OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy and safety of Guihuang Formula (GHF) in treating patients with type III prostatitis and Chinese medicine syndrome of dampness-heat and blood stasis. METHODS: Sixty-six patients diagnosed with type III prostatitis with dampness-heat and blood stasis syndrome were randomly divided into the treatment group (GHF) and the control group (tamsulosin) using a random number table, with 33 cases each group. The treatment group received GHF twice a day, and the control group received tamsulosin 0.2 mg once daily before bedtime. Patients in both groups received treatment for 6 weeks and was followed up for 2 weeks. The outcomes included the National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) score, Chinese Medicine Symptoms Score (CMSS), expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: After treatment, the NIH-CPSI total score and domain scores of pain discomfort, urination and quality of life decreased significantly from the baseline in both groups (P<0.05). The CMSS score decreased in both groups (P<0.05). The WBC count decreased and lecithin body count increased in both groups (P<0.05). GHF showed a more obvious advantage in reducing the pain discomfort and quality of life domain scores of NIH-CPSI, reducing the CMSS score, increasing the improvement rate of the WBC and lecithin body counts, compared with the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in decreasing urination domain score of NIH-CPSI between two groups (P>0.05). In addition, no serious AEs were observed. CONCLUSION GHF is effective in treating type III prostatitis patients with dampness-heat and blood stasis syndrome without serious AEs. (Registration No. ChiCTR1900026966).
Chronic Disease ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Lecithins ; Male ; Pain ; Prostatitis/drug therapy* ; Quality of Life ; Tamsulosin

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's dementia is the most common dementia. However, recently, choline alfoscerate is prescribed for treating Alzheimer's dementia, although it is not a treatment for this disease. PURPOSE: To analyze the prescription patterns of choline alfoscerate as a dementia treatment for patients with Alzheimer's disease and to analyze, as well as the factors affecting choline alfoscerate prescription. METHOD: The 2016 HIRA-NPS data was used in this study. The code of Alzheimer's dementia is F00 in the ICD-10 disease classification code. We analyzed the demographic, clinical, and regional characteristics associated with donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, memantine, and choline alfoscerate prescriptions. All statistical and data analyse were conducted by SAS 9.4 and Excel. RESULTS: For patients with Alzheimer's disease, choline alfoscerate was the second most prescribed after donepezil. Analysis results showed that choline alfoscerate was more likely to be prescribed to men than to women, and more likely to be prescribed by local health centers than by medical institutions. Moreover, choline alfoscerate was highly likely to be prescribed at neurosurgical departments, among medical departments. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that choline alfoscerate was prescribed considerably for patients with Alzheimer's dementia. Further studies valuating its clinical validity should be performed to clarify whether choline alfoscerate prescription is appropriate for treating Alzheimer's dementia.
Alzheimer Disease ; Choline ; Classification ; Dementia ; Female ; Galantamine ; Glycerylphosphorylcholine ; Humans ; International Classification of Diseases ; Male ; Memantine ; Methods ; Prescriptions ; Rivastigmine

Dementia is a clinical syndrome characterized by a cluster of symptoms and signs that manifest as difficulties in cognitive functions such as memory, psychological and psychiatric changes, and impairments in activities of daily living. As a result of worldwide trends of population aging, dementia has had a huge impact on public health in almost all countries. Disease modification therapies for dementia have not yet been developed. However, pharmacotherapy is essential in patients with dementia to combat delays in their cognitive and functional decline. In this article, we review the current pharmacotherapy for dementia. Three acetylcholinesterase inhibitors—donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine—and memantine are the only medications that have been approved for the treatment of dementia. We present the indications, dose recommendations, side effects, and criteria for National Health Insurance coverage in Korea of these medications for dementia treatment. Although the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in Korea has not approved any medications for managing the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, some antipsychotics and antidepressants have been studied and used clinically for those purposes. Clinicians may consider vitamin E, Ginkgo biloba extract, choline alfoscerate, or omega-3 fatty acids as additional treatment options. Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, estrogen hormone therapy, and statins are not generally recommended for dementia treatment. We believe that our findings will aid clinicians in the treatment of patients with cognitive decline.
Acetylcholinesterase ; Activities of Daily Living ; Aging ; Antidepressive Agents ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; Cognition ; Dementia ; Drug Therapy ; Estrogens ; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 ; Ginkgo biloba ; Glycerylphosphorylcholine ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Korea ; Memantine ; Memory ; National Health Programs ; Public Health ; Rivastigmine ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

Delayed carbon monoxide (CO) encephalopathy patients can show cognitive impairment, aphasia, affective and personality changes and behavioral symptoms. The prognosis of them is sometimes poor or irreversible. We present a case of 61-year-old woman who visited us at 56 days after CO intoxication and showed moderate to severe cognitive impairment and behavioral problems. We prescribed the donepezil (5 mg/d), memantine (5 mg/d), choline alfoscerate (800 mg/d) and ziprasidone (20 mg/d), based on previous case reports and performed the cognitive rehabilitation. After 30 days treatment in hospital, she showed dramatic improvement in cognitive functions and behavioral problems. This case suggests that adequate pharmacological and cognitive treatment could improve the moderate to severe symptoms of delayed CO encephalopathy even about 2 months later after CO intoxication.
Aphasia ; Behavioral Symptoms ; Brain Diseases* ; Carbon Monoxide* ; Carbon* ; Cognition ; Cognition Disorders ; Female ; Glycerylphosphorylcholine ; Humans ; Memantine ; Middle Aged ; Problem Behavior ; Prognosis ; Rehabilitation

Epidemiological data clearly show the existence of a strong inverse correlation between plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations and the incidence of coronary heart disease. This relation is explained by a number of atheroprotective properties of HDL, first of all the ability to promote macrophage cholesterol transport. HDL are highly heterogeneous and are continuously remodeled in plasma thanks to the action of a number of proteins and enzymes. Among them, lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) plays a crucial role, being the only enzyme able to esterify cholesterol within lipoproteins. LCAT is synthetized by the liver and it has been thought to play a major role in reverse cholesterol transport and in atheroprotection. However, data from animal studies, as well as human studies, have shown contradictory results. Increased LCAT concentrations are associated with increased HDL-C levels but not necessarily with atheroprotection. On the other side, decreased LCAT concentration and activity are associated with decreased HDL-C levels but not with increased atherosclerosis. These contradictory results confirm that HDL-C levels per se do not represent the functionality of the HDL system.
Animals ; Atherosclerosis* ; Cholesterol* ; Coronary Disease ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lecithins* ; Lipoproteins* ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; Liver ; Macrophages ; Plasma ; Sterol O-Acyltransferase*

Gallstone disease represents one of the most common gastroenterological disorders. Several risk factors for cholesterol gallstone formation in the general population have been identified. There is a strongly increased risk of gallstone disease during prolonged fasting, rapid weight loss, total parenteral nutrition, and somatostatin analogue treatment. Cholecystectomy is the most frequently recommended conventional treatment for symptomatic gallstones. In asymptomatic and symptomatic gallstone carriers, treatment with the hydrophilic bile salt ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been claimed to reduce the risk of biliary colic and gallstone complications such as acute cholecystitis and acute pancreatitis. However, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials are lacking. There is evidence that dietary factors influence the risk of developing cholesterol gallstones. Dietary factors that may increase risk include cholesterol, saturated fat, trans-fatty acids, refined sugar, and possibly legumes. Obesity is also a risk factor for gallstones. Dietary factors that may prevent the development of gallstones include polyunsaturated fat, monounsaturated fat, fiber, and caffeine. Consuming a vegetarian diet is also associated with decreased risk. In addition, identification and avoidance of allergenic foods frequently relieves symptoms of gallbladder disease, although it does not dissolve gallstones. Nutritional supplements that might help prevent gallstones include vitamin C, soy lecithin, and iron. In addition, a mixture of plant terpenes (Rowachol(R)) has been used with some success to dissolve radiolucent gallstones.
Ascorbic Acid ; Bile ; Caffeine ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Cholesterol ; Colic ; Diet* ; Diet, Vegetarian ; Fabaceae ; Fasting ; Gallbladder Diseases ; Gallstones* ; Iron ; Lecithins ; Obesity ; Pancreatitis ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; Plants ; Risk Factors ; Somatostatin ; Terpenes ; Trans Fatty Acids ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (pLCAT) and erythrocyte membrane Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase ase (emNaKATPs) activity have a correlation in breast cancer. This study compared these parameters at time points before and after treatment with radiotherapy. METHODS: The levels of pLCAT and emNaKATPs were assessed in 30 patients with breast carcinoma and 20 control subjects. While emNaKATPs was measured with spectrophotometric method, pLCAT levels was measured using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: pLCAT levels, both before and after radiotherapy, were found to be decreased in breast cancer patients than in the controls groups (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Also, pLCAT levels after radiotherapy were found to be decreased in breast cancer patients than the pLCAT levels before radiotherapy (p<0.001). The emNaKATPs activity were higher in the control group than in the breast cancer patients before/after radiotherapy (RT) (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). At the same time, emNaKATPs activity before RT was higher in the breast cancer patients than emNaKATPs activity after RT (p<0.001). There was a significant correlation between pLCAT and emNaKATPs activity in breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy (r=0.63, p<0.001), but no correlation between in breast cancer patients before RT and control group (r=0.023, p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study demonstrated that decreased pLCAT and emNaKATPs activity levels in breast cancer patients after/before RT than control group. In addition, decreased emNaKATPs activity in breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy may be due to decreased pLCAT concentrations and RT beam. In our opinion, altered activities of pLCAT and emNaKATPs are linked to the treatment effect of radiotherapy. These data may clarify the development of cell membrane dysfunction and lipid metabolism in breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cell Membrane ; Cholesterol ; Erythrocyte Membrane ; Humans ; Lecithins ; Lipid Metabolism ; Plasma ; Sterol O-Acyltransferase

PURPOSE: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the factors regulating angiogenesis. For angiogenesis, the local concentration of VEGF has to be maintained. Because of its short half-life, VEGF has been conjugated with nanoparticles. Some nanoparticles, such as poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)) or polyethylenimine (PEI) are commonly used in this field, but have weak points such as faster release than expected and cell toxicity. We investigated the effect of core/shell nanoparticles including lecithin lipid cores in the ischemic hindlimb model. METHODS: Mice were anesthetized and a region of the common femoral artery and vein was ligated and excised. Hindlimb ischemic mice (n=28) were divided randomly into four groups: Control group (normal saline, n=7), mouse VEGF group (mVEGF, n=7), nanoparticle including mVEGF group (N-mVEGF, n=7), and nanoparticle/hydrogel mouse VEGF group (NH-mVEGF, n=7). The drug was injected postoperatively into the thigh muscle of the ischemic limb. Perfusion, capillary number and H&E stain were assessed 28 d after treatment. RESULTS: The capillary number increased in N-mVEGF and mVEGF group (P=0.026). Improvements of ischemic limb perfusion were inferior in N-mVEGF, NH-mVEGF groups (P=0.006) compared to other groups. Mice received N-mVEGF, NH-mVEGF treatment showed significant inflammation in the H&E staining. CONCLUSION: Sustained VEGF delivery via core/shell nanoparticle with lecithin core did not show improved perfusion rate despite an increase in capillary number. Furthermore, vacuolization and induction of inflammation requiring a different composition of nanoparticle should be tested.
Animals ; Capillaries ; Extremities ; Femoral Artery ; Half-Life ; Hindlimb ; Inflammation ; Lecithins ; Mice ; Muscles ; Nanoparticles ; Perfusion ; Polyethyleneimine ; Thigh ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Veins

To prepare self-assemble nobiletin proliposomes and study its pharmacokinetic behavior in rats after ig administration, and nobiletin suspension was used as control, self-assemble nobiletin proliposomes were prepared by a new proliposome preparation method, their physicochemical properties including encapsulation efficiency, particle size and stability of formed liposome were determined. Plasma concentration of nobiletin was determined by HPLC taking nimodipine as internal standard. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by Kinetica 4.4 software. The encapsulation efficiency of nobiletin liposomes was more than 80%, with an average particle size of 212.1 nm and very good stability. Compared to nobiletin suspension, nobiletin liposomes possessed higher absorptive rate and longer MRT, and the relative bioavailability was 264.3% in rats. It could be concluded that self-assemble nobiletin proliposome was a simple and feasible preparation, and showed greater absorption compared with nobiletin suspension.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Availability ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Stability ; Flavones ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Lecithins ; chemistry ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; Male ; Particle Size ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of lecithin, mono-glyceride and mono-diglyceride on apparent total tract and ileal nutrient digestibilities in nursery pigs. Twenty [(Landrace x Yorkshire) x Duroc] barrows were surgically fitted with simple T-cannulas. Dietary treatments included 1) CON (basal diet: soy oil), 2) LO (lecithin 0.5%), 3) MO (mono-glyceride 0.5%), 4) MG (mono-glyceride 1.0%) and 5) MDG (mono-diglyceride 1.0%). In apparent total tract nutrient digestibility, dry matter (DM) and gross energy (GE) digestibilities of MDG treatments were higher than LO and MG treatments (p<0.05). In nitrogen (N) digestibility, LO treatment showed the lowest compared to others (p<0.05). The digestibility of crude fat was higher in MDG treatment than CON and LO treatments (p<0.05). In apparent ileal nutrient digestibility, DM digestibility was higher in MDG treatment than LO and MG treatments (p<0.05). GE digestibility was higher in MDG treatment than LO, MO and MG treatments (p<0.05). N digestibility of MDG treatment was greater than LO treatment (p<0.05). Also, the digestibility of crude fat was higher in MDG treatment than CON and LO treatments (p<0.05). In conclusion, mono-diglyceride can increase apparent total tract nutrient and apparent ileal nutrient digestibilities of DM, GE, N and crude fat.
Lecithins ; Nitrogen ; Nurseries ; Swine