With the development of natural products, the research activities on the solubilization methods of water-insoluble natural products have been carried out worldwide. Big molecular weight and poor solubility of most natural active ingredients lead to a very poor oral absorption and low bioavailability, which has extremely limited their development in pharmaceutical fields and clinical application. As a result, it is necessary to find out a suitable technique to improve the solubility and enhance the oral bioavailability of insoluble natural drugs. Based on the related references published in these years, this review introduced some new techniques to improve the solubility and bioavailability of natural drugs, including prodrugs, inclusion complex, solid dispersion, cocrystals, osmotic pump, liquisolid compacts, micronization, self-microemulsifying, nanosuspensions, lipsomes, polymeric micelles and so on, and summarized the theory, characteristics, application range, application examples, problems and development direction of each technique.
Administration, Oral ; Biological Availability ; Biological Products ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; trends ; Solubility ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; trends ; Water

Radiation?induced heart disease ( RIHD) is a common type of radiation?induced damages in chest radiotherapy. There are no obvious short?term symptoms in patients with RIHD. However, RIHD causes irreversible permanent damages to the heart over time, which undermines the quality of life. Patients with severe RIHD even have a risk of death from myocardial infarction caused by coronary atherosclerosis. This paper summarizes the research advances in epidemiology, diagnosis, mechanisms of radiation?induced injury in various parts of the heart, radiotherapy techniques, and treatment. Reduction in radiation range and dose, early diagnosis, and early treatment are recommended for patients to reduce heart injury and improve the quality of life.

Objective To analyse the clinicopathological characteristics of synovial sarcoma (SS) from histomorphology,immunohistochemical (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH),and to investigate the related factors influencing the prognosis of SS patients.Methods 94 cases were collected,including 60 SS cases and 34 in dined to SS cases.The expressions of common antibodies related to the diagnosis of SS Vimentin,CD99,AE1/AE3,EMA,CD34,Calponin,Ki-67 were detected by IHC,and the SYT-SSX fusion gene was detected by FISH.The clinical pathologic factors that affecting the prognosis of patients were analyzed through the statistical method.Results The positive rates of Vimentin,CD99,AE1/AE3,EMA,CD34,Calponin,Ki-67 were 100.00 ％,74.47 ％,36.17 ％,28.72 ％,17.02 ％,90.43 ％ and 60.64 ％ respectively.FISH results showed that 81 patients were tested with SYT gene translocation,including 54 cases who were considered as SS,and 27 cases who were suspected/inclined to SS,and the number of positive cells surpassed 80 ％.The gene translocation was not related with the patient' s age,sex,tumor position,histological type,differentiation of the cancer (all P ＞ 0.05).Single factor survival analysis showed that the degree of differentiation,tumor diameter,the recurrence and metastasis had certain influences on patients' survival time (all P ＜ 0.05).Multiple factors regression analysis showed that the degree of differentiation and tumor diameter were the risk factors influencing the prognosis of SS (risk coefficients ＞ 1,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions IHC combined with FISH SYT-SSX fusion gene detection have the vital significance in the diagnosis of SS.The degree of differentiation and tumor size are the risk factors influencing the prognosis of SS.

Objective To introduce a newly-developed special laryngoscopic lens.Methods The structures of the new-style laryngoscopic lens and the old one were compared so as to highlight the advantages of the new-style one.Results For the special patients(e.g.patients with min-chin,high-larynx,fatness,short-neck,fore-tooth standing out,and corpulent lingua),special laryngoscopic lens could stir up epiglottis much more,expose glottis,and achieve incubationeasily.Besides,it could also be applied to normal patients.Conclusion The special laryngoscopic lens is practical,easily-operated and reliable.

Objective To evaluate neurofunctional and radiographic results of transpedicular screw fixation reduction and anterior column fixation with use of screw-red system in treatment of multiple segment lumbar pedicle and vertebral body fractures combined with spondylolisthesis. Methods A consecutive series of 12 patients with unstable multiple segment lumbar pedicle fracture, vertebral body fracture, spondylolisthesis and neurologic deficit were managed with posterior transpedicular screw fixation including fractured pedicle and anterior screw-rod fixation instrumentation from January 2002 to December 2007. Results Patients were followed up for 24-30 months (mean 26 months). All the patients with incomplete neurologic deficits got improvement by at least one Frankel grade. Transpedicular screw brought satisfactory reduction. At the time of the latest follow-up, no screw breakage occurred. Con-clusions Excellent reduction of unstable multiple segment lumbar pedicle fractures combined with spon-dylolisthesis can attain better reduction and maintenance by means of selective pedicle screw fixation via fractured pedicle and anterior screw-rod instrument.

Recent years, chemical constituents from spice volatile oils have gained worldwide concern owing to its multiple pharmacological effects and safety for using as the natural antibacterial agents. However, their poor dissolution, strong volatility, serious irritation, weak stability, easy oxidation and low bioavailability characteristics are the major obstacle in the preparation of effective oral formulation and practical application. Therefore, there is an urgent need to select a novel carrier system that can delivery the chemical constituents from spice volatile oils more efficiently with improving their stability as well as alleviating the irritation, and develop the functional food, health products and even medicine for exerting their pharmacological effects, which also is the focus and nodus of the research on their application. This review presents recent systematic studies on their novel carrier systems, including cyclodextrin inclusion complex, liposomes, nanoemulsions, nanoparticles, solid dispersion and so on, and summarizes the characteristics, application range and problems of each novel carrier systems, in order to provide some beneficial thoughts in further developing new products of chemical constituents from spice volatile oils.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Spices ; analysis

Linalool, as a major volatile compound, is widely distributed in natural plant essential oil. In addition, it can also be artificially synthesized. Linalool is used frequently as an important ingredient of perfumes and household detergents. It is still employed in food flavor and industries. Besides, linalool has some positive effect on healthcare. Many studies have showed that linalool exhibited a variety of pharmacological activities, including analgesic, anxiolytic, sedative, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and anti-bacterial effects. Therefore, linalool will be a promising agent for clinical application. This article reviews the pharmacological effects and formulation studies of linalool so as to provide a theoretical basis for its further development and utilization.
Animals ; Anti-Anxiety Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Monoterpenes ; chemistry ; pharmacology

Objective To approach the evaluative effect of respiratory variation of superior vena cava peak flow velocity measured using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) on fluid responsiveness in patients with mechanical ventilation.Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted.All mechanical ventilated critically ill patients whose fluid therapy was planned due to hypovolemia in Department of Critical Care Medicine of Beijing Tongren Hospital of Capital Medical University from April 2011 to April 2013 were enrolled.Volume expansion was performed with 500 mL Linger solution within 30 minutes.Patients were classified as responders if pulse pressure variation (PPV) increased ≥ 13％ before volume expansion.The respiratory variation in superior vena cava peak velocity was calculated as the difference between maximum and minimum values of velocity in peak A,peak S and peak D over a single respiratory circle,and their variations (ΔA,ΔS,ΔD) were also calculated.The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was plotted to assess the evaluative effect of respiratory variation of superior vena cava peak velocity on fluid responsiveness.Results Twenty-seven patients were enrolled in this study.Volume expansion increased PPV ≥ 13％ happened in 14 patients (responders).The velocity of superior vena cava in peak A,peak S,peak D was significantly increased after volume expansion compared with that before volume expansion in responders [peak A (cm/s):34.6 ± 2.2 vs.31.3 ±2.1,t=-2.493,P=0.027; peak S (cm/s):39.1 ± 1.3 vs.35.3 ±2.1,t=-2.564,P=0.024; peak D (cm/s):28.1 ± 1.2 vs.23.3 ± 1.4,t=-4.995,P=0.000],but there was no significant difference in ΔA,ΔS and ΔD between before and after volume expansion.The ΔA,ΔS and ΔD were positively correlated with PPV (r＝0.040,P=0.854; r=0.350,P=0.074; r=0.749,P=0.000).The area under ROC curve (AUC) of peak S was 0.36 [95％ confidence interval (95％CI):0.11-0.52],but the AUC of ΔS was 0.68 (95％CI 0.47-0.89),the AUC of peak D was 0.41 (95％CI 0.19-0.63),but the AUC of ΔD was 0.95 (95％CI 0.86-1.00),so the aberration rate of superior vena cava in respiration was better than the flow rate in superior vena cava.When the cut-off value of ΔS was 20.7％ for predicting fluid responsiveness,the sensitivity was 78.6％ and the specificity was 61.5％.When the cut-off value of ΔD was 12.7％ for predicting fluid responsiveness,the sensitivity was 92.0％ and the specificity was 92.3％.Conclusion Respiratory variations in superior vena cava peak velocity measured by TTE could assess fluid responsiveness in patients with mechanical ventilation.

Spices have enjoyed a long history and a worldwide application. Of particular interest is the pharmaceutical value of spices in addition to its basic seasoning function in cooking. Concretely, equipped with complex chemical compositions, spices are of significant importance in pharmacologic actions, like antioxidant, antibacterial, antitumor, as well as therapeutical effects in gastrointestinal disorders and cardiovascular disease. Although increasing evidences in support of its distinct role in the medical field has recently reported, little information is available for substantive, thorough and sophisticated researches on its chemical constituents and pharmacological activities, especially mechanism of these actions. Therefore, in popular wave of studies directed at a single spice, this review presents systematic studies on the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities associated with common used spices, together with current typical individual studies on functional mechanism, in order to pave the way for the exploitation and development of new medicines derived from the chemical compounds of spice (such as, piperine, curcumin, geniposide, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, linalool, estragole, perillaldehyde, syringic acid, crocin).
Anti-Infective Agents ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Cardiovascular System ; drug effects ; Digestive System ; drug effects ; Spices ; analysis ; toxicity

Objective: To investigate the preparation procedure of Zhenjing Xiehuo granules. Methods: Using the dry extract yielding rate and the contents of liquiritin and salvianolic acid B as the indices, an orthogonal test was adopted to choose the best ex-traction and purification technology. Using the qualified ratio of granules as the index, an orthogonal test was adopted to choose the best preparation process of the granules. Results:The optimized preparation conditions were as follows:Pulvis ferri was decocted first for 60 min. The other medicines were dipped in 8-fold amount of water for 90 min, and then added into pulvis ferri extracts and decocted for 3 times with 90 min for each time. The extracts were collected and concentrated till the relative density was 1. 3 (measured at 60℃), water was added with the dilution ratio of 1:2, ethanol was added till the percentage of ethanol was 50%, and then the mixed liquid was filtered after 24 hours. After ethanol was recycled from the filtrate, the filtrate was concentrated till the relative density was 1. 3 (measured at 60℃), and then dried at 60℃. Starch as the diluent, the ratio of extract to excipient was 1:0. 8, and the wet granules were prepared with 90% ethanol as the wetting agent, dried 3 hours at 60℃ followed by size stabilization to obtain the products. Con-clusion:The optimized preparation procedure of Zhenjing Xiehuo granules is stable and feasible.