Asthma ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Complement Membrane Attack Complex ; analysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Male ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

Animals ; In Vitro Techniques ; Muscle Contraction ; drug effects ; Muscle, Smooth ; drug effects ; physiology ; Progesterone ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Trachea ; drug effects

Objective To develop a new method, capillary electrophoresis(CE) based on molecular beacon(MB),for rapid detection of polymerase chain reaction(PCR).To explor the roles of the IL-13 gene exon4 A2044G single nucleiotide polymorphism(SNP) in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.Methods The IL-13 exon 4 was amplified by PCR with genomic DNA used as templates from 20 healthy persons and 32 patients with dominantly allergic familial history living in the north of china.Then separating the amplification with capillary electrophoresis followed by hybridization of molecular beacons into the PCR product which were sequenced in the end. Results Detected with CE-MB method,there was significant difference in the distribution of A/G in IL-13exon 2044,A allele frequency was higher in asthma compared with normal controls,same as sequencing. Conclusion The method of capillary electrophoresis based on molecular beacon(MB-CE) is able to be developed as a clinical detecting method for genetic variation diseases.IL-13 A2044G SNP is important in the asthmatic mechanism.

To determine the optimum process conditions for dry granulating technique of Qibai Pingfei granule, granule excipient type, rolling wheel speed and pressure and feeding speed were studied. Taking shaping rate at a time, moisture absorption and dissolubility as index, the type and amount of granule excipient were determined. In addition, taking shaping rate at a time as index, parameters of rolling wheel speed and pressure and feeding speed were researched through single factor test and response surface methodology. The optimum parameters were as follows: lactose as excipient, dry extract powder to excipient at 1:2, rolling wheel speed and pressure at 10.9 Hz and 6.4 MPa and feeding speed at 7.2 Hz. After validation of three batches pilot-scale production, the optimum processing parameters for dry granulating technique of Qibai Pingfei granule is reasonable and feasible, which can provide reliable basis for production.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Powders ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

The effects of ultrafine grinding on the dissolution rates of the effective components in Sanjie Zhentong capsule (SZC) were studied in this experiment. Fine and ultrafine powder of SZC intermediates were made by ordinary grinding and ultrafine grinding technology, and then granulated by wet granulation. SZC were prepared by fine powder, ultrafine powder and ultrafine granules, respectively. With resveratrol and loureirin B as investigated indexes, dissolution rates of the four intermediates in SZC were determined by cup method and HPLC. The dissolution rates of resveratrol in SZC prepared by fine powder, ultrafine powder and ultrafine granules were 26.11%, 63.27%, 67.49%, respectively; and the dissolution rates of loureirin B were 7.160%, 20.29%, 23.05%, respectively. The dissolution rate of resveratrol and loureirin B in SZC prepared by ultrafine granules was the best. D90 size of ultrafine grinding was 13.221 μm and could improve the dissolution rates of resveratrol and loureirin B in SZC.
Capsules ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Silicones ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

To prepare ginseng saponin Compound K with ultrasound-assisted total zymolytic ginseng saponins. The conversion rate was taken as the index to detect the pre-treatment factors such as ultrasonic power and ultrasonic time, as well as the impact of enzymatic factors, such as pH value, temperature, concentration of substrate, dosage of enzyme and reaction time, on the conversion rate. The response surface method was used to optimize the preparation conditions. The enzymolytic products were identified with MS, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR. The results showed that the optimum conditions of the ultrasound-assisted enzymolysis were 250 W for ultrasonic power, 15 min for ultrasonic time, 5.5 for enzymolytic pH, 50 degrees C for enzymolytic temperature, 36 h for enzymolytic time, 4:5 for enzymolytic dosage: substrate and 1.0 g x L(-1) for concentration of substrate. The relative molecular mass of reaction products was 622.4. Therefore, the nuclear magnetic map verified that the reaction product was rare ginseng saponin Compound K. Under the above conditions, based on the total zymolytic ginseng saponins, the conversion rate of rare ginseng saponin Compound K was 6.91% in proportion to the total of ginsenosides. The process features gentle reaction conditions, high conversion rate and simple and reliable process, which is suitable for industrial production.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Enzymes ; chemistry ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ultrasonics ; methods

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

Objective To investigate the effects of baicalein and acitretin on the apoptosis in a human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell line, SCL-12. Methods Cultured SCL-12 cells were treated with different concentrations of baicalein (3.125, 6.25, 12.5 μmol/L) and acitretin (2.5, 5.0, 10.0 μ mol/L), alone or in combination, for 48 hours. Subsequently, cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay, and cell apoptosis by ELISA as well as annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide double staining. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of Fas mRNA in SCL-12 cells. Results The cell proliferation of SCL-12 cells was inhibited by baicalein and acitretin alone or in combination. The combination of baicalein and acitretin at the three tested concentrations, except for that of baicalein at 3.125 μmol/L and acitretin at 2.5 μmol/L, more strongly inhibited the proliferation of SCL-12 cells compared with baicalein or acitretin alone, and the inhibitory effect was in a dose-dependent manner. The early apoptosis rate was 9.39% ± 1.52%, 20.86% ± 2.16%,36.85% ± 3.26% in SCL-12 cells treated with baicalein of 3.125 μmol/L, acitretin of 5.0 μmol/L alone and their combination, respectively, significantly higher than that in untreated cells (4.39% ± 0.64%, all P <0.05); the induction of apoptosis in SCL-12 cells by the combination of baicalein and acitretin was stronger than that by baicalein or acitretin alone (F = 138.44, P < 0.05). Baicalein and acitretin alone or in combination significantly increased the mRNA expression of Fas in SCL-12 cells, and the effect of their combination was stronger than that of baicalein or acitretin alone. Conclusions Baicalein and aeitretin could inhibit the growth of and induce the apoptosis in SCL-12 cells, and the effect is enhanced by the combination of baicalein and acitretin, which may be associated with the upregulation of Fas expression in SCL-12 cells.

With low molecular weight chitosan and poloxamer 188 as the joint carriers, ginsenoside Rg3 solid dispersions were prepared by using the solvent evaporation method for an in vitro dissolution test. Subsequently, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (X-RD) were adopted for a phase analysis. The results showed that the 60 min in vitro cumulative dissolution rate of ginsenoside Rg3 solid dispersions prepared with low molecular weight chitosan and poloxamer 188 at the ratio of 2:1 exceeded 90%, and the drug was dispersed in carriers in an amorphous state. Therefore, ginsenoside Rg3 solid dispersions prepared with low molecular weight chitosan and poloxamer 188 could help significantly improve the drug dissolution, with a practical application value.
Chitosan ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Ginsenosides ; chemistry ; Molecular Weight ; Poloxamer ; chemistry ; Solvents ; chemistry

Cirrhosis with portal hypertension is a common disease which has a significant impact on the quality of patients' life. Esophagogastric devascularization (EGDV) has been demonstrated to be an effective method to treat portal hypertension, however certain complications are associated with it. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and clinical outcome of the selective EGDV (sEGDV) for the treatment of portal hypertension. The study was conducted prospectively from Jan. 1 2011 to Dec. 31, 2012, and 180 patients were randomized to the sEGDV group (n=90) or the non-sEGDV (n-sEGDV) group (n=90). Patients' demographics, preoperative lab test results and operative details were comparable between the two groups. Postoperative and short-term complications were analyzed in two groups. There was statistically significant difference (P<0.01) in the PVF reduction between the two groups. Post-operative complications showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of bleeding, ascites, acute portal vein thrombosis, fever and hepatic encephalopathy. Mortality between two groups was comparable. The incidence of splenic fossa effusion after the surgery was lower in sEGDV group than in n-sEGDV group. There were no significant differences in the short-term follow-up data such as esophageal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy (P>0.05). It is suggested that sEGDV is a safe, simple and effective surgical procedure. It has both the advantages of the shunt and devascularization because it preserves body's voluntary diversion. With the advantage of low incidence of postoperative complications, it is an ideal surgical approach for the treatment of portal hypertension.