively. The oxymatrine-phospholipid bioavailability enhanced 1.4 times.

CONCLUSIONIt is concluded that after oral administration of oxymatrine-phospholipid complex in rats the bioavailability of oxymatrine is increased greatly. This is mainly due to an obvious improvement of the lipophilic property of oxymatrine-phospholipid complex compared with oxymatrine material and an increase in gastrointestinal absorption.

Administration, Oral ; Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Availability ; Male ; Phospholipids ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quinolizines ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sophora ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo prepare a zinc porphyrinated polyimide nanofibrous membrane for rapid detection of trace amount of ammonia.

METHODSZinc porphyrin chromophore was copolymerized into polyimide backbones and the according nanofibrous membrane was prepared by electrospinning technique. Ammonia detection was achieved by recording the color and spectral changes of the membrane before and after exposing to the target gas. The sensitivity, selectivity and detection limit of prepared membrane were further studied.

RESULTSThe obtained nanofibrous membrane preserved typical photophysical properties of zinc porphyrin chromophores. When exposed to ammonia, a dual chromo and spectrum responses of the nanofibrous membrane were observed. The binding affinity constant and the detection limit of zinc porphyrinated polyimide nanofibrous membrane calculated from surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis and UV-vis were 3.33 X10³ L/mol and 3.13 mg/m³, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe membrane prepared in this study exhibits good sensitivity, selectivity and reproducibility towards ammonia detection.

Ammonia ; analysis ; Imides ; Membranes, Artificial ; Metalloporphyrins ; Nanostructures ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Surface Plasmon Resonance ; methods

OBJECTIVETo acquire the optimal intervention methods of acupuncture on primary depressive disorder (PDD) through high quality clinical evidences of acupuncture for PDD and analytic hierarchy process.

METHODSDatabases of domestic and international medical literatures were retrieved with computer. And high-quality clinical evidences on treatment of PDD with acupuncture were collected. Jadad scale evaluation was adopted to estimate the quality of evidences. RevMan 5.1 software was applied for Meta analysis and statistical appraisal on effect size. Analytic hierarchy process was utilized on acquired clinical evidences to construct the model and matrix to screen the optimal interevention method.

RESULTSFourteen researches were included. And the result of Meta analysis showed that no statistical differences could be found on clinical control rate, marked effectiveness rate, effective rate and the overall clinical effective rate between acupuncture and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs). The combination of acupuncture and SSRIs could improve the clinical control rate and the overall clinical effective rate. And a 6-week intervention of electro-acupuncture combined with SSRIs was considered as the best intervention for the best overall effect.

CONCLUSIONBased on the present clinical evidences, a 6-week intervention of acupuncture combined with SSRIs is the best intervention on mild or moderate PDD, which can obviously enhance the clinical control rate and the overall clinical effective rate.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Antidepressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Depressive Disorder ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Humans ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the epidemiological characters and risk factors of renal calculi in Shenzhen for future intervention.

METHODSRisk factors of renal calculi were analyzed by factor analysis and linear structural relation model, followed by fitting and evaluating the model.

RESULTSThe prevalence rates of renal calculi were 8.00% and 5.12% in males and females. The results of LISEREL showed that the total effect of age and sex affecting the development of renal calculi was 0.4614, with directly effect 0.3600 and indirect 0.1014. The direct effects of blood uric acid, blood calcium and body mass index, blood cholesterol, blood sugar were 0.3400 and 0.3200 respectively. The indirect effect of education, exercise and dietary habit affected the development of renal calculi through index of biochemistry and obesity, were -0.0416 and 0.1882.

CONCLUSIONSex, age, obesity and high blood cholesterol, high blood sugar, high blood uric acid, high blood calcium were the direct influencing factors to renal calculi. At the same time, education, exercise and dietary habit were also associated with the disease.

Age Factors ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Body Constitution ; physiology ; Calcium ; blood ; China ; epidemiology ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Exercise ; physiology ; Feeding Behavior ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi ; epidemiology ; Linear Models ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Social Class ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Uric Acid ; blood

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of the heparin-binding protein (HBP),procalcitonin (PCT),C-reactive protein (CRP),white blood cell (WBC) in respiratory tract bacterial infection.Methods 66 respiratory tract bacterial infection patients,37 respiratory tract non-bacterial infection patients and 39 control group in the Third Xiangya Hospital from October 2015 to March 2017 was selected as objects in this prospective study.The levels of HBP,PCT and CRP in blood of the objects were tested with ELESA,immunofluorescence assay,immunoturbidimetry respectively;WBC counts were taken by Sysmex XE-5000 blood analyzer.The difference among the three groups was analyzed by Student's t test,one-way ANOVA or Wilcoxon test.Receiver operating characteristic curve was utilized to analyze the diagnostic value of HBP,PCT,CRP and WBC in respiratory tract bacterial infection.Results The plasma level of HBP were 36.30 (7.78-89.36) ng/ml,5.57 (4.37-8.23) ng/ml,2.84 (1.53-6.51) ng/ml in respiratory tract bacterial infection group,respiratory tract non-bacterial infection group and control group respectively.The socre of PCT were 0.08 (0.04-0.83) ng/ml,0.09 (0.04-0.30) ng/ml,0.04 (0.03-0.08) ng/ml.The socre of CRP were 56.20 (19.33-76.23) mg/L,34.40 (2.15-83.95) mg/L,(2.20 ± 0.99) mg/L.The socre of WBC count were (10.59 ±4.58) × 109/L,8.40 (5.80-11.88) × 109/L,(6.14± 1.31) × 109/L.There were statistically significant differences in HBP scores between respiratory tract bacterial infection group and respiratory tract non-bacterial infection group or control group (Z =-4.828,P ＜0.001;Z =-5.685,P ＜ 0.001).There were no statistically significant differences in PCT,CRP and WBC scores between respiratory tract bacterial infection group and non-bacterial infection group (F =0.045,P ＞ 0.05;F =0.100,P ＞ 0.05;F =2.417,P ＞ 0.05),but significant differences between respiratory tract bacterial infection group and control group (Z =-2.881,P ＜ 0.05;Z =-6.595,P ＜ 0.001;t =6.499,P ＜ 0.001).The area under curve (AUC) of HBP,PCT,CRP and WBC diagnosing respiratory tract bacterial infection was 0.89,0.69,0.95 and 0.85 respectively.The AUC of HBP differential diagnosising was 0.80.Conclusion HBP can be used as an efficient supplementary indicator for respiratory tract bacterial infection,the differential diagnostic value is superior to PCT,CRP and WBC.