Pre-formulation physicochemical properties of component-based Chinese medicine of Qinqi Fengshi Fang / 中国中药杂志

Pre-formulation physicochemical properties of the component-based Chinese medicine of Qinqi Fengshi Fang were investigated to provide a research basis for the design of the dosage form for component-based Chinese medicine of Qinqi Fengshi Fang. The macroporous resin adsorption and refining technology was used to prepare the total glycosides extract of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix, Panacis Majoris Rhizome and Corni Fructus respectively in the prescription of Qinqi Fengshi Fang. Their physicochemical properties were investigated, including solubility, wettability, hygroscopicity, equilibrium solubility, oil-water partition coefficient, and stability. The results showed that the total glycosides of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix, Panacis Majoris Rhizome and Corni Fructus all had good solubility and wettability. The solubility index of each total glycoside component was greater than 85%, and the water absorption index was greater than 50%. In the range of pH 2.0-7.4, the equilibrium solubility of three kinds of total glycosides all increased with the increase of pH, showing a consistent change trend of solubility. The hydrophilicity was also suitable and similar. Overall, three kinds of total glycosides showed good stability, but strong hygroscopicity. The degree of hygroscopicity was as follows: total glycosides of Gen-tianae Macrophyllae Radix > total glycosides of Corni Fructus > total glycosides of Panacis Majoris Rhizome. Therefore, the hygroscopi-city needed to be considered in the preparation of the component-based Chinese medicine of Qinqi Fengshi Fang. The excipients and packaging materials can be properly selected to reduce the hygroscopicity of the preparation. This study provides a reference for the dosage form design of the component-based Chinese medicine of Qinqi Fengshi Fang.

Relative performance of two equations for estimation of glomerular filtration rate in a Chinese population having chronic kidney disease / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The new Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation was developed to address the systematic underestimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study equation in patients with relatively well-preserved kidney function. Performance of the new equation in the Chinese population is unknown. The goal of the present study was to compare performance of these two equations in Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We enrolled 450 Chinese patients (239 women and 211 men) with CKD in the present study. The renal dynamic imaging method was used to measure the referenced standard GFR (rGFR) for comparison with estimations using the two equations. Their overall performance was assessed with the Bland-Altman method and receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. Performance of the two equations in lower and higher estimated GFR (eGFR) subgroups was further investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both eGFRs correlated well with rGFR (r = 0.88, 0.81, P < 0.05). In overall performance, the CKD-EPI equation showed less bias, higher precision and improved accuracy, and was better for detecting CKD. In the higher-eGFR subgroup, the CKD-EPI equation corrected the underestimation of GFR by the abbreviated MDRD equation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The CKD-EPI equation outperformed the abbreviated MDRD equation not only in overall performance but also in the subgroups studied. For the present, the CKD-EPI equation appears to be the first-choice prediction equation for estimating GFR.</p>