This study was aimed to compare the expectorant and antitussive actions ofPlatycodon grandilforum from different production areas in order to provide references for its cultivation and production. The antitussive activities ofP. grandilforum water extract from different areas were investigated through testing the cough times induced by ammonium hydroxide in mice. And the expectorant activities were studied by testing the amount of tracheal phenolsulfonphthalein excretion in mice. The results showed that the minimum effective dose ofP. grandiflorum fromChifeng of Inner Mongolia was 0.2 g·kg-1. Under this dosage,P. grandiflorum fromChifeng of Inner Mongolia can significantly reduce the cough frequency in mice (P < 0.01), and significantly prolong the cough incubation period in mice (P < 0.01).P. grandiflorum fromSichuan province,Shangzhou ofShaanxi province andChongqing can significantly decrease the cough frequency in mice (P < 0.05). P. grandiflorum from Sichuan province,Shangzhou ofShaanxi province andChifeng of Inner Mongolia can significantly increase the phenolsulfonphthalein excretion quantity in mice (P < 0.05). It was concluded thatP. grandilforum was effective for relieving cough and removing sputum. The effect ofP. grandilforum fromChifeng of Inner Mongolia was obviously stronger than that from other areas.

Objective:To use polylactic-co-glycolic acid(PLGA) as vector material to prepare the compound total flavonoids of Rhizoma Drynariae(TFRD) and total flavonoids of Chrysanthemum(TFC) sustained release microcapsule TF-PLGA microcapsules,and to investigate the the best preparation technique of TF-PLGA microcapsules and their sustained release characteristics in vitro.Methods:The TF-PLGA microcapsules were prepared with TFRD,TFC,and PLGA by emulsifying-solvent evaporation technique under certain conditions.With the encapsulation efficiency(EE) as the evaluation indicator,the optimal formulation was verified by single factor experiment and orthogonal design;the general morphology,the particle size and distribution of the microcapsules were observed by light microscope(LM) and scanning electron microscope(SEM);the cumulative drug release rate of TF-PLGA microcapsules was detected by constant temperature commotion method in vitro and the release curves of the TF-PLGA were drawn.Results:The optimal prescription was as follows:the concentration of PLGA was 140 g·L-1,oil phase volume was 1.4 mL,emulsifying speed was 900 r·min-1,emulsifying time was 5 min,the average EE was(83.89±2.30)%,and the average drug loading rate(DL) was(5.90±0.07)%.The LM and SEM resluts showed that the TF-PLGA microcapsules presented as round ball,the average particle size was(44.34±14.68)μm,and the distribution was relatively narrow.The drug release in vitro results showed that the initial drug release rate(24 h)was about 40%,and the cumulative drug release rate was over 90% after 50 d.Conclusion:The TF-PLGA sustained release microcapslue has better drug-loaded and sustained-release effects with simple preparation technique and better repeatability.

Objective To investigate the role of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) on eryptosis.Methods Erythrocytes isolated from mice were put under the treatment of TNF-α at the dose of 1ng/ml for 6,12,24,48 and 72 h,or at different concentrations of 0.1,1 and 10 ng/ml for 24 h.The forward scatter (FSC),phosphatidylserine (PS)exposure and ceramide formation were determined by flow cytometry.Results Compared to control group,the decrease of FSC ((81.5 ± 1.02)％ vs (87.6 ± 0.55)％,P＜0.05),the increasment of membrane PS exposure level and ceramide content ((5.5±1.07)％ vs (2.7±0.17)％,(2.1±0.23)％ vs (0.7±0.26)％,P＜0.01) were observed in erythrocyte under the treatment of TNF-α for 24 h with more obvious tendency over time.Conclusions TNF-α can trigger cell shrinkage,and promote PS exposure and ceramide formation on the membrane of erythrocyte.

Objective To investigate the morphologic change and phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure of erythrocytes in sepsis patients.Methods 30 healthy volunteers (control group)and 30 sepsis patients were enrolled in this study and were collected venous sampling.Monitoring included Wright's staining blood smear test,erythrocyte aggregation index and the ratio of PS exposure of erythrocytes.A flow-cytometric assay based on FITC-Annexin V was used to measure the PS exposure of erythrocytes.Results The morphological changes of red blood cells included acanthocyte,lachrymiform,rouleaux,spherocyte in sepsis patients,and the peripheral blood erythrocyte aggregation and aggregation index were significantly higher than that of the healthy control group (P＜0.05).The percentage of PS exposure of erythrocytes in sepsis patients were significantly higher than that of healthy volunteers (P＜0.001).Conclusion The PS exposure of erythrocytes were significantly higher in sepsis patients,and the morphology of red blood cells is obvious abnormal.

Objective:To investigate the effect of Chinese traditional medicine-Shuanghuangbu combined with Xipayi Mouth Rinse on the periodontal indexes of the peri-implantitis patients,and to detect the curative effect of Shuanghuangbu combined with Xipayi Mouth Rinse in the treatment of peri-implantitis.Methods: A total of 40 patients diagnosed as peri-implantitis were randomly divided into control group and Chinese traditional medicine group (n=20).All of the patients received supragingival scaling and subgingival scaling,and then the peri-implant pocket of the patients in Chinese traditional medicine group were washed with Xipayi Mouth Rinse,while the fine probe slided slowly along the inner wall of peri-implant pocket into the bottom and retained the Shuanghuangbu,and retreated gently and made the medicine overflow the gingival margin.The patients in control group were given 3% hydrogen peroxide and 0.9% sodium chloride injection washed by turns.The indexes of covering modified plaque index (mPLI),probing pocket depth (PPD),modified sulcular bleeding index (mSBI)of the patients in two groups at baseline and after treatment were detected;Whatman# 1 was applied to aspirate the peri-implant sulcus fluid (PISF)which were weighed at baseline and after treatment,and the level of interleukin-1β (IL-1β)in PISF was analyzed by ELISA method.Results:No differences were observed in age,sex,periodontal indexes, weights of PISF and IL-1βlevels of the patients in two groups before treatment (P >0.05).Compared with before treatment,the indexes including PPD,mSBI,mPLI,weight of PISF and IL-1βlevel in PISF of the patients in two groups were decreased after treatment (P < 0.05).After treatment,the differences in mSBI,mPLI,weight of PISF and IL-1β level in PISF of the patients between control group and Chinese traditional medicine group were significant (P <0.05).Compared with control group,the PPD level of the patients in Chinese traditional medicine group was decreased,but the difference was not significant (P >0.05).Conclusion:The curative effect of Chinese traditional medicine-Shuanghuangbu combined with Xipayi Mouth Rinse is obsious,and the treatment can improve the periodontal status and reduce the level of IL-1βin PISF.

Among various genera of free-living amoebae prevalent in nature, some members are identified as causative agents of human encephalitis, in which Naegleria fowleri followed by Acanthamoeba spp. and Balamuthia mandrillaris have been successively discovered. As the three dominant genera responsible for infections, Acanthamoeba and Balamuthia work as opportunistic pathogens of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals, whereas Naegleria induces primary amoebic meningoencephalitis mostly in healthy children and young adults as a more violent and deadly disease. Due to the lack of typical symptoms and laboratory findings, all these amoebic encephalitic diseases are difficult to diagnose. Considering that subsequent therapies are also affected, all these brain infections cause significant mortality worldwide, with more than 90% of the cases being fatal. Along with global warming and population explosion, expanding areas of human and amoebae activity in some regions lead to increased contact, resulting in more serious infections and drawing increased public attention. In this review, we summarize the present information of these pathogenic free-living amoebae, including their phylogeny, classification, biology, and ecology. The mechanisms of pathogenesis, immunology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, epidemiology, diagnosis, and therapies are also discussed.
Amebiasis/epidemiology* ; Balamuthia mandrillaris ; Brain ; Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections/epidemiology* ; Child ; Humans ; Naegleria fowleri

Objective:To explore the therapeutic characteristics of population with gout achieving treat-to-target (T2T) indicators through real-world research and evaluate their safety.Methods:A total of 3 287 patients diagnosed with gout by rheumatologists in 21 first-class tertiary hospitals in 10 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China from January 2015 to December 2021 were included in this polycentric cross-sectional study. The database included patients′ general information, disease characteristics, and clinical application of traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment measures. SPSS and Excel software were used for data analysis. Frequency analysis, cluster analysis, and factor analysis were used to summarize the characteristics and rules of treatment measures for patients with gout who achieved the target after treatment. The occurrence of adverse events (AE) was recorded during treatment.Results:After treatment, 691 visits (7%) achieved the serum urate (SUA) target, and the most frequent use of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) was febuxostat, followed by benzbromarone. The most common treatment options were following: GroupⅠ: traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoction-TCM external treatment-physical exercise-proprietary Chinese medicine; GroupⅡ: ferulic acid-nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); Group Ⅲ: allopurinol-sodium bicarbonate-benzbromarone; Group Ⅳ: glucocorticoid-colchicine; Group Ⅴ: febuxostat. A total of 5 898 visits (60%) chieved manifestations of joint pain VAS scores target, and the most frequently used drug to control joint symptoms was NSAIDs. The frequency of use of drugs to control joint symptoms were 2 118 times (usage rate reached 35.9%), while the frequency of ULT were 2 504 times (usage rate reached 42.5%), which was higher than the joint symptom control drug. The most common treatment options were following: Group Ⅰ: proprietary Chinese medicine-TCM decoction-TCM external treatment-physical exercise; Group Ⅱ: NSAIDs-colchicine hormones; Group Ⅲ: allopurinol, Group Ⅳ: benzbromarone; Group Ⅴ: febuxostat. A total of 59 adverse events occurred during treatment.Conclusion:The proportions of gout patients who reach target serum urate level & good control of joint symptoms are both very low, and ULT and anti-inflammatory prescription patterns are very different from international guidelines, so it is necessary to strengthen the standardized management of gout patients. At the same time, life intervention measures account for a certain proportion of the treatment plans for the T2T population, and further exploration is needed.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of Spirometra mansoni infections in hosts in Jiangsu Province, so as to provide the scientific basis for the management of sparganosis mansoni. Methods From 2018 to 2019, nine counties (cities, districts) were randomly selected from Jiangsu Province as the survey sites, and 100 healthy individuals were randomly selected to perform the serological test of S. mansoni infections and the detection of S. mansoni eggs. The procercoids were detected in the intermediate host Cyclops, and the S. mansoni eggs were identified in the stool samples of the definitive hosts cats and dogs. Results The prevalence of S. mansoni human infections was 0 (0/900) in the 9 survey sites of Jiangsu Province, and the sero-prevalence of the specific IgG antibody against S. mansoni was 1.22% (11/900). The positive rate of procercoids was 0.33% (3/900) in Cyclops. In addition, the S. mansoni egg-positive rate was 1.48% (2/135) in cats and dogs. Conclusions Sparganosis mansoni is prevalent in Jiangsu Province. Health education pertaining to the damages of sparganosis mansoni and the route of S. mansoni infections should be improved.