To develop a high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of isoguanosine in Semen Crotonis Tiglii.

OBJECTIVE: To excavate and evaluate the risk signals of QT prolongation and torsade de pointes(TdP) induced by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs), provide references for clinical use. METHODS: Data from FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS, from January 2004 through June 2018) were analyzed for each SSRIs, including fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, and fluvoxamine. When QT prolongation and TdP cases were identified using preferred terms (PT) and standardised MedDRA queries (SMQ), three different data mining algorithms were used to detect signalsreporting odds ratio (ROR), medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency (MHRA), and bayesian confidence popagation neural network (BCPNN), if all the three algorithms were positive, suggesting the generation of signals. RESULTS: A total of 3 912 reports of QT prolongation and TdP associated with SSRIs were retrieved through the SMQ. Among which, more females than males(2 349 vs. 1 150), mainly aged 18-44 and 45-64 years, and 90.64% were serious adverse events. The signals were found for fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine and fluvoxamine at the SMQ level, the RORs (95%CI) were 5.25(4.79-5.76), 2.08(1.79-2.27), 2.86(6.32-7.44), 3.41(3.03-3.84), 2.09(1.84-2.37) and 10.44(8.17-13.33) respectively; the PRRs (X2) were 5.20(1 494.43), 2.01(140.41), 6.77(2 911.71), 3.93(462.34), 2.09(136.58) and 10.21(538.26) respectively; the Ics (IC-2SD) were 2.15(2.12), 1.54(1.52), 2.67(2.65), 2.34(2.31) 1.14(1.12) and 3.16(3.10) respectively. Analysis of the PT included in the SMQ for TdP/QT prolongation, except paroxetine was only detected electrocardiogram QT prolonged signal, all the other SSRIs were detected electrocardiogram QT prolonged and TdP signals. CONCLUSION: QT prolongation may be a SSRIs class effect, but TdP just for fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram and fluvoxamine. Clinical staff should pay more attention to the differences in adverse drug reaction related to SSRIs, and take pertinence measure to prevent.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect and safety of Zhiling Capsule (ZC) in treating lung cancer of middle/advanced stage.

METHODSWith the multi-center, randomized, double-blinded and parallel controlled method, the patients were divided into 4 groups, the 104 patients in the group A were treated with the whole recipe of ZC, the 52 in the group B with the disassembled recipe 1 (Western medicines) of ZC, the 46 in the group C with the disassembled recipe 2 (Chinese medicines) of ZC, and the 48 in the control group with Pingxiao Capsule, all the drugs were administered orally for 2 weeks. The changes of syndrome of qi-yin deficiency, symptoms, quality of life (QOL), body weight and adverse reactions occurred in patients were observed.

RESULTSThe effective rate in alleviating syndrome in the groups A-D was 91.3%, 80.8%, 37.0% and 14.6% respectively; in remitting stuffiness and chest pain 86.9% , 60.5%, 20.0% and 10.0%; in improving appetite was 80.4%, 47.9%, 23.7% and 10.3%. QOL in the groups A-C was significantly elevated after treatment (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), the improvement of group A was superior to that of other treatments (P < 0.01). Body weight in the group A was significantly increased and superior to that of others (P < 0.05). The whole recipe of ZC showed the therapeutic effect superior to that of the other treatments (P < 0.05). No obvious adverse reaction was found in all the 4 groups.

CONCLUSIONZC can improve the symptoms and QOL in patients with lung cancer of middle/advanced stage.

Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Quality of Life ; Yin Deficiency ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy of Zhiling Capsule (ZLC) in improving symptoms and quality of life (QOL) in patients with various types of cancer in mid-advanced stage.

METHODSA multi-centre randomized and controlled trial was conducted. Four hundred patients with mid-advanced cancer were assigned to two groups: the treatment group (300 cases) treated with ZLC and the control group (100 cases) with Pingxiao Capsule (PXC), both were given orally for two weeks. Clinical symptoms, QOL, weight and adverse reactions were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSImproving rate of symptom, increasing rates of QOL and weight in the treatment group were all higher than those in the control group (P<0.05); and no obvious adverse reaction was observed in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONZLC could alleviate the qi-yin deficiency syndrome and pain syndrome and improve QOL in patients with various types of cancer in mid-advanced stage.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Capsules ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Phytotherapy ; Qi ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome ; Yin Deficiency ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of Ginkgo biloba Tablet (GbT) on scavenger receptor A (SRA) of the aortic wall and changes of serum inflammatory factors in atherosclerotic rats, and to explore its new mechanism for fighting against atherosclerosis (AS).

METHODSTotally 45 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, the GbT group, 15 rats in each group. Levels of blood glucose, blood lipids, blood calcium, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (slCAM-1), and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were measured in all rats. The expression of SRA in the aortic wall of atherosclerotic rats was observed by immunohistochemical assay. The correlation between the expression of SRA and levels of in-flammatory factors was also observed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, blood glucose and blood calcium obviously increased (P < 0.05); levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C were significantly elevated (P < 0.01); neointimal areas were significantly thickened, increased intima percentage was significantly enlarged, narrowed lumen index was significantly reduced; levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were significantly elevated in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, blood glucose and blood calcium obviously decreased (P < 0.05); levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in the GbT group. Aortic lumens were obviously narrower in the model group than in the GbT group (P < 0.05). SRA expressed at the aortic wall. The aforesaid 3 indices were significantly improved in the GbT group than in the model group (P < 0.01). Serum levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were significantly decreased in the GbT group than in the model group (P < 0.01). Serum levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were positively correlated with the percentage of SRA positive expression area (r = 0.701, 0.604, 0.581, all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSerum levels of inflammatory factors in atherosclerotic rats were elevated, and the expression of SRA in the aortic wall was enhanced. The expression of SRA was closely correlated with serum levels of inflammatory factors. GbT could decrease serum levels of inflammatory factors and inhibit the expression of SRA.

Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Calcium ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Scavenger Receptors, Class A ; metabolism ; Tablets ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

Objective:To investigate the incidence of asthma and the characteristics of acute attacks in children aged 3-14 in different administrative areas of Wuxi, and to analyze the correlation of asthma with the outdoor environmental factors.Methods:A total of 10 175 children aged 3-14 were randomly selected from 5 different administrative regions in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province for childhood asthma epidemiological survey from January to December in 2017.Results:The complete questionnaires were collected from 8 318 children with a response rate of 81.70%.There were 6 734 valid questionnaires.Asthma occurred to 259 children, and the prevalence rate was 3.84%.The prevalence of asthma in male and female children was 4.89% (163 cases) and 2.82% (96 cases), respectively.The ratio of male patients to female patients was 1.70∶1.00, and the difference was significant ( χ2=19.72, P<0.01). Children were most prone to suffer from asthma attacks at the turn of seasons (87/259 cases, 33.59%). The frequency of asthma was the lowest from June to August (9/259 cases, 3.47%). Among 244 cases attacked by acute asthma, the prevailing time period of acute attacks was irregular in 88 patients (36.07%), bedtime in 64 cases (26.23%). In different regions of the city, the lowest prevalence rate of asthma was found in Binhu District (50/1 830 cases, 2.73%), the highest prevalence rate of asthma was found in Xinwu District (71/1 502 cases, 4.72%), the difference between the highest and lowest prevalence rates of asthma was significant ( χ2=13.19, P<0.05). In terms of the air quality in different admi-nistrative regions of Wuxi, the nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) concentration, the carbon monoxide (CO) concentration, PM 10 and PM 2.5 in Binhu District were lower than other 4 regions.In different seasons in Wuxi city, the sulfur dioxide(SO 2) concentration, the NO 2 concentration, the CO concentration, PM 10 and PM 2.5 from June to August were significantly lower than those in other months.The prevalence of asthma in children in different administrative districts of Wuxi was weakly positively correlated with the SO 2 concentration, the NO 2 concentration and PM 10 ( r=0.10, P<0.01; r=0.22, P<0.01; r=0.06, P<0.01, respectively). The prevalence of asthma was weakly negatively associated with the ozone(O 3) concentration ( r=-0.06, P<0.01). Acute asthma attacks were weakly positively correlated with the SO 2 concentration ( r=0.22, P<0.01), the NO 2 concentration ( r=0.28, P<0.01), the CO concentration ( r=0.23, P<0.01), PM 10 ( r=0.18, P<0.01) and PM 2.5 ( r=0.18, P<0.01), and weakly negatively correlated with the O 3 concentration ( r=-0.40, P<0.01). Conclusions:The prevalence of asthma in Wuxi is higher in boys than in girls, and the frequency of asthma attacks is related to the season.The SO 2, NO 2, CO, PM 10, PM 2.5 and O 3 concentration affect the prevalence and acute attacks of asthma.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Zhiling Capsule (ZLC) on the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction in human small cell lung cancer cell line NCI-H446.

METHODSAccording to the different components of ZLC, NCI-H446 cells were treated with traditional Chinese medicine, Western medicine and ZLC compound groups. The rates of cell viability and colony formation were observed by MTT assay and colony formation assay respectively. Cell cycle assay, Bcl-2 protein expression, chondrial transmembrane potential and Caspase-3 activity were detected by flow cytometer. Apoptotic cells were detected by DNA fragmentation assay, Annexin-V FITC staining and TUNEL labeling methods.

RESULTSAfter NCI-H446 cells were treated with various concentrations of drug groups, cell growth was significantly inhibited in a dose dependent manner. Cell colony formation was obviously lowered in the same way. The levels of chondrial transmembrane potential and Bcl-2 protein expression were decreased, while the levels of Caspase-3 activity were increased after the treatment. Typical DNA ladder were seen from gel electrophoresis, and apparent apoptotic peaks were observed by flow cytometer. Apoptosis occured in the early and late stage was identified by Annexin-V FITC staining and TUNEL labeling methods respectively. The ZLC compound group has stronger apoptosis induction than the other groups.

CONCLUSIONZLC could efficiently inhibit growth and induce apoptosis in NCI-H446 cells, which may be related with the down-regulation of chondrial transmembrane potential and Bcl-2 protein expression and the up-regulation of Caspase-3 activity.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Capsules ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Indomethacin ; pharmacology ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology

The dynamic changes of germination percentage, germination potential, thousand-seed weight, antioxidase activity in Desmodium styracifolium seeds with different storage time were tested, and electrical conductivity, contents of soluble sugar, soluble protein, starch in seed leach liquor were also determined in order to reveal the mechanism of seed deterioration. The results as the following. (1) The germination percentage, germination potential and thousand-seed weight of D. styracifolium seeds declined, while the seed coat color darkened with the extension of storage time. (2) The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) decreased with the prolongation of storage period. The SOD activity declined fastest in 1,095-1,185 d of storage, while the POD activity declined significantly in 365-395 d of storage. (3) The electrical conductivity and the contents of soluble sugar, starch in seed leach liquor increased, while the content of soluble protein declined with the extension of storage time. (4) Correlation analysis indicated that the germination percentage, germination potential and thousand-seed weight of D. styracifolium seeds have a significantly positive correlation with SOD and POD activity, while have a significantly negative correlation with the electrical conductivity, contents of soluble sugar and starch. It can be concluded that during the storage of D. styracifolium seeds, physiological and biochemical changes including decrease in antioxidase activity, rise in electrical conductivity, degradation effluent of soluble sugar and starch, degradation of soluble protein were the main factors leading to the seed deterioration.
Color ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Germination ; Peroxidases ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Seeds ; chemistry ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Starch ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo establish an RP-HPLC method for determination of betulinic acid in Callicarpa macrophylla, a commonly used herbal in Yunnan.

METHODA Kromasil-C18 column (4.6 mm x 200 mm, 5 microm) and a mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0.1% phosphoric acid (63: 37) were used. The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) and the UV detector wavelength was 205 nm.

RESULTBetulinic acid was well separated from other compounds in C. macrophylla. The content of betulinic acid in C. macrophylla from different origins showed apparent differences, the content of betulinic acid in C. macrophylla from Yunnan was the highest. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.016 6-0.332 mg x mL(-1) of betulinic acid with correlation coefficient 0.999 8. The average recovery of betulinic acid was 98.5%.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, accurate and reproducible, and is suitable for the quality control of C. macrophylla.

Calibration ; Callicarpa ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Linear Models ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Triterpenes ; analysis ; isolation & purification

Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Fixatives ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods ; Tissue Fixation ; methods