Application and problems analysis of traditional Chinese medicine volatile oil preparation technology based on ionic liquids / 中国中药杂志

Ionic liquids(ILs) are salts composed entirely of anions and cations in a liquid state at or near room temperature, which have a variety of good physicochemical properties such as low volatility and high stability. This paper mainly reviewed the research overview of ILs in the application of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) volatile oil preparation technology. Firstly, it briefly introduced the application of TCM volatile oil preparation technology and composition classification and physicochemical properties of ILs, and then summarized the application of ILs in the extraction, separation, analysis, and preparation of TCM volatile oil. Finally, the problems and challenges of ILs in the application of TCM volatile oil were explained, and the application of ILs in TCM volatile oil in the future was prospected.

Conversion of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) into nanomedicine:application of theory of unification of medicines and excipients / 中国中药杂志

In recent years, the use of active substances as excipients or as substitutes for other excipients in the design of modern drug delivery systems has received widespread attention, which has promoted the development of the theory of unification of medicines and excipients in the design of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) preparations. Adopting the theory of unification of medicines and excipients to design drug delivery systems can reduce the use of excipients and thus the cost of preparations, reduce drug toxicity, increase drug solubility and biocompatibility, enhance synergistic effect, and realize targeted delivery and simultaneous delivery of multiple components. However, the research on the application of this theory in the modern drug delivery system of TCM preparations is still insufficient, with few relevant articles. In addition, the TCM active substances that can be used as the excipients remain to be catalogued. In this paper, we review the types and applications of the drug delivery systems with TCM active substances as excipients and describe their common construction methods and mechanisms, aiming to provide references for the in-depth research on the modern drug delivery systems for TCM preparations.

Liver with Liver Stagnation and Spleen Deficiency Syndrome and Intestinal Microflora / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To study the clinical efficacy of Chaihu Shugansan on non-alcoholic fatty liver（NAFLD） patients with liver stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome and its effect on intestinal flora. Method:The study was a single-center， randomized，single-blind， placebo-controlled clinical study involving 80 patients with NAFLD treated from January 2019 to January 2020 at our hospital. They were divided into two groups （Chaihu Shugansan group，<italic>n</italic>=40） and control group （placebo group，<italic>n</italic>=40）. The two groups of patients were given lifestyle intervention as the basic protocol. The treatment group was orally given Chaihu Shugansan，and the control group was orally given placebo. The drugs were given twice in the morning and evening， 1 dose/time. Patients were followed up for 12 weeks. Before and after treatment，the efficady on liver steatosis was observed by abdominal ultrasound and transient elastography （Fibroscan）， levels of alanine aminotransferase（ALT），aspartate aminotransferase（AST），glutamyl transpeptidase（<italic>γ</italic>-GT），high density lipoprotein cholesterol（HDL-C），low density lipoprotein cholesterol（LDL-C），total cholesterol（TC），triglyceride（TG），interleukin（IL）-6，IL-1<italic>β</italic>，Toll-like receptor-4（TLR-4） in peripheral blood mononuclear cells（PBMCs） and intestinal flora were also detected. Result:There were 37 patients in the treatment group and 35 patients in the control group who finally completed the study protocol. The total effective rate of NAFLD in the treatment group（81.08%，30/37） was higher than that in the control group （68.57%，24/35）（<italic>Z</italic>=2.67，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The treatment group was superior to the control group in reducing the levels of BMI，ALT，AST，TC，LDL-C，TG，<italic>γ</italic>-GT and increasing the level of HDL-C（<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines（TNF-<italic>α</italic>，IL-1<italic>β</italic> and IL-6），the values of Controlled Attenuation Parameter（CAP），Liver Stiffness Measurement（LSM） and expression of TLR4 were down-regulated in the treatment group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. In addition，the treatment group showed increase in the abundance of beneficial bacteria （<italic>Bifidobacterium</italic> and <italic>Lactobacillus</italic>） and inhibited the abundance of pathogenic bacteria （<italic>Enterobacter </italic>and<italic> Enterococcus</italic>） in the gut（<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:In addition to the lifestyle intervention，Chaihu Shugansan can improve lipid metabolism and liver function，regulate intestinal flora and inhibit the level of inflammatory factors in patients with NAFLD.

Evaluation of efficacy and safety of biliary metal stent implantation via ERCP in treatment of unresectable malignant extrahepatic biliary obstruction / 中国内镜杂志

Objective To investigate efficacy and safety of biliary metallic stent placement via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for malignant extrahepatic biliary obstruction. Methods According to different methods, 40 patients with malignant biliary obstruction were divided into PTCD group and ERCP group. Patients in PTCD group received percutaneous puncture bile duct drainage (PTCD) treatment, patients in ERCP group received placement of metal stents under ERCP. Results The survival time of the two groups were significant difference (P < 0.05). Postoperative biliary patency time in ERCP group was significantly longer than that in PTCD group, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). One week later, the index for liver function of ERCP group was significantly better than that in PTCD group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the incidence of complications of PTCD group amd ERCP group was 30.0% and 10.0%, respectively. The complication rate of ERCP group was significantly lower than PTCD group (P < 0.05). Conclusion The effect of ERCP stent implantation is similar to that of PTCD in the treatment of malignant biliary obstruction. However, after ERCP, the time of biliary tract patency is longer with less complications and the index of liver function is recovered quickier than that after PTCD. Therefore, for the patients with malignant extrahepatic biliary obstruction, ERCP holds better clinical efficacy and safety.

Investigation on iodine nutrition of pregnant women and thyroid function of newborn in Jiangbei District of Ningbo City / 上海预防医学

Objective To investigate and evaluate the iodine nutritional status of pregnant women and thyroid function of new born children in Jiangbei District, and provide the basis for rational iodine supplement. Methods From March 2014 to October 2014,three survey spots ( representing the city,the rural-urban continum,and the countryside) investigated a total of 161 pregnant women, whose urine were tested for urine iodine.Comparative analysis was done on iodine nutritional status in different geographical areas and different pregnancy.Blood of pregnant women and matching neonatal umbilical cord blood were tested for free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), with analysis on the relationship between the two. Results Median of the 161 pregnant women urine iodine level was 178.67μg/L.Among them,the iodine excess ( urine iodine,>500 mu g/L) accounted for 3.73%(6/161),iodine sufficiency (urinary iodine 250~499 μg/L) 33.54%(54/161),iodine moderacy (urinary iodine 150 ~249 μg/L) 22.36%(36/161),iodine deficiency (urinary iodine <150 μg/L) 40.37%(65/161).Urine iodine levels in pregnant women from three different geographical areas showed no statistical difference.Median urine iodine of pregnant women in third trimester was 148.23 μg/L.FT3 ,FT4 level of 36 neonatal was (2.60 ±0.35) and (13.81 ±1.63) pmol/L respectively,the average serum TSH level was 3.38 mIU/L.Pregnant women urine iodine level paired with FT3 , TSH level of neonatal serum showed no correlation (P>0.05),but were positively correlated in FT4 level (P<0.01). Conclusion Iodine nutritional status in most pregnant women in Jiangbei District is at appropriate levels,but there is still some iodine deficiency found in them.Urine iodine content of pregnant women in third trimester was low;FT4 levels were positively correlated in matched pregnant woman and newborn.In view of this situation,monitoring of the iodine nutritional status in pregnant women and neonatal thyroid function should be enhanced.