OBJECTIVETo optimize formulation of tanshinone II(A)-loaded PLGA nanoparticles and compare the difference of two methods in preparation and quality of nanoparticles.

METHODThe two methods were nanoprecipitation method and emulsion-evaporation method. Single factor experiments and central composite design and response surface method were used to optimize the formulation of nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were characterized at size, morphology, entrapment efficiency, drug loading, drug recovery rate, crystallinity and drug release in vitro.

RESULTThe mean diameters were 225 nm and 183 nm, the entrapment efficiency were 95.49% and 87.99%, the drug loading were 2.03% and 0.16%, and the drug recovery rates were 38.42% and 17.59% respectively for nanoprecipitation method and emulsion-evaporation method.

CONCLUSIONNanoprecipitation method was better than emulsion-evaporation method for preparation of tanshinone II(A)-loaded PLGA nanoparticles.

Chemical Precipitation ; Crystallization ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; Emulsions ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Phenanthrenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Polymers ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Volatilization

AIMTo study the preparation of bovine serum albumin nanoparticles surface-modified with glycyrrhizin(BSA-NP-GL) targeting to hepatocytes.

METHODSThe bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (BSA-NP) were prepared by desolvation process. Glycyrrhizin (GL) was oxidized by sodium periodate to be conjugated to surface reactive amino groups (SRAG) of the BSA-NP. The SRAG were quantified by spectrophotometric method using 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid(TNBS). Glycyrrhetinic acid(GA) hydrolyzed from GL, which was on the surface of BSA-NP-GL was assayed by HPLC after isolation by sephadex G-50. Both methods were used to verify the conjugation achieved. HPLC was used to determine surface density of GL on BSA-NP-GL.

RESULTSThe amount of SRAG of the BSA-NP-GL decreased by 19.6% compared with normal BSA-NP. The amount of GL molecule was 9.2% of the total determined SRAG of BSA-NP. The mean diameter of the BSA-NP-GL was 73 nm with round shape. The stability of BSA-NP-GL was constant when it was stored at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C during 10 days.

CONCLUSIONBSA-NP-GL was successfully prepared, which is considered to establish an experimental foundation for further research on its ability for targeting to hepatocytes.

Cross-Linking Reagents ; chemistry ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; chemistry ; Nanotechnology ; Particle Size ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Surface Properties ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the absorption and separation of different glycoside on different macropore resins.

METHODTake baikal skullcap root, cape jasmine fruit and white peony root as samples and study the different characterstics of absorption and separation of these samples on macropore resins such as D101 and so on.

RESULTThe static absorption effect of the the three aglycones on six different macropore resins is baicalin > lactiflorin > gardoside. Their elution are 75% CH3OH, 25% CH3OH, and 45% CH3OH. Their elution rates are 60%, 93%, and 93%.

CONCLUSIONSimilar molecules may not have similar absorption abilities on same macropore resins, but the effect of absorption has something to do with the structures of the molecules, the more double-bonds the molecules have, the greater the absorption force the resins have.

Absorption ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Jasminum ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Resins, Plant ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry

OBJECTIVEStudy the characteristics of absorption and separation of traditional Chinese medicine compound prescription using macroporous resin.

METHODStudy the techniquecs and characteristics of absorption and separation of a sample by macroporous resin, which is composed of coptis root, rhubarb and common anemarrhena rhizome, containing alkaloid, anthraquinone and saponin.

RESULTIt is proved by qualitative and quantitative researches studies that after absorbed and separated by optimized technics process, most prime effective components or section fractions in traditional Chinese medicine compound prescription can be reserved maintained.

CONCLUSIONIf the techniquecs of separation is properly designed, the same kind of macropore resin can absorbd and separate various effective components or section in traditional Chinese medicine compound prescription which have with different chemical structures efficiently.

Alkaloids ; isolation & purification ; Anemarrhena ; chemistry ; Anthraquinones ; isolation & purification ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Resins, Synthetic ; Rheum ; chemistry ; Saponins ; isolation & purification ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; HIV Infections ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Male ; Rural Population ; Sexual Behavior ; Single Person ; Young Adult

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by the accu-mulation of immature myeloid progenitor cells in the bone marrow,compromising of normal hematopoi-esis and ultimately resulting in bone marrow failure. Chemotherapy is the mainstay treatment for all AML patients,however,drug resistance and clinical relapse limits its efficacy.The 5-year survival rate of AML patients is only 26.6%.Survival rates are even lower among patients ages 65 to 74 years (5.3%)and 75 years or older(1.6%).Therefore,exploring novel therapeutic agents is urgent for improving the outcome of patients with AML. Saponins are amphipathic glycosides found in traditional Chinese medicines. In the present study, we isolated a panel of saponins from Paris forrestii (Takht.) H. Li, a unique plant found in Tibet and Yunnan provinces, China. By examining their activities in suppressing acute myeloid leukemia cell proliferation, total saponins from Paris forrestii (TSPf) displayed more potent activity than individual ones.TSPf induced more than 40% AML cell apoptosis within 24 h and decreased the viability of all leukemia cell lines. TSPf-induced apoptosis was confirmed by both Annexin V staining and caspase-3 activation.TSPf downregulated pro-survival proteins Mcl-1,Bcl-xL and Bcl-2,but upreg-ulated the expression of tumor suppressor proteins p53,p27,Bax and Beclin 1.The AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is frequently over activated in various AML cells,and TSPf was found to suppress the activa-tion of both AKT and mTOR,but had no effects on their total protein expression.This was further con-firmed by the inactivation of 4EBP-1 and p70S6K,two typical downstream signal molecules in the AKT/mTOR pathway. More specifically, TSPf-inactivated AKT/mTOR signaling was found to be associated with downregulated RNF6, a recently identified oncogene in AML. RNF6 activated AKT/mTOR, and consistently, knockdown of RNF6 led to inactivation of the AKT/mTOR pathway. Furthermore, TSPf suppressed the growth of AML xenografts in nude mice models. Oral administration of 100 mg·kg-1 body weight almost fully suppressed tumor growth within 14 d, without gross toxicity. This study thus demonstrated that TSPf displays potent anti-AML activity by suppressing the RNF6/AKT/mTOR pathway. Given its low toxicity,TSPf could be developed for the treatment of AML.

OBJECTIVETo establish a convenient method for diagnosis of lethal avian influenza virus infection.

METHODSNinety-six-well microtiter plates were coated with 100 microl of H5N1 protein (0.1 microg/ml) diluted in coating buffer. These plates were used for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSFour of the 23 suspected borderline cases of lethal avian influenza virus infection were positive by the ELISA, and all the healthy controls (n=234) were negative. These results were confirmed by hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) and neutralization tests, and results were totally consistent (100 percent) with each other among the three methods.

CONCLUSIONThe ELISA may be used in the screening for lethal avian influenza virus infection.

Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; diagnosis ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the applicability of MultiCalc software to prenatal screening of Down's syndrome in Jiangsu province, China.

METHODSThe gestational age-specific median of maternal serum marker was calculated by means of regression method. Regression functions for adjustment of Multiple of the Median (MoM) by weight were established for our own population.

RESULTSBefore the adjustment by weight, the average level of alpha fetal protein(AFP) was 16% higher and the free beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG) was 14% higher than those of the Caucasian in MultiCalc software respectively. But when the AFP and free beta-hCG results were converted to weight-adjusted MoM levels, the values were 0.99 and 1.02 respectively. The median of MoM of AFP and the free beta-hCG were 1.00 through the regression model of gestational age and weight adjustment.

CONCLUSIONThere was no difference of average weight-adjusted MoM levels between the Jiangsu population and the Caucasian, and the MultiCalc software was applicable to maternal serum screening for Down's syndrome of Jiangsu.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Body Weight ; China ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; blood ; Down Syndrome ; diagnosis ; Female ; Fetal Diseases ; diagnosis ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mothers ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; blood ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; Reference Values ; Regression Analysis ; Software ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

This study was mainly based on the compatibility of Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Chuanxiong Rhizoma to prepare submicron emulsion and evaluated its physical and pharmaceutical properties. Firstly, pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were drawn by dripping method which took Chuanxiong oil as the oil phase and the area of microemulsion region as the index. On this basis, suitable emulsifier and co-emulsifier were screened for the preparation of Chuanxiong oil submicron emulsion. Then, the formula realizing the largest oil loading was selected. Finally, puerarin substituted part of emulsifier and co-emulsifier to lower their content, so as to form puerarin-Chuanxiong oil submicron emulsion featuring the combination of medicine and adjuvant. Its particle size, zeta potential, centrifugal stability and storage stability were determined, and the in vitro drug release behavior was investigated by dialysis bag method, based on which the quality of the as-prepared submicron emulsion was evaluated comprehensively. The proposed method was proved feasible for the preparation of Chuanxiong oil submicron emulsion, which adopted polyoxyethylene castor oil(EL-40) as the emulsifier and was free from co-emulsifier. The formula of the maximum oil loading was found as Chuanxiong oil∶EL-40∶water 3∶7∶90. Further, puera-rin successfully replaced up to 10% of the emulsifier in submicron emulsion. Eventually, the optimal drug-loading formula was determined as puerarin∶Chuanxiong oil∶EL-40∶water 7∶30∶63∶900. The quality evaluation results of the as-prepared submicron emulsion demonstrated that the average emulsion droplet size was 333.9 nm, the PDI 0.26, and the zeta potential-10.12 mV. The submicron emulsion had a good centrifugal stability and did not present any instable phenomena such as delamination and precipitation during its standing still for 50 days. The evaluation of in vitro drug release behavior indicated that the submicron emulsion was capable of releasing the drug completely. The puerarin-chuanxiong oil submicron emulsion prepared in this study possessed a stable quality and to some extent increased the solubility of puerarin along with a sustained-release effect. This study provided ideas for the clinical application of puerarin.
Emulsions ; Isoflavones ; Particle Size ; Solubility

Prostate cancer (PCa) risk calculators (RCs) with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and other risk factors can greatly improve the accurate prediction of potential risk of PCa compared to PSA. The European Randomized Study of Screening for PCa Risk Calculator (ERSPC-RC) and the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial Risk Calculator (PCPT-RC) are developed on the Western population. However, the Western RCs showed limited diagnostic efficacy in the Eastern Asian population, mainly due to racial differences between the two populations. We aimed to review the application of Western RCs and Eastern Asian RCs in Eastern Asian cohorts and to identify the characteristics and efficacy of these RCs.
Aged ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Asia, Eastern ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Theoretical ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/blood* ; Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors