Puff-balls is a very distinctive macro-fungi in biodiversity.It is used to be a styptic,repellent and alexipharmic in China.This paper simply summarizes the puffball′s taxonomy in the fungi and its distribution in the world; and emphasizes on its composition,food uses,medical uses,herbalism studies and progress of researches on clinical applications.And it points out the patent prospect and current problems of the puff-balls.

Oleanolic acid-precipitated calcium carbonate solid dispersion was prepared by using solvent evaporation method. The microscopic structure and physicochemical properties of solid dispersion were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). And its in vitro release also was investigated. The properties of the precipitated calcium carbonate was studied which was as a carrier of oleanolic acid solid dispersion. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis suggested that oleanolic acid may be present in solid dispersion as amorphous substance. The in vitro release determination results of oleanolic acid-precipitated calcium carbonate (1: 5) solid dispersion showed accumulated dissolution rate of.oleanolic acid was up to 90% at 45 min. Accelerating experiment showed that content and in vitro dissolution of oleanolic acid solid dispersion did not change after storing over 6 months. The results indicated that in vitro dissolution of oleanolic acid was improved greatly by the solid dispersion with precipitated calcium carbonate as a carrier. The solid dispersion is a stabilizing system which has actual applied value.
Calcium Carbonate ; chemistry ; Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drug Stability ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Oleanolic Acid ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Solubility

OBJECTIVETo summarize and analyze the epidemic situation of human rabies from 1984 to 2002 in China, and to explore the possible factors causing the increase of cases so as to provide evidence for preventive and control measures.

METHODNational and some provincial data on the prevalence of rabies during 1984 to 2002 were collected and analyzed.

RESULTSFrom 1984 to 1989, the annual reported cases were between 4 000 and 6 000 but decreased after 1990. In 1996, the reported cases decreased to the lowest level from 3 520 in 1990 to 159. However, number of reported cases has been continuously increasing since 1998 which reached 1 122 in 2002, a 7.06 times increase as compared to the number in 1996. The epidemic areas were mainly located in the southeast and southwest parts of the country, such as Sichuan, Hunan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Anhui, Fujian, etc. Furthermore, there was no significant seasonal distribution as it showed before.

CONCLUSIONSuch facts as the increasing numbers of dogs, low inoculation rate to dogs, poor control on the quality of rabies vaccine, mistreatment to the wounds, and lacking good cooperation between different official departments regarding rabies control might serve as important factors responsible for the recurrence of rabies. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on the above mentioned points and to take comprehensive preventive measures to bring down the prevalence of rabies in China.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Dogs ; Humans ; Rabies ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Rabies Vaccines ; standards ; Seasons ; Time Factors

Objective To investigate the effects of early activities combined with evodia hot salt pack applying to the navel in prophylaxis against abdominal distension after surgery for gynecological malignancies.Methods 318 patients suffered from gynecological malignancies were randomly divided into three groups,activity group (n =102),vitamin B1 group ( n =110) and evodia group ( n =106 ).The activity group began activities within 24 hours after surgery; the vitamin B1 group,in addition to the traditional nursing,received injection of vitamin B1 through tsu-san-li meridians,each side with 50mg; the evodia group,besides the activities,was managed with evodia mixed with hot salt pack applied to the navel.The incidence of abdominal distension,the average time of bowel sound recovery,the first time of flatus passing and defecation of the three groups were compared.Results The incidence of abdominal distension in the evodia group ( 16.9％ ) was significantly lower than that in the activity group (55.9％) and the vitamin B1 group (67.3％) ( x2 =70.50,P ＜ 0.01 ).The average time of bowel sound recovery,the first time flatus passing and defecation in the evodia group [ (30.02 ±4.37)h,(42.16 ± 16.03 )h,(72.62 ± 20.79 )h] was significantly shorter than those in the activity group [ (40.57 ±5.27)h,(74.25 ± 12.14)h,(135.33 ±40.18) h] and the vitamin B1 group [ (44.23 ± 12.16)h,(77.25±16.32)h,(139.71 ±38.25)h] (F=8.88,4.37,5.49; P＜0.01).Conclusions Early activities after surgery combined with evodia hot salt pack applying to the navel could effectively facilitate the recovery of gastrointestinal function for patients suffered from gynecological malignancies and prevent abdominal distension.

OBJECTIVETo compare the dissolution characteristics of colloidal silica and porous silica as the solid dispersion carrier, with baicalin as the model drug.

METHODThe baicalin solid dispersion was prepared by the solvent method, with colloidal silica and porous silica as the carriers. In the in vitro dissolution experiment, the solid dispersion was identified by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning and X-ray diffraction.

RESULTThe solid dispersion carriers prepared with both colloidal silica and porous silica could achieve the purpose of rapid release. Along with the increase in the proportion of the carriers, the dissolution rate is accelerated to more than 80% within 60 min. Baicalin existed in the solid dispersion carriers in the non-crystalline form.

CONCLUSIONThe release behaviors of the baicalin solid dispersion prepared with two types of carrier were different. Among the two solid dispersion carriers, porous silica dissolved slowly than colloidal silica within 60 min, and they showed similar dissolutions after 60 min.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Colloids ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drug Delivery Systems ; instrumentation ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Porosity ; Silicon Dioxide ; chemistry ; Solubility

To study the effects of alkaloids from Coptidis Rhizoma on low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) mRNA expression and antihyperlipedemic levels. The LDLR mRNA expression were detected by real time fluorescence quantitative PCR, and the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL-c) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) in serum were measured at the first and last examination. The results show that, after the drug treatment, compared with the model group, each drug group showed a lipid-lowering effect. Especially, coptisine, palmatine, jatrorrhinze were significantly reduced TC, TG, LDL-c (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and increased HDL-c (P < 0.01). In addition, they also increased mRNA expression of the LDLR in liver and HepG2 cells. The results showed that alkaloids from Coptidis Rhizoma can regulate lipid metabolism disorder, and coptisine have the best lipid-lowering effect.
Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Cricetinae ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Lipids ; blood ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; metabolism ; Mesocricetus ; Receptors, Lipoprotein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Triglycerides ; metabolism

This paper was aim to optimize the purification technology of Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata extract with macroporous adsorption resin. With the content of manninotriose as index, the absorptive flow and time were investigated, as well as kinds, amount, flow of eluent. D-101 type macroporous adsorption resin was the best choice for the purification of manninotriose. The optimized parameters were as follows: the content of manninotriose at 161.16-53.72 mg x g(-1), absorption time 240 min, eluting solvent of purified water, volume flow at 1.5 BV x h(-1), and eluant volume at 6 BV. D-101 type macroporous adsorption resin could significantly increase the purity of Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata extract with the advantage of high absorption, remove most part of impurity, and the effect of semi-works production was better.
Adsorption ; Chemical Fractionation ; Chromatography, Liquid ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Rehmannia ; chemistry ; Resins, Synthetic ; chemistry

Amounts of researches show that EPO is characterized with neurotrophic and neuroprotective manner, especially in brain stroke, which attracts a large numbers of researchers to study it. With the accumulating researches on its neuroprotection, many related mechanisms were revealed, such as antioxidant, anti-apoptosis, angiogenesis, anti-inflammatory, which suggests a multiple targets role of EPO on brain stroke. However, because of the high risk of thromboembolism in clinical administration of rhEPO and its analogs, the herbs are potential to be a replacer for its less side effects. Many researchers suggested that a larger of herbs were founded having the action of increasing the endogenous EPO in the model of anemia and cerebral ischemia. At the same time, there herbs were also proved that they had the action of against cerebral ischemia while some without considering the role of EPO in the reports. Considering of the action of promoting EPO of these herbs and the neural protection of EPO, this essay mainly summarizes the studies of herbs promoting EPO in the cerebral ischemia and discusses the mechanism of regulating the EPO of these herbs, for the aim of finding the potential drugs against cerebral ischemia.
Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Erythropoietin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neuroprotection ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

In order to evaluate the characteristic of porous starch (PS) as the solid dispersions carrier of the total Epimedium flavonoids (TEF), the PS was used. The dissolution of icariin was selected as an indicator to analyze the differences of dissolution between TEF and its solid dispersion. TEF was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Solid dispersion was irregular block and no powder characteristics of TEF and PS could be seen in SEM, DSC and XRD analysis suggested that TEF may be present in solid dispersion as amorphous substance. The dissolution rate of icariin has been improved significantly when the proportion of TEF and PS was 1:2. PS as a traditional solid dispersion carrier is worthy of further study.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; Porosity ; Solubility ; Starch ; chemistry ; X-Ray Diffraction

OBJECTIVETo compare the differences in the clinical efficacy on Alzheimer's disease between acupuncture and medicine.

METHODSOne hundred and forty-one patients were randomized into an acupuncture group (72 cases) and a medicine group (69 cases). In the acupuncture group, the needling technique for benefiting qi, promoting blood circulation, regulating mind and improving intelligence was used at Shenting (GV 24), Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Wangu (GB 12), Danzhong (CV 17), Zhangwan (CV 12), Qihai (CV 6), Xuehai (SP 10) and Zusanli (ST 36). The supplementary acupoints were selected according to the symptoms and physical signs. Acupuncture was given once a day and 6 treatments were required for a week. In the medicine group, the choline sterase inhibitor, donepezil (aricept) was prescribed for oral administration, 1 tablet (5 mg) each time, once every night. Four weeks later, the dose was increased to 2 tablets (10 mg) each time. In the two groups, the treatment of 4 weeks made one session and 4 sessions were required. The changes of scores before and after treatment in the minimum mental state examination (MMSE), the activity of daily living scale (ADL), Alzheimer's disease assessment scale-cognition (ADAS-cog) and the digit span (DS) were observed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, scores of MMSE and DS were increased as compared with those before treatment (both P < 0.05) and scores of ADL and ADAS-cog were reduced as compared with those before treatment. The score differences in MMSE, ADL, ADAS-cog and DS before and after treatment were significant in the two groups (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe needling technique for benefiting qi, promoting blood circulation, regulating mind and improving intelligence significantly improves the overall function, cognition and activity of daily life in the patients of Alzheimer's disease and the efficacy is better than donepezil.

Activities of Daily Living ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alzheimer Disease ; psychology ; therapy ; Cognition ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome