AIM To prepare diosgenin nanosuspensions.METHODS The nanosuspensions prepared by media milling method were solidificated by freeze drying method.With particle size and polydispersity index (PDI) as evaluation indices,stabilizer kind,ratio of diosgenin to stabilizer,ratio of preliminary nanosuspension volume to grinding bead amount,milling time,lyoprotectant kind and its amount as influencing factors,single factor test was applied to screening preparation and solidification processes.The morphology of nanosuspensions was observed,then the particle sizes and polydispersity indices of nanosuspensions and freeze-dried powder were determined.RESULTS The optimal conditions were determined to be 6:1 for ratio of diosgenin to Pluronic F127 (stabilizer Ⅰ),50:1 for ratio of diogenin to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS,stabilizer Ⅱ),1:4 for ratio of preliminary nanosuspension volume to grinding bead amount,120 min for milling time,and 8％ PEG-6000 and 2％ mannitol as lyoprotectants.The average particle size and polydispersity index of rod-like or flaky nanosuspensions were (348.1 ±14.2) nm and 0.244 ± 0.059,respectively,which were lower than those of freeze-dried powder.At room temperature,the particle sizes of nanosuspensions and freeze-dried powder remained stable within 35 d and 3 months,respectively.CONCLUSION The physical stability of diosgenin freeze-dried powder is superior to that of its nanosuspensions,which can be used after being reconstituted.

AIM To optimize the preparation of two inclusion compounds of erinacine A and to evaluate their stabilities.METHODS With feed ratio,milling time and milling speed as influencing factors,inclusion rate and yield as evaluation indices,the preparation was optimized by orthogonal test.The obtained inclusion compounds were characterized by infrared spectrophotometry and TLC,whose stabilities at high temperature (60 ℃),strong light (3 000 1x) and high humidity [(90 ±5)％] were investigated.RESULTS The optimal β-cyclodextrin inclusion conditions were determined to be 5 ∶ 1 for feed ratio,60 min for milling time,and 300 r/min for milling speed,the inclusion rate and yield were 20.66％ and 88.21％,respectively.The optimal hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion conditions were determined to be 25 ∶ 1 for feed ratio,90 min for milling time,and 400 r/min for milling speed,the inclusion rate and yield were 69.25％ and 96.31％,respectively.The inclusion of Hericium erinaceus 80％ ethanol extract was physical process without composition change.At high temperature and strong light,two inclusion compounds' appearance showed no obvious change with little loss of erinacine A,which was just the contrary at high humidity.The inclusion effect of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion compound was better than that of β-cyclodextrin inclusion compound.CONCLUSION Both β-cyclodextrin and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion compounds of erinacine A exhibit good heat stability and light stability,but deliquescence can easily happen to them.

Objective To assess the feasibility of using PET molecular imaging to evaluate the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine FuZhiSan (FZS) on the model of aging Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats. Methods Twenty aged AD rats (Sparague-Dawley rats,male) were randomly divided into FZS treated group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). Another 10 healthy adult rats were as blank controls. Morris water maze record system was used for cognitive function assessment. Before and after FZS treatment 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and 11 C-2- [4'-(methylamino) phenyl] benzothiazol-6-ol ( PIB )PET imaging was undertaken. After post-treatment imaging procedures the brain tissues of all animals were taken for histochemical study,such as staining with HE,congo red,amyloid β (Aβ) immunofluorescence,5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) immunofluorescence and NeuN immunofluorescence. Paired t-test was performed with SPSS 13.0 software for the data analysis. Results The cognitive dysfunction of aging AD rats was improved after FZS treatment. The escape latency in FZS treated group was significantly shorter than that of control group ((32.5 ±10.8) s vs (102.6±8.8) s,t =15.7987,P=0. 0001). Diffuse neuronal loss and Aβ deposition were detected in the hippocampus and cortex in the aged AD rats. The imaging data showed that brain glucose metabolism was amended in FZS treated group while the abatement of amyloid deposition was not significant. Immunofluorescence results indicated that the neuronal proliferation was more remarkable in FZS treated group. Conclusions It may be feasible to use PET imaging as a method to evaluate the therapeutic effect in AD rats. FZS may ameliorate memory dysfunction of aged AD rats. Its mechanism may be partly contributed to the enhancement of the neuronal proliferation and survival.

Objective To investigate the immediate oral feedback after objective structure clinical examination (OSCE) for postgraduate year 1 & 2 surgery residents (PGY1 & 2).Methods 37 PGY1 and 38 PGY2 wereevaluated.The examination was composed of 6 stationsand limited to15 minutes per station.Each station was evaluated by centesimal system score.Immediate oral feedback was given in the last2 minutes.A questionnaire was given to each resident and examiner at the end of OSCE.All data analyses were conducted using SPSS version 22.0,repeated measures ANOVA and LSD test were used,and correlations were tested by the Pearson correlation test.Results The average scores for PGY1 & 2 were (68.97 ± 5.40) and (68.35 ± 5.00),the between-and inter-round differences in average score were not statistically significant.There was no significant correlation about theevaluation of the residents' performance during OSCE between the examiners and the residents.The necessity and effectiveness of immediate oral feedback were confirmed by both the examiners and the residents.Conclusions Immediate oral feedback isfeasible with limited impact on OSCE score,but the plan should be furtherrefined.Follow-up study isnecessary to identify the long-term effect on the clinical competency.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects on thyroid function in patients of Hashimoto's thyroiditis treated with aconite cake-separated moxibustion and option the better therapeutic program.

METHODSEighty-five cases were randomly divided into a moxibustion group (42 cases) and a western medication group (43 cases). The moxibustion group was treated by aconite cake-separated moxibustion therapy with acupoints of two groups [(1) Danzhong (CV 17), Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4); (2) Dazhui (GV 14), Shenshu (BL 23), Mingmen (GV 4)] alternatively and oral administration of 25 microg Euthyrox everyday. The western medication group was oral administration of 25 microg Euthyrox everyday. Indices of thyroid function before and after treatment and clinical effect were compared between two groups.

RESULTSThe clinical total effective rate and effective rate of thyroid function were 25.0% (10/40), 87.5% (35/40) in moxibustion group respectively, 7.53% (3/40) and 57.5% (23/40) in western medication group, with significant differences between two groups (both P < 0.05). Content of serum free thyroxine index (FT4) increased significantly in the moxibustion group after treatment (P < 0.01); content of serum supersensitive thyrotropin (S-TSH) in the moxibustion group was lower than that of western medication group, and contents of serum FT4 and free triiodothyronine (FT3) were higher than those of western medication group, but with no significant differences (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAconite cake-separated moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Mingmen (GV 4) combined with oral administration of Euthyrox can improve clinical symptoms and thyroid function in patients of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which is better than simple oral administration of Euthyrox.

Aconitum ; chemistry ; Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hashimoto Disease ; blood ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Thyroid Gland ; physiopathology ; secretion ; Thyroid Hormones ; blood ; Thyrotropin ; blood ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Astrocytoma ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Brain Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Retrospective Studies ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo define the effects of Astragalus membranaceus on the atrial dynamics and ANP secretion in the perfused beating rabbit atria.

METHODThe experiments have been done in isolated perfused beating rabbit atria. ANP was measured by radioimmunoassay in the atrial perfusate in real-time base.

RESULTA. membranaceus (2.0, 2.5, 3.0 g L(-1)) could increase atria stroke volume from (694.70 +/- 0.01) microL g(-1) (P<0.05) to (1,003.00 +/- 8.80) microL g(-1) (P<0.001); (1,120.00 +/- 17.71) microL g(-1) and (1,195.00 +/- 8.21) microL g(-1) (P<0.001), respectively, and its could difference increase atrial pulse pressure from (0.82 +/- 0.01) kPa to (0.86 +/- 0.01) kPa (P<0.01); (0.96 +/- 0.01) kPa (P<0.001) and (1.02 +/- 0.01) kPa (P<0.001), respectively; A. membranaceus obviously increased rabbit atrial dynamics with dose-dependent manner. Simultaneously, A. membranaceus inhibited ANP secretion. Nifedipine (1.0 micromol L(-1)), a L-type Ca2+ channel inhibitor, and KB-R 7943 (10.0 micromol L(-1)), an inhibitor of reversed Na+ -Ca2+ exchanger, blocked the effects of A. membranaceus-induced augmentation of atrial dynamics but failed to modulation the inhibition of A. membranaceus on ANP secretion.

CONCLUSIONA. membranaceus increases the atrial dynamics via Na+ -Ca2+ exchanger and L-type Ca2+ channel and negatively modulates ANP secretion in beating rabbit atria.

Animals ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; metabolism ; secretion ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Female ; Heart Atria ; drug effects ; metabolism ; secretion ; Male ; Myocardial Contraction ; drug effects ; Nifedipine ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Radioimmunoassay ; Thiourea ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

In this study, a self-designed powder needleless injection system was compared with subcutaneous injection using a needle and syringe to deliver tetanus toxoid (TT) into mice to elicit immunity. First of all, factors influencing the prepartion of TT into powder by being absorbed on aluminium hydroxide were investigated and the micromeritic characters of Al (OH)3-TT powder were observed with optical microscope and laser particle analyzer. The results showed that salt concentration and absorption time had an enhancive effect on drug loading, but the pH value and temperature did not influence the absorption reaction obviously. The absorption reaction was optimized with sodium chloride concentration of 0.4 mol x L(-1) and lasting for 10 min. The average diameter of Al(OH)3-TT powder prepared with conditions optimized above was (60.6 +/- 4.4) microm. The immunization effect of TT was determined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of the concentration of IgG antibody elicited by TT. With delivery of Al(OH)3-TT (of 30 microg TT) by powder needleless injection to mice, the IgG antibody concentration were (6.19 +/- 0.52) and (10.70 +/- 0.78) U x L(-1) after immunization of 4 and 8 weeks, respectively, while the values were (4.25 +/- 0.58) and (7.48 +/- 0.57) U x L(-1) by subcutaneous injection (of 20 microg TT) using a needle and syringe. The results suggested that the self-designed powder needleless injection of Al(OH)3-TT was comparable to subcutaneous injection with a good immunity.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; administration & dosage ; Aluminum Hydroxide ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Drug Compounding ; Female ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Injections, Jet ; Male ; Mice ; Particle Size ; Powders ; Tetanus Toxoid ; administration & dosage ; immunology

ObjectiveSLC2A9 is a novel identified urate transporter that affects serum uric acid levels. The present study is aimed to investigate rs7442295 polymorphism in intron 6 of SLC2A9 in a population of Chinese male gout or hypemricaemia subjects. MethodsA total of 268 gout patients and 288 healthy male volunteers were included. Blood pressure, body mass index(BMI), serum uric acid, glucose, lipid,urea and creatine were detected. DNA was purified from peripheral blood and the rs7442295 polymorphism was evaluated using high resolution melting ( HRM ) analysis and direct sequencing. Data were analyzed with t test or chi-square test. Results A/A and A/G genotypes were unambiguously distinguished with HRM technology. The occurrence of the homozygous type (G/G) was completely absent among the study population.The prevalence of the A/A and A/G genotype was 96.2％ and 3.8％ respectively. However, no significant differences of genotype frequencies were found in gout patients and normal subjects(x2=0.003, P=0.82; x2=0.003, P=1.00). But the serum uric acid levels in individuals with the A/G genotype[(293±100) μmol/L]were significantly lower than those with the A/A genotype[(392±133) μmol/L](t=2.426, P＜0.01 ). The A/G genotype frequency was significantly higher in the low-uric acid group than in the high uric-acid group (x2=6.279, P=0.01 ). Genotyping based on HRM was fully concordant with sequencing. Conclusion The polymorphism rs7442295 in SLC2A9 may be a genetic marker to assess risk of hyperuricemia among Chinese male Hart population. HRM is a simple, fast, reliable and close-tube technology for genotyping.

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