Objective To determine the content of heavy metals and harmful elements in commercially available Yuanhu Zhitong Capsule. Methods The determination of lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, copper and chromium by atomic absorption spectrometry and atomic fluorescence spectrometry was established.Results The recovery rate of the method was between 91.2% and 111.2%, and the precision of the experiment was less than 5%, and the range of each element was good.The stability and reproducibility of the method were good.Lead and cadmium and copper of Yuanhu zhitong capsule in different degree exceeded the standard, while the content of arsenic, mercury and chromium was in accordance with the requirements. Conclusion The method is simple and easy to operate, convenient and quick.The content of the current limit of Yuanhu zhitong capsule still need to establish the quality standard of lead and cadmium, arsenic, mercury, copper and chromium.In this paper, the establishment of the heavy metals and harmful elements determination method of Yuanhu zhitong capsule provide quality control and safety evaluation of reference.

A novel oral delivery system that TPGS modified docetaxel proniosomes, DTX-TPGS-PN, was developed and the characterization after hydration was observed. Firstly, Doce-TPGS-PN was optimized by investing the factors, including the type of surfactant, methods of adding TPGS, content of TPGS and the molar ratio of span40/cholesterol, which may affecting the particle size, encapsulation efficiency and instantaneous release of drug in the formulation. Then, the morphology, particle size, Zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency and in vitro release of the formulation were evaluated. The result showed that hydrated nanoparticles of DTX-TPGS-PNs were (93 ± 6.5) nm in size,(-83.95 ± 3.69) mV in zeta potential, (97.31 ± 0.60)% in encapsulation efficiency, exhibiting spherical morphology and biphasic release process that a low burst effect within the first 0.5 hour and a relative-sustained release for the next several hours in PBS. These results indicate the oral delivery system of DTX-TPGS-PN was successfully built with good properties.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Particle Size ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Taxoids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Vitamin E ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) protects the brain against unwanted substances, while, at the same time, limits the transport of many drugs into the brain. Aromatic refreshing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can induce resuscitation and modify the permeability of BBB, promoting other drugs entering into the brain with brain protection effect. This paper mainly reviews the research progress in regulation effects and mechanism of usual aromatic refreshing TCM, such as borneol, moschus, styrax, benzoinum and Tatarinow Sweetflag Rhizome, on BBB permeability. To broaden the application of these drugs in modern pharmaceutics in the future, the relatively research should emphasis on combining aromatic refreshing TCM with new formulations and technologies in pharmaceutics, providing novel promising strategies for brain diseases therapy.
Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Permeability ; drug effects

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of warm needling therapy for chronic lumbar strain.Methods:A total of 60 patients with chronic lumbar strain who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into a treatment group and a control group by the random number table,with 30 cases in each group.The treatment group was treated with warm needling therapy,while the control group was treated with ordinary acupuncture treatment.The treatments were both performed once every other day,and 7 times constituted a course of treatment.Visual analog scale (VAS) score was used to assess the degree of pain and the clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups.Results:The total effective rate of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in VAS score between the two groups before treatment (P＞0.05).After treatment,the VAS scores of both groups decreased significantly,and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (both P＜0.05).The VAS score of the treatment group after treatment was statistically different from that in the control group (P＜0.05).Conclusion:Warm needling therapy has a better curative effect than ordinary acupuncture in the treatment of chronic lumbar strain.

Objective To evaluate the olfactory functions in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) with a smell identification test developed for the Chinese population and to examine possible factors contributing to PD patients' olfactory performance.Methods Fifty-five patients with idiopathic and nondementia PD and 55 demographically matched healthy controls (HC) were recruited and their olfactory identification tested using the Chinese Smell Identification Test developed by the Institute of Psychology at Chinese Academy of Sciences.Results Olfactory identification score was significantly lower (t =-6.827,P＜0.01) in the PD group (19.3 ±5.4) as compared with the HC group (26.5 ±5.7).Of all PD patients,63.6％ scored over 1 SD below the age norm.In particular,of those with Hoehn-Yahr ratings between 2 to 3,77.8％ scored over 1 SD below the age norm.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that a cut-off score of 22.5 on the Chinese Smell Identification Test distinguished between PD patients and HC with a sensitivity of 74.6％ and specificity of 70.9％.Within the PD group,age,education,Hoehn-Yahr rating and Mini-Mental State Examination score were not found to correlate with olfactory performance (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion PD patients in China show significant impairment of olfactory identification,which is effectively captured by the Chinese Smell Identification Test.

Clinical study of modified Ganmai Dazao decoction in the treatment of yang deficiency climacteric depression and observe the effects of modified Ganmai Dazao decoction on neuroendocrine system in patients with yang deficiency climacteric depression. 86 cases were randomly divided into treatment group treated with modified Ganmai Dazao decoction and control group treated with Deanxit. The curative effect was evaluated with Hamilton's depressive scale (HAMD) and pittsburgh sleep quality scale (PSQI) before and at the end of the two and four weeks of the treatment, the serum levels of serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), estradiol (E2), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteotropic hormone (LH) were detected before and after the four weeks of the treatment The results showed that the total effective power of treatment group was 88.4% and the total effective power of control group was 81.4% after four weeks interference, with insignificant difference between the two groups. After two and four weeks of the treatment, the score of HAMD decreased remarkably in both groups (P < 0.01), with insignificant difference between the two groups in same phase. After two and four weeks of the treatment, the total score of PSQI decreased remarkably in both groups (P < 0.05), with significant difference between the two groups after four weeks (P < 0.01). After four weeks of treatment, the serum levels of 5-HT and NE increased (P < 0.01), with insignificant difference between the groups. After four weeks of treatment, the serum levels of E2 increased obviously (P < 0.05), the levels of FSH decreased obviously (P < 0.05), the levels of LH decreased insignificant, with insignificant difference between two groups. This study indicates that modified Ganmai Dazao decoction has obvious therapeutic effects in the treatment of climacteric depression, and showed equivalent efficacy with Deanxit, and modified Ganmai Dazao decoction has better effect on improving the sleep quality in patients than Deanxit, the effect of improved clinical symptoms may be through adjusted levels of 5-HT, NE, E2, FSH and LH of climacteric depression.
Adult ; Depression ; blood ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Menopause ; drug effects ; psychology ; Middle Aged ; Neurosecretory Systems ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Norepinephrine ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Serotonin ; blood

Objective To evaluate the treatment efficacy,toxicities and prognostic factors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma ( NPC ) treated with intensity modulated radiation oncology ( IMRT ).Methods Between January 2006 and August 2008,300 patients with pathologically diagnosed NPC from 6 center received IMRT.The number of patients with stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳa+b disease (UICC/AJCC 2002 staging system) were 6,45,141 and 108,respectively.The prescription doses were as follows:70-74 Gy/30f toplanning target volume of primary nasopharynx tumor ( PTVRλ),68-70 Gy/30f to planning target volume of positive lymphnode (ptvnd),60-64 Gy/30f to higher risk region (PTV1),50-54 Gy/30f to lower risk region (PTV2).Patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳa+b disease also received cisplatin-based chemotherapy.Cox method was used for Multivariate analysis.ResultsThe follow-up rate was 99.7％.The 4-year rate of local control,regional control,metastasis-free survival (DMFS),disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was 94.0％,95.5％,87.4％,80.8％,86.1％,respectively.Mucositis was the most severe acute toxicity,with 18.0％grade 1,48.7％grade 2,33.3％grade 3.No patient suffered from grade 4mucositis.Xerostomia was the most common late toxicity,with 12.0％ grade 0,75.7％ grade 1,12.3％grade 2.No grade 3-4 xerostomia was observed.There were 18,15 and 42 patients failed in local,regional and distant metastasis,respectively.Multivariate analysis showed that N stage was the only prognostic factor for OS (x2 =5.17,P=0.023),DMFS (x2 =6.91,P=0.009) and DFS (x2 =8.15,P=0.004) in these patients.ConclusionsIMRT can improve the treatment efficacy of NPC.The acute and late toxicities were tolerated.Distant metastasis becomes the main treatment failure.N stage is a significant prognostic factors.

OBJECTIVETo analyse the clinical characteristics and potential prognostic factors of colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases.

METHODSThe clinical and pathological data of 300 colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.

RESULTSThe median survival time of these patients was 19.0 months. The 1-, 2- and 5-year survival rates after liver metastases were 79.0%, 29.0% and 3.0%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that performance status (KPS), histological grading, primary tumor, N status, lymphatic and vascular invasion, stage at diagnosis, the number, size and distribution of liver metastases and other accompanied metastases were prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis showed that KPS, lymphatic and vascular invasion, the number and size of liver metastases were independent prognostic factors of colorectal cancer with liver metastases.

CONCLUSIONPerformance status, lymphatic and vascular invasion, the number and size of liver metastases are independent prognostic factors of colorectal cancer with liver metastases.

Adenocarcinoma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; drug therapy ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colonic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Rectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Burden ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo verify the clinical efficacy of acupuncture on motor dysfunction in ischemic stroke of subacute stage.

METHODSThe multi-central randomized controlled trial was adopted. One hundred and twenty-six cases of ischemic stroke of subacute stage were randomized into an acupuncture group (61 cases) and a conventional treatment group (65 cases). The basic treatment of western internal medicine and rehabilitation training were applied to the patients of the two groups. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was supplemented at the body points located on the extensor of the upper limbs and the flexor of the lower limbs. In combination, scalp acupuncture was applied to NS5, MS6 and MS6 on the affected side. The treatment was given 5 times a week and totally 8 weeks were required. The follow-up observation lasted for 3 months. The scores in Fugl-Meyer scale and NIHSS scale and Barthel index were compared between the two groups before treatment, in 4 and 8 weeks of treatment and the 3-month follow-up observation after treatment separately.

RESULTSIn 4 and 8 weeks of treatment and the follow-up observation, Fugl-Meyer scale score was improved obviously in the patients of the two groups (all P<0. 01). In 8 weeks of treatment and the follow-up observation, Fugl-Meyer scale score in the acupuncture groupwas im proved much apparently as compared with that in the conventional treatment group [68. 0 (43. 0,86. 5) vs 52. 5 (30.3, 77.0), 77.0 (49.5, 89.0) vs 63. 0 (33.0, 84.0), both P<0. 05]. Except that NIHSS scale score was not reduced apparently in 4 weeks of treatment in the conventional treatment group (P>0.05), the results of NIHSS scale at the other time points were all decreased obviously as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (all P<0. 01). In 8 weeks of treatment and the follow-up observation, the results in the acupuncture group were reduced much apparently as compared with those in the conventional treatment group [5. 0 (3.0,8.0) vs 7. 0 (3.0,13.8), 4. 0 (1.5,7.0) vs 6.0 (2.0,11.7) ,both P<0. 05]. In 8 weeks of treatment and the follow-up observation, Barthel index was improved obviously as compared with that before treatment in the patients of the two groups (all P<0. 05). The improvement in the acupuncture group was much more significant as compared with the conventional treatment group [75. 0 (60. 0,87. 5) vs 65. O (36. 3, 87. 5), P<0. 051.

CONCLUSIONBased on the conventional treatment, Acupuncture achieves the satisfactory clinical efficacy on motor dysfunction in ischemic stroke of subacute stage.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motor Activity ; Stroke ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate genetic etiology of fetal urinary abnormalities with array-based comparative genomic hycridization(array-CGH).

METHODSThirty-two fetuses with variable urinary abnormalities but normal karyotyping by conventional cytogenetic technique were selected. DNA from the fetuses and their parents samples were prepared and hybridization with Affymetrix cytogenetic 2.7M arrays by follwing the manufacture's standard protocol. The data were analyzed by special CHAS software packages.

RESULTSBy using array-CGH detection, genomic imbalanced copy number variations (CNVs) were identified in night fetuses(28%), four out of night CNVs were inherited from parental samples; two were indicated to be benign variants(6%) in the database; and the other three CNVs (9%) were all de novo adjacent microdeletions and microduplication mapping on to common chromosome 1q21.1 region, within which was genitourinaty system function associated gene PDZK1.

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of genomic unbalanced variations in fetuses with congenital urinary malformations is approximately 28%, including about 9% pathogenic variations. Copy number variations (CNVs) of chromosome 1q21.1 region are associated with congenital urinary malformations which may be due to haploinsufficiency or overexpression of PDZK1 gene.

Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; abnormalities ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis