Due to their biological and physiological importance, flavonoids received considerable attention in the literature. This review discusses the widely used analytical method i.e. capillary electrophoresis (CE) including the chiral flavonoids separation and the hyphenation of CE and MS. Techniques used for enhancement of sensitivity such as stacking, sweeping, isotachophoresis etc. were also discussed.

Objective To explore the effect of calories supplement or protein supplement on the skeletal muscle in the elderly.Methods The ambulatory elderly (≥65 yrs) with reduced handgrip strength and/or gait speed were enrolled,who did not suffer from any neurological or arthritic disease impairing mobility,or any severe pulmonary or heart disease,or chronic kidney failure.The subjects were recruited with their written informed consent from clinical practices in five hospitals in China.The subjects were randomized to control group(n=26),nutrition supplementation (Nutren 400 kcal/ d) group (n=27) or protein supplementation(Biopro Protein 20 g/d) group (n=21).All the subjects were given healthy lifestyle education.The physical performances i.e.gait speed and handgrip strength were measured at baseline and at 2 and 3 months of followed up.Lean soft tissue mass (muscle mass) was measured by BIA at baseline and at 3 months of follow-up.Results A total of 74 subjects completed the trial,including 26 in controls,27 in Nutren,and 21 in protein group.At the end of the trial,the changes from baseline in appendicular muscle mass were-490.0 g (95％CI:-801.9--245.5,P=0.001)in control group,90.0 g (95％CI:-346.8--442.0,P=0.241) in Nutren group,and 290.0 g (95％CI:-746.6-20.1,P=0.007) in protein group.There were no significant difference in above indices among the three groups (P=0.051),except between Nutren group and control group (P=0.020).The handgrip strength and gait speed in the three groups were improved obviously as compared with those at baseline,but not statistically significant between different groups.Conclusions Caloric supplementation group may have greater effect in maintaining muscle mass than the protein supplement group in the elderly.Both the caloric supplement and the protein supplement produce no additional effect on muscular function as compared with healthy lifestyle education.

Objective To investigate the correlation between FA value,ADC value and limb muscle strength score measured by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with ischemic stroke,aims to to analyze the clinical value of magnetic resonance imaging in limb muscle strength.Methods Twenty patients with acute cerebral infarction and treated from June 2015 to Junly 2016 were recruited from This hospital,and the simplified Fugl-Meyer motor function score was observed for all patients within 3 days.Tensor imaging examination was conducted to observe the distribution of nerve fiber bundles,FA value,ADC value changes.Results The FA value and ADC value of the infarct side were significantly different from those of the contralateral side(t=8.70,t=-18.70,P＜0.05);There were significant differences in FA value and ADC value between the infarcted ventricle hind limbs and the contralateral side of the infarcted ventricle(t=-5.16,t=-5.08,P＜0.05).The FA value of the infarcted ventral hind limbs had positive correlation with the simplified Fugl-Meyer motor function score(R=0.863,P=0.013).Conclusion FA value and ADC value of acute infarct and internal hindlimb are lower than FA value and ADC value of contralateral normal white matter.The FA value of internal capsule hind limbs is closely related to the simplified Fugl-Meyer motor function score.

Through random sampling,a total of 300 residents of Beijing Changping Ming Tombs Town were selected for home-based questionnaires.The smoking rate of interviewed residents was 21.4％ (53/248).The rate in men (42/125,33.6％ ) was bigber than that in women ( 11/123,8.9％ ).The rate in those with higher education was lower than that in those with lower educational level ( x2 =27.12,P ＜ 0.05 ).The population awareness of tobacco hazards was 80.6％ (200/248).Awareness in smokers was lower than the average awareness of ex-smokers and nonsmokers ( x2 =5.07,P ＜ 0.05 ).The higher the education level,the higher the awareness of tobacco health hazards ( x2 ≈ 19.72,P ＜ 0.05 ).There were differences in awareness among different age groups (x2 =13.37,P ＜ 0.05 ).

OBJECTIVETo compare the pharmacokinetic characteristics of brucine following intravenous administration of liposomes, containing total alkaloids from seed of Strychnos nux-vomica, to rats with different phospholipids composition.

METHODLiposomes containing the total alkaloids were prepared by the method of ammonium sulfate transmembrane gradients and stealth liposome technique. The contents of total alkaloids and brucine in liposomes were determined and compared after free drug being removed. After intravenous administration of total alkaloids solution or liposomes with different composition, plasma samples were drawn at predetermined time points and the concentrations of brucine were determined by a validated method of HPLC. Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed by 3P97 program.

RESULTThe ratios of brucine to total alkaloids in liposomes hardly varied with phospholipids composition. Compared with SPC liposome, AUC of brucine was increased 13.3-fold and apparent volume of distribution was decreased to only 3.6% following intravenous administration of HSPC liposome. In addition, besides that AUC of brucine was slightly increased, most pharmacokinetic parameters were not significantly changed after administration of the novel liposome compared with those of SPC liposome.

CONCLUSIONPhospholipids composition has a significant influence on the pharmacokinetics of brucine after intravenous administration of liposomes containing total alkaloids from seed of S. nux-vomica.

Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Liposomes ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Strychnine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacokinetics ; Strychnos nux-vomica ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo prepare the novel liposomes composed of hydrogenated soybean phosphatidylcholine (HSPC) and soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC) containing the total alkaloids from seed of Strychnos nux-vomica, and to compare the pharmaceutical properties of the novel liposomes with the corresponding HSPC or SPC liposomes.

METHODThe total alkaloids were extracted from seeds of S. nux-vomica. and further purified. Novel liposomes containing the total alkaloids were prepared by ammonium sulfate transmembrane gradients and stealth liposome technique. Pharmaceutical properties such as encapsulation efficiency (EE), size, zeta potential and drug release profile of novel liposomes and corresponding HSPC or SPC liposomes were compared intensively.

RESULTFor novel liposomes, HSPC-SPC (1:3) was the best ratio which has the highest EE. At the drug/lipid weight ratio of 1:6, the EE of novel, SPC and HSPC liposomes were (73.6 +/- 2.9)%, (62.9 +/- 1.8)% and (54.7 +/- 1.0)% (n = 3), respectively. Compared with the corresponding SPC or HSPC liposomes, the size of novel liposomes was obviously decreased but the zeta potential was not different. The results of drug release showed that the novel liposomes were more stable than the SPC liposomes in the presence of rat plasma

CONCLUSIONTaken together, high encapsulation efficiency improved stability in blood, and relative low price of phospholipids of the novel liposomes, indicate that the novel liposomes may act as promising carriers for anti-tumor traditional Chinese medicine.

Alkaloids ; chemistry ; Animals ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; Rats ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Strychnos nux-vomica ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo compare the pharmaceutical properties and the anti-tumor activities of three kinds of stealth liposomes prepared with different phospholipid composition containing brucine.

METHODStealth liposomes with different phospholipids composition, such as soybean phosphatidycholine (SPC), hydrogenated soybean phosphatidylcholine (HSPC) and the complex of SPC and HSPC, were prepared by ammonium sulfate transmembrane gradient method. Pharmaceutical properties such as shape, encapsulation efficiency and size of three stealth liposomes were compared intensively. Anti-tumor activity of SPC, HSPC and novel stealth liposomes composed of both SPC and HSPC were compared by established mouse liver cancer H22 model. Meanwhile, the mice body weight and immune organ weight were also compared.

RESULTThe encapsulation efficiency of novel, SPC and HSPC stealth liposomes were 77.7%, 64.8% and 74.8%, respectively. The mean diameters of them were less than 100 nm. The tumor inhibition rate of novel, HSPC and SPC stealth liposomes were 57.88%, 49.15%, 23.37%, respectively. The mice body weight, thymus gland index of three stealth liposomes group and spleen index of novel stealth liposomes group had no significant difference with the negative group while SPC and HSPC stealth liposomes group increased the spleen index.

CONCLUSIONPhospholipids composition is the key factor which determines the antitumor activity of brucine-loaded stealth liposomes.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Liposomes ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; Mice ; Particle Size ; Phospholipids ; chemistry ; Strychnine ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry

To construct nanostructured lipid carriers(NLCs)with different particle sizes but the same other physicochemical properties, central composite design was adopted. Coumarin-6(C-6)was selected as the model drug due to its high lipophilicity and high fluorescence intensity. Physicochemical properties of NLCs with 100 nm, 200 nm and 300 nm in particle size could remain stable during certain time in K-R solution and PBS. Release experiments in vitro showed that cumulative release of C-6 in NLCs was less than 7% after 24 h. The MTT assay indicated that both blank NLCs and C-6 loaded NLCs showed low toxicity. To confirm the integrity of NLCs in gastrointestinal tract, DiR-loaded NLCs were prepared and the distribution in vivo was monitored by fluorescence imaging. After 6 h oral administration, intact DiR-loaded NLCs could stiu be found, suggesting that NLCs could be used to characterize the uptake in gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract The outbreak of tuberculosis in campus shows a profound impact on academic learning and mental health of students, which might result in more serious social problems. The present editorial addresses weak links in the school tuberculosis prevention and control. Disease prevention and control institutions, medical institutions, education administrative departments and schools need to clarify work responsibilities, strictly implement the school tuberculosis prevention and control laws, regulations and management guidelines, and coordinate with multiple departments, with the aim to strengthen early warning capacity for campus tuberculosis, improve tuberculosis screening and risk assessment of relevant personnel, and implement the health checkup of schools and faculty, as well as the screening, diagnosis, registration, treatment and follow up of students cases. To further improve tuberculosis control across China, strengthening the awareness of tuberculosis prevention and control among institutions and the public, and improving adherence to tuberculosis treatment, as well as moving forward from passive to active tuberculosis monitoring and early prevention, reducing the occurrence of tuberculosis outbreak in school should be prioritized, so as to promote the smooth development of tuberculosis prevention and control work in China.

Objective To identify the main compositions of urinary calculi found in pediatric patients who had the history of exposing to infant formula milk powder contaminated with melamine and try to find out the urinary calculus formation mechanism in these patients.Methods Sixteen patients were studied.These infant patients with urinary calculi due to consumption of melamine tainted milk powder had been admitted to hospital from June,2008 to August,2008.The components of the urinary calculi were separated by liquid chromatograph,and identified by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry,electron bombard ionization mass spectrometry,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,and quantitatively determined by liquid chromatograph.Results The main chemical components of the urinary ealculi were melamine and uric acid.The molar ratio of uric acid tO melamine was 2:1.Conclusion The main urinary calculus formation mechanism in infant patients who exposed to the inrant formula milk powder contaminated with melamine is melamine and uric acid formed indissoluble complex.