Effect of Different Types of Hypoglycemic Medications on Psoriasis: An Analysis of Current Evidence.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic recurrent inflammatory skin disease with a high risk of diabetes based on disease severity. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of different hypoglycemic medications in patients with psoriasis. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of hypoglycemic medications in patients with psoriasis. The primary outcome was of changes in the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score, and a 75% improvement in PASI from baseline (PASI75). Subgroup analysis was used to investigate associations among the types of hypoglycemic medicines, combination therapy, patient characteristics, course of treatment, and curative effect. RESULTS: We included 3,286 patients from 19 studies to explore the effects of hypoglycemic medications. Patients randomized to receive hypoglycemic medicines showed a more significant decrease in the PASI score (standard mean difference = -0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.87 to -0.23, p = 0.0007) and a higher PASI75 ratio (RR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.20-2.71, p = 0.0046). Patients consuming thiazolidinediones (TZDs) were more likely to reach PASI75 than those consuming glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors. The combined use of hypoglycemic medicines had an add-on effect on the standard psoriasis treatment, and the proportion of PASI75 in the combination group was nearly four times that in the noncombination group (p = 0.0216). In addition, hypoglycemic medications can reduce body weight, waist circumference, triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and systolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Certain hypoglycemic drugs, such as GLP-1 RAs and TZDs, are beneficial for treating psoriasis. Multidisciplinary collaboration is recommended for the management of systemic inflammation in patients with psoriasis and diabetes.

TM4SF19-AS1 facilitates the proliferation of lung squamous cell carcinoma by recruiting WDR5 to mediate TM4SF19.

BACKGROUND: As reported, long non-coding RNAs are a pivotal player in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) progression. We noticed the remarkably upregulated transmembrane-4-l-six-family-19 antisense RNA 1 (TM4SF19-AS1) in LSCC and further demonstrated the function it played in LSCC and the possible molecular mechanism. METHODS: Via bioinformatics approach, we evaluated TM4SF19-AS1 and TM4SF19 levels in LSCC tissue, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot revealed their mRNA and protein levels in LSCC cells. Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony formation assays analyzed the proliferation ability of LSCC cells, and cell adhesion ability was detected via cell adhesion assay. RNA immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation analyzed the underlying mechanism of TM4SF19-AS1 regulating its target, while methylation-specific PCR indicated the methylation level of TM4SF19-AS1. RESULTS: TM4SF19-AS1 was markedly upregulated in LSCC. Functional assays revealed that TM4SF19-AS1 could facilitate the proliferation and adhesion of LSCC. Besides, we revealed the mechanism of TM4SF19-AS1 regulation that it directly bound to WD repeat-containing protein 5 (WDR5), and was then recruited to TM4SF19 promoter region, which activated DNA demethylation, thereby suppressing malignant LSCC progression. CONCLUSION: Our research demonstrated that TM4SF19-AS1 affected LSCC cell proliferation by recruiting WDR5 to manipulate transmembrane-4-lsix-family-member-19 (TM4SF19), which offers a new observation on LSCC pathogenesis, indicating that TM4SF19-AS1 is able to be a promising target for LSCC treatment.

Investigating the potential of Shikonin as a novel hypertrophic scar treatment.

BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic scarring is a highly prevalent condition clinically and results from a decreased number of apoptotic fibroblasts and over-abundant production of collagen during scar formation following wound healing. Our previous studies indicated that Shikonin, an active component extracted from Radix Arnebiae, induces apoptosis and reduces collagen production in hypertrophic scar-derived fibroblasts. In the study reported here, we further evaluate the potential use of Shikonin as a novel scar remediation therapy by examining the effects of Shikonin on both keratinocytes and fibroblasts using Transwell® co-culture techniques. The underlying mechanisms were also revealed. In addition, effects of Shikonin on the expression of cytokines in Transwell co-culture "conditioned" medium were investigated. RESULTS: Our results indicate that Shikonin preferentially inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in fibroblasts without affecting keratinocyte function. In addition, we found that the proliferation-inhibiting and apoptosis-inducing abilities of SHI might be triggered via MAPK and Bcl-2/Caspase 3 signalling pathways. Furthermore, SHI has been found to attenuate the expression of TGF-ß1 in Transwell co-cultured "conditioned" medium. CONCLUSIONS: The data generated from this study provides further evidence that supports the potential use of Shikonin as a novel scar remediation therapy.

Ensemble Multi-Quantiles: Adaptively Flexible Distribution Prediction for Uncertainty Quantification.

We propose a novel, succinct, and effective approach for distribution prediction to quantify uncertainty in machine learning. It incorporates adaptively flexible distribution prediction of [Formula: see text] in regression tasks. This conditional distribution's quantiles of probability levels spreading the interval (0,1) are boosted by additive models which are designed by us with intuitions and interpretability. We seek an adaptive balance between the structural integrity and the flexibility for [Formula: see text], while Gaussian assumption results in a lack of flexibility for real data and highly flexible approaches (e.g., estimating the quantiles separately without a distribution structure) inevitably have drawbacks and may not lead to good generalization. This ensemble multi-quantiles approach called EMQ proposed by us is totally data-driven, and can gradually depart from Gaussian and discover the optimal conditional distribution in the boosting. On extensive regression tasks from UCI datasets, we show that EMQ achieves state-of-the-art performance comparing to many recent uncertainty quantification methods. Visualization results further illustrate the necessity and the merits of such an ensemble model.

Cu(I) Metal-Organic Framework Composites with AgCl/Ag Nanoparticles for Irradiation-Enhanced Antibacterial Activity against E. coli.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as prospective antibacterial agents or synergistic agents for their versatile chemical building components and structures. In this work, copper(I) halide MOFs of Cu(I)bpyCl (bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine) composited with AgCl/Ag nanoparticles were synthesized, and their antibacterial activities were measured against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The attached chlorine in Cu(I)2Cl2 nodes of the MOFs served as loading sites for silver ions, in which AgCl and concomitant metallic Ag nanoparticles were in situ generated. Exceptional antibacterial activity against E. coli was realized with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ∼7.8 µg mL-1, while the MIC value was ∼16 µg mL-1 against S. aureus. Enhanced antibacterial activity against E. coli with light irradiation was measured by the disk diffusion method compared with that under dark conditions.

Baicalin, silver titanate, Bletilla striata polysaccharide and carboxymethyl chitosan in a porous sponge dressing for burn wound healing.

OBJECTIVE: This study tests the efficacy of Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP), carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), baicalin (BA) and silver titanate (ST) in a wound dressings to fight infection, promote healing and provide superior biocompatibility. METHODS: The antibacterial activity of BA and ST was evaluated in vitro using the inhibition zone method. BA/ST/BSP/CMC porous sponge dressings were prepared and characterized. The biocompatibility of BA/ST/BSP/CMC was assessed using the cell counting kit-8 assay. The therapeutic effect of BA/ST/BSP/CMC was further investigated using the dorsal skin burn model in Sprague-Dawley rats. RESULTS: The wound dressing had good antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus through BA and ST, while the combination of BSP and CMC played an important role in promoting wound healing. The BA/ST/BSP/CMC porous sponge dressings were prepared using a freeze-drying method with the concentrations of BA and ST at 20 and 0.83 mg/mL, respectively, and the optimal ratio of 5% BSP to 4% CMC was 1:3. The average porosity, water absorption and air permeability of BA/ST/BSP/CMC porous sponge dressings were measured to be 90.43%, 746.1% and 66.60%, respectively. After treatment for 3 and 7 days, the healing rates of the BA/ST/BSP/CMC group and BA/BSP/CMC group were significantly higher than those of the normal saline (NS) group and silver sulfadiazine (SSD) group (P < 0.05). Interleukin-1ß expression in the BA/ST/BSP/CMC group at 1 and 3 days was significantly lower than that in the other three groups (P < 0.05). After being treated for 3 days, vascular endothelial growth factor expression in the BA/BSP/CMC group and BA/ST/BSP/CMC group was significantly higher than that in the NS group and SSD group (P < 0.05). Inspection of histological sections showed that the BA/ST/BSP/CMC group and BA/BSP/CMC group began to develop scabbing and peeling of damaged skin after 3 days of treatment, indicating accelerated healing relative to the NS group and SSD group. CONCLUSION: The optimized concentration of BA/ST/BSP/CMC dressing was as follows: 6 mg BSP, 14.4 mg CMC, 0.5 mg ST and 12 mg BA. The BA/ST/BSP/CMC dressing, containing antibacterial constituents, was non-cytotoxic and effective in accelerating the healing of burn wounds, making it a promising candidate for wound healing. Please cite this article as: Gong YR, Zhang C, Xiang X, Wang ZB, Wang YQ, Su YH, Zhang HQ. Baicalin, silver titanate, Bletilla striata polysaccharide and carboxymethyl chitosan in a porous sponge dressing for burn wound healing. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(5): 487-495.

Psoriasis complicated with metabolic disorder is associated with traditional Chinese medicine syndrome types: a hospital-based retrospective case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the distribution law of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome types in patients with psoriasis vulgaris complicated by metabolic disorders based on the same pathogenic factors as blood-heat and blood-stasis in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and metabolic disorders and to further analyze the correlation between adiponectin and the distribution law. METHODS: From 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019, patients diagnosed with psoriasis in the inpatient or outpatient department of Dermatology Ward of Shanghai Yueyang Hospital and normal participants who underwent physical examination in the physical examination center over the same period were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, medical history, metabolic disorder indices, and TCM syndrome indices of psoriasis patients and healthy volunteers were evaluated. RESULTS: We included 307 patients with psoriasis and 613 healthy controls. On analyzing past medical history, the proportion of overweight and obesity and the comorbidity of diabetes in the psoriasis group (53.42 and 14.66%) were significantly higher than in the control group (43.88 and 7.67%, respectively; p < .05). The abnormal rates of triglyceride (34.20%), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (50.49%), and HbA1c (18.57%) levels in the psoriasis group were higher than those in the normal control group (26.75, 17.13, and 12.56%, respectively). Overall, the incidence of metabolic disorders in psoriasis patients (267/307, 86.97%) was higher than that in the normal controls (484/613, 78.96%). Among the different syndrome types, the blood-stasis group had significantly higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, and abnormal glycosylated hemoglobin (46.07, 19.10, and 24.72%, respectively) than those of the control group (27.57, 7.67, and 12.56%; p < .05). Patients with blood stasis syndrome had the highest metabolic disorder comorbidity rate (93.26%) and lowest adiponectin level (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: TCM syndrome differentiation of psoriasis, especially the diagnosis of blood-stasis syndrome, prompts the early screening of patients with metabolic comorbidities. For patients with psoriasis with metabolic disorder, TCM for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis can be compatibly applied without contraindications. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Trial ID: NCT03942185).

Combined application of macroporous resin and high speed counter-current chromatography for preparative separation of three flavonoid triglycosides from the leaves of Actinidia valvata Dunn.

In this paper, the combined techniques of macroporous resin column chromatography and high speed counter-current chromatography were applied for preparative separation of flavonoid triglycosides from the leaves of Actinidia valvata Dunn, a famous Chinese medicinal herb. Twelve kinds of macroporous resins were investigated by adsorption and desorption tests. HPD-300 resin showed the maximum effectiveness and thus was selected for the first cleaning-up, in which 20% ethanol was used to remove the undesired constituents and 60% ethanol to elute the targets. The crude extract was then purified by high speed counter-current chromatography with the solvent system composed of ethyl acetate-n-butanol-water (2:1:3 and 4:1:5, v/v). Three flavonoid triglycosides, namely, kaempferol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-ß-D-galactopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-(4-O-acetyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-(1→6)-ß-D-galactopyranoside and kaempferol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-(2,4-di-O-acetyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-(1→6)-ß-D-galactopyranoside, were obtained. The purities of the separated compounds were all over 95% as determined by HPLC area normalization method. Their chemical structures were confirmed by UV, MS, NMR, and the standards.

Hepatoprotective Activity of the Total Saponins from Actinidia valvata Dunn Root against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Damage in Mice.

The protective activity of the total saponins from Actinidia valvata Dunn root (TSAV) was studied against carbon-tetrachloride- (CCl(4)-) induced acute liver injury in mice. Mice were orally administered TSAV (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) for five days and then given CCl(4). TSAV pretreatment significantly prevented the CCl(4)-induced hepatic damage as indicated by the serum marker enzymes (AST, ALT, and ALP). Parallel to these changes, TSAV also prevented CCl(4)-induced oxidative stress by inhibiting lipid peroxidation (MDA) and restoring the levels of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GR, and GPX), GSH and GSSG. In addition, TSAV attenuated the serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels and inhibited the serum iNOS and NO levels. Liver histopathology indicated that TSAV alleviated CCl(4)-induced inflammatory infiltration and focal necrosis. TSAV (200 mg/kg) also significantly decreased Bak, Bax mRNA and Fas, FasL, p53, and NF-κB p65 protein expressions and increased Bcl-2 mRNA and protein expressions. Meanwhile, TSAV significantly downregulated caspase-3 and caspase-8 activities and prevented CCl(4)-induced hepatic cell apoptosis. In addition, TSAV exhibited antioxidant activity through scavenging hydroxyl and DPPH free radicals in vitro. These results indicated that TSAV could protect mice against CCl(4)-induced acute liver damage possibly through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activities and regulating apoptotic-related genes.

New triterpenoids with cytotoxic activity from actinidia valvata.

Two new triterpenoids, 30-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-2alpha,3alpha,24-trihydroxyurs-12,18-diene-28-oic acid O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (1) and 2alpha,3beta,3,30-tetrahydroxyurs-12,18-diene-28-oic acid O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (2) were isolated from roots of Actinidia valvata Dunn. Their structures were elucidated by means of extensive spectroscopic studies. Both these two new compounds showed moderate cytotoxic activity in vitro against BEL-7402 and SMMC-7721 tumor cell line.

[Evaluation of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis of hilar and mediastinal masses of unknown etiologies].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the diagnostic values of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in the patients with hilar and mediastinal masses. METHODS: A total of 91 patients with mediastinal/hilar masses undergoing EBUS-TBNA in Zhongshan Hospital between September 2009 and March 2011 were retrospectively enrolled. Their unknown etiologies were difficult to be assessed by a traditional biopsy. The association of pathologic examinations and clinical data were analyzed. RESULTS: Among them, 61 patients had malignant lesions while 30 patients were diagnosed with benign diseases. In the cases with malignant lesions, the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accordance rate were 91.67%, 100% and 91.80% respectively. The diagnostic accordance rate of benign lesions was 60%. And 36.9% (24/65) of the samples were small-sized so as to improve the diagnostic accuracy. The combination of cytology and histology significantly increased the diagnostic accordance versus cytology alone in all cases (P < 0.01). But there was no statistically significant difference in the malignant lesion subgroup with a better tendency (P > 0.05). No severe complication occurred. CONCLUSION: With a high diagnostic accuracy and a low complication rate for the patients with hilar and mediastinal masses of unknown etiologies, EBUS-TBNA has different values for diagnosing malignant and benign lesions.

[A comparison study of pharmacokinetics between bufalin-loaded bovine serum albumin nanoparticles and bufalin in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the bufalin concentration in rats' plasma by establishing a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method, and to evaluate and compare the pharmacokinetic characteristics of bufalin-loaded bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (bufalin-BSA-NP) and bufalin. METHODS: Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups with five rats in each group, and administered with a single dose of 0.6, 0.3 and 0.15 mg/kg of bufalin-BSA-NP or bufalin, respectively. After the administration, blood samples were collected from the orbital venous plexus at designed time points (1, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 120, 180, 300 and 480 min). The concentration of bufalin in plasma at different sampling time points was determined by HPLC-MS/MS. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and compared. RESULTS: The established HPLC-MS/MS method had high linearity, precision and accuracy. The blood plasma area under curve, the mean retention time and the terminal half life of bufalin-BSA-NP were 1.19 to 1.81, 2.12 to 3.61 and 2.17 to 2.94 times of bufalin, respectively. CONCLUSION: Bufalin-BSA-NP has the function of sustained release thus to prolong the bufalin remaining in blood.

Experimental Investigation of Unconfined Compression Strength and Microstructure Characteristics of Slag and Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Stabilized Riverside Soft Soil.

To solve the issues of insufficient early strength of cement stabilized soil and high resource cost, high reduction cost, and high environmental cost induced by the application of cement, the slag and fly ash-based geopolymer was adopted as the stabilizer to treat riverside soft soil. This study mainly investigated the effects of stabilizer content, slag-to-fly ash ratio, and alkaline activator content on the strength of geopolymer stabilized soils with different curing ages. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray energy spectrum analysis (EDS) tests were carried out. The results show that the stabilizer content, slag-fly ash ratio, and alkaline activator content have a decisive influence on the UCS of geopolymer-stabilized soil. The mix-proportions scheme of geopolymer stabilized riverside soft soil, with a geopolymer content of 15%, a slag-fly ash ratio of 80:20, and an alkaline activator content of 30%, is considered optimum. It is proven by SEM that the uniformly distributed gelatinous products formed in the geopolymer-stabilized soil bind the soil particles tightly. Moreover, the EDS analysis confirms that the gelatinous products are mainly composed of C-S-H gel and sodium-based aluminosilicate (N-A-S-H).

Novel flavonoids from the leaves of Actinidia valvata Dunn: structural elucidation and antioxidant activity.

Two novel flavonoids, kaempferol 3- O- α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-3) (2,4-di- O-acetyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl) (1-6) ß-D-galactopyranoside (1) and kaempferol 3- O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-3) (4-O-acetyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl) (1-6) ß-D-galactopyranoside (2), along with three known ones, kaempferol-3- O-ß-D-galactopyranoside (3), kaempferol (4), and 7-hydroxychromone (5), have been isolated from the leaves of Actinidia valvata Dunn, and their structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1-3 exhibited dose-dependent activity in scavenging 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals, superoxide anion radicals, and hydroxyl radicals, and inhibited lipid peroxidation of mouse liver homogenate IN VITRO.

Design of dual targeting immunomicelles loaded with bufalin and study of their anti-tumor effect on liver cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Bufalin is an effective drug for the treatment of liver cancer. But its high toxicity, poor water-solubility, fast metabolism and short elimination half-life limit its use in tumor treatment. How to make the drug accumulate in the tumor and reduce side effects while maintaining its efficacy are urgent problems to be solved. The goal of this study is to solve these problems. METHODS: A copolymer with tunable poly-N-isopropylacrylamide and polylactic acid was designed and synthesized. The corresponding dual targeting immunomicelles (DTIs) loaded with bufalin (DTIs-BF) were synthesized by copolymer self-assembly in an aqueous solution. The size and structure of DTIs-BF were determined by ZetaSizer Nano-ZS and transmission electron microscopy. Then, its temperature sensitivity, serum stability, critical micelle concentration (CMC), entrapment efficiency (EE), drug release and non-cytotoxicity of blank block copolymer micelles (BCMs) were evaluated. Next, the effects of DTIs-BF on cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, and tumor cell inhibition were evaluated. Finally, the accumulation of DTIs-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and the in vivo anti-tumor effect were observed using an interactive video information system. RESULTS: DTIs-BF had a small size, spherical shape, good temperature sensitivity, high serum stability, low CMC, high EE, and slow drug release. The blank BCMs had very low cytotoxicity. Compared with free bufalin, the in vitro cellular internalization and cytotoxicity of DTIs-BF against SMMC-7721 cells were significantly enhanced, and the effects were obviously better at 40 °C than 37 °C. In addition, the therapeutic effect on SMMC-7721 cells was further enhanced by the programmed cell death specifically caused by bufalin. When DTIs-FITC were injected intravenously in BALB/c nude mice bearing liver cancer, the accumulation of FITC was significantly increased in tumors. CONCLUSION: DTIs-BF is a potentially effective nano-formulation and has broad prospects in the clinical treatment of liver cancer.

Effect of Accelerators on the Workability, Strength, and Microstructure of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete.

The preparation of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) with both high-early-strength and good workability contributes to further promotion of its development and application. This study investigated the effects of different accelerators (SM, alkaline powder accelerator; SF, alkaline powder accelerator containing fluorine; and AF, alkali-free liquid accelerator containing fluorine) on the workability and strength properties of UHPC. The microstructure of UHPC was also characterized by using XRD and SEM. Several dosage levels of accelerators (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% by mass) were selected. The results indicate that the setting time and fluidity of UHPC are gradually decreased with an increase in accelerators dosage. Compared with fluorine-containing SF/AF, fluorine-free SM evidently facilitates UHPC early strength gain speed. However, the fluorine-containing accelerators have a higher 28 d strength ratio, especially AF. The maximum compressive and flexural strength ratios are obtained at a dosage of 6%, which are 95.5% and 98.3%, respectively. XRD and SEM tests further reveal the effect of different accelerators on the macroscopic properties of UHPC from the micro level.

Titanate-silica mesostructured nanocables: synthesis, structural analysis and biomedical applications.

1D hierarchical composite mesostructures of titanate and silica were synthesized via an interfacial surfactant templating approach. Such mesostructures have complex core-shell architectures consisting of single-crystalline H(2)Ti(3)O(7) nanobelts inside the ordered mesoporous SiO(2) shell, which are nontoxic and highly biocompatible. The overall diameter of as-prepared 1D hierarchical composite mesostructures is only approx. 34.2 nm with a length over 500 nm on average. A model to explain the formation mechanism of these mesostructures has been proposed; the negatively charged surface of H(2)Ti(3)O(7) nanobelts controls the formation of the octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C(18)TAB) bilayer, which in turn regulates the cooperative self-assembly of silica and C(18)TAB complex micelles on the interface to produce a mesoporous silica shell. More importantly, the application of synthesized mesostructured nanocables as anticancer drug reservoirs has also been explored, which indicates that the membranes containing these mesoporous nanocables have a great potential to be used as transdermal drug delivery systems.

[Possibility and necessity of constructing new nanoformula systems of traditional Chinese medicine].

The past decade has witnessed the remarkable progress on nanotechnology and nanoherb. With the globally rapid development of nanotechnology, we are considering to construct new nanoformula systems of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by using porous materials, multilayered core-shell particles or nanoparticles containing various multifunctional parts. With the compatibility of sovereign, minister, assistant and courier in a formula, new nanoformula systems of TCM will have various advantages, such as containing multiple active species, controlled release, targeting function, and labeling and tracing capabilities. Using the latest breakthroughs of nanotechnology for the modern research of TCM will greatly help enhance the ability to investigate the principles of TCM, and to design, screen and utilize new nanoformula systems of TCM.

Determination of Endogenous Bufalin in Serum of Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on HPLC-MS/MS.

Bufalin is a cardiotonic steroid and a key active ingredient of the Chinese medicine ChanSu. It has significant anti-tumor activity against many malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Previous studies have shown that human bodies contain an endogenous bufalin-like substance. This study aimed to confirm whether the endogenous bufalin-like substances is bufalin and further detect the differences between HCC and control groups of endogenous bufalin concentration by the high-performance liquid chromatography coupled tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The results confirmed the endogenous bufalin-like substance is bufalin. Totally, 227 serum samples were collected: 54 from HCC patients and 173 from healthy volunteers constituting a control group. Both the test group and the control group contained bufalin in serum, revealing that bufalin is indeed an endogenous substance. The bufalin concentration was 1.3 nM in HCC patients and 5.7 nM in normal people (P < 0.0001). These results indicate that human bodies contain endogenous bufalin, and it may be negatively correlated with the incidence of HCC.

[Professor Ling Changquan's experience in treating primary liver cancer: an analysis of herbal medication].

On the basis of outpatients' medical records concerning primary liver cancer (PLC), data of 552 patients (with 2020 effective prescriptions) from the Outpatient Department of Changhai Hospital treated by Professor Ling Changquan were collected. The nature, flavor and meridian distribution of the herbs used in the prescriptions were summarized by frequency method, and the features of the herbs used according to syndrome differentiation were analyzed by logistic regression. The couple herbs used were analyzed by cluster analysis. All the data were analyzed in combination with the experience of the specialist. It showed that most of the frequently used herbs were herbs for invigorating the spleen to promote appetite, removing toxic materials to inhibit tumor growth, and activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis. These herbs are mostly of plain or cool nature, and mainly of sweet, bitter, or acrid taste. It also showed that the most frequently used herbs for qi deficiency were Astragalus membranaceus, Atractylodes macrocephala, and Pseudostellariae; Caulis Spatholobi and Chinese jujube for blood asthenia; Fructus Corni and Ophiopogon japonicus for yin deficiency; Agastache rugosa, Semen Plantaginis and Poria for water-dampness; cape jasmine fruit and baikal skullcap root for heat excess; peach seed and Radix Paeoniae Rubra for blood stasis; Curcuma wenyujin, Akebia trifoliata and Bupleurum chinese for qi stagnation. A total of 19 pairs of couple herbs were summarized by the cluster analysis.