Pharmacologically significant constituents collectively responsible for anti-sepsis action of XueBiJing, a Chinese herb-based intravenous formulation.

Sepsis, a life-threatening health issue, lacks effective medicine targeting the septic response. In China, treatment combining the intravenous herbal medicine XueBiJing with conventional procedures reduces the 28-day mortality of critically ill patients by modulating septic response. In this study, we identified the combined active constituents that are responsible for the XueBiJing's anti-sepsis action. Sepsis was induced in rats by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The compounds were identified based on their systemic exposure levels and anti-sepsis activities in CLP rats that were given an intravenous bolus dose of XueBiJing. Furthermore, the identified compounds in combination were assessed, by comparing with XueBiJing, for levels of primary therapeutic outcome, pharmacokinetic equivalence, and pharmacokinetic compatibility. We showed that a total of 12 XueBiJing compounds, unchanged or metabolized, circulated with significant systemic exposure in CLP rats that received XueBiJing. Among these compounds, hydroxysafflor yellow A, paeoniflorin, oxypaeoniflorin, albiflorin, senkyunolide I, and tanshinol displayed significant anti-sepsis activities, which involved regulating immune responses, inhibiting excessive inflammation, modulating hemostasis, and improving organ function. A combination of the six compounds, with the same respective doses as in XueBiJing, displayed percentage survival and systemic exposure in CLP rats similar to those by XueBiJing. Both the combination and XueBiJing showed high degrees of pharmacokinetic compatibility regarding interactions among the six active compounds and influences of other circulating XueBiJing compounds. The identification of XueBiJing's pharmacologically significant constituents supports the medicine's anti-sepsis use and provides insights into a polypharmacology-based approach to develop medicines for effective sepsis management.

Descriptive epidemiology of major depressive disorder in Canada in 2012.

OBJECTIVE: The epidemiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) was first described in the Canadian national population in 2002. Updated information is now available from a 2012 survey: the Canadian Community Health Study-Mental Health (CCHS-MH). METHOD: The CCHS-MH employed an adaptation of the World Health Organization World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview and had a sample of n=25 113. Demographic variables, treatment, comorbidities, suicidal ideation, and perceived stigma were assessed. The analysis estimated adjusted and unadjusted frequencies and prevalence ratios. All estimates incorporated analysis methods to account for complex survey design effects. RESULTS: The past-year prevalence of MDD was 3.9% (95% CI 3.5% to 4.2%). Prevalence was higher in women and in younger age groups. Among respondents with past-year MDD, 63.1% had sought treatment and 33.1% were taking an antidepressant (AD); 4.8% had past-year alcohol abuse and 4.5% had alcohol dependence. Among respondents with past-year MDD, the prevalence of cannabis abuse was 2.5% and that of dependence was 2.9%. For drugs other than cannabis, the prevalence of abuse was 2.3% and dependence was 2.9%. Generalized anxiety disorder was present in 24.9%. Suicide attempts were reported by 6.6% of respondents with past-year MDD. Among respondents accessing treatment, 37.5% perceived that others held negative opinions about them or treated them unfairly because of their disorder. CONCLUSIONS: MDD is a common, burdensome, and stigmatized condition in Canada. Seeking help from professionals was reported at a higher frequency than in prior Canadian studies, but there has been no increase in AD use among Canadians with MDD.

[Epidemiologic survey on the prevalence and distribution of childhood functional constipation in the northern areas of China: a population-based study].

OBJECTIVE: Functional constipation (FC) is a common complaint in childhood but the prevalence still remains unclear, the aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of FC in childhood in the northern parts of China. METHODS: A screening program on FC in childhood was carried out in 5 northern cities (Beijing, Tianjin, Shenyang, Changchun, Harbin) of China according to symptoms under the Rome III criteria. Random clustered sampling of the inhabitants was carried out under stratification of cities, geographic zones, schools or nurseries. Sample size of each area was in proportion to the population of the area. The range of age was 4-14. All subjects under study were requested to fill in a questionnaire distributed by the teachers. The screening program was carried out immediately after a section survey was completed. All together, 20 000 questionnaires were distributed with 19 638 retrievals. According to the result of the screening, a small number of patients who met the criteria were further selected to undergo a detailed clinical examination in the hospital including laboratory examination, colonic transit time, defecography or/and barium enema, electromyologram and anorectal manometry to exclude organic disease of the colon. Simultaneously, a detailed questionnaire was requested to fill under the assistance of trained doctors or medical students. Prevalence of FC of the population was adjusted by the rate of correct diagnosis from the detailed study. RESULTS: The adjusted point prevalence of FC in 5 northern cities of China according to Rome III criteria was 4.73% with higher prevalence rate of FC seen in the Beijing area (5.02%) than in other cities (4.82%, 4.76%, 4.27%, 4.40%, with P < 0.001). Male to female ratio was 1.26:1 with majority of the FC fell in the 4 - 6 year olds (5.76%). CONCLUSION: FC appeared a common disorder in childhood in the northern parts of China which called for greater attention. Higher prevalence was noted in the age groups of 4-6.

[Preliminary study on diagnostic standard of functional constipation in children from five cities in North China].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the symptomatic criteria for diagnosis in children with functional constipation(FC) in North China. METHODS: A screening program for FC in children was carried out in 5 northern cities (Beijing, Tianjin, Shenyang, Changchun, Harbin) of China according to symptoms using Rome III( criteria. Random clustered sampling of the inhabitants was carried out under stratification of city, region and school or kindergarten. Sample size of each area was in proportion to the population of the area. The range of age was 4-14. All the subjects were requested to fill in a questionnaire distributed by the teacher. The screening program was carried out immediately after a plot survey. A total of 20,000 questionnaires were distributed and 19,638 retrieved. According to the result of the screening, a small number of patients who fulfilled the criteria were further selected to undergo detail clinical examinations in the hospital including laboratory examination, colonic transit time, defecography or/and barium enema, electromyogram and anorectal manometry to exclude organic disease of the colon. A detailed questionnaire was filled in with the assistance from a trained doctor or a medical student. Potential risk factors and the relative symptoms were explored by comparing frequencies between FC group and non-FC group using χ2 and Logistic analysis. RESULTS: Eighteen symptoms (defecation less than 3 times per week, dry hard sausage-shape stool, difficulty in defecation, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, etc) could exist in control group, but FC group had a higher frequency. The difference was statistically significant. Multivariable stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that defecation less than 3 times per week, hard sausage-shape feces, difficulty in defecation, and the need for laxative were associated with FC. The absence of other symptoms had no influence on diagnosis of FC. The sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of symptomatic standard diagnostic test based on Rome III( criteria in FC children showed that ≥2 items had the best diagnostic accuracy but moderate sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSION: The symptomatic criteria for FC diagnosis in children are suggested as follows: (1) defecation frequency less than 3 times per week; (2) dry, hard, sausage-shape stool in most defecation; (3) difficulty in most defecation; (4) use of medication or digital evacuation. FC can be considered when 2 of the above 4 criteria are met and the symptoms last at least 2 months.

Structure-analgesic activity relationship studies on the C(18)- and C(19)-diterpenoid alkaloids.

For evaluation of C(18)- and C(19)-diterpenoid alkaloids as analgesics, three C(19)-diterpenoid alkaloids were isolated from the roots of Aconitum hemsleyanum var. circinatum and A. transsecutum; and twenty-five semisynthetic C(18)- or C(19)-diterpenoid alkaloids were prepared from lappaconitine, crassicauline A or yunaconitine. In a mice acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction assay, four crassicauline A analogs and three yunaconitine analogs exhibited good analgesic activities with 77.8-94.1% inhibition range in 0.1-10 mg/kg subcutaneous (s.c.) dose range at the point of 20 min after drug administration. Among them, 8-O-deacetyl-8-O-ethylcrassicauline A (ED(50)=0.0972 mg/kg) and 8-O-ethylyunaconitine (ED(50)=0.0591 mg/kg) were the most potent analgesics relative to the reference drugs lappaconitine (ED(50)=3.50 mg/kg) and crassicauline A (ED(50)=0.0480 mg/kg). Analgesic activity data of these C(18)- and C(19)-diterpenoid alkaloids indicate that a tertiary amine in ring A, an acetoxyl or an ethoxyl group at C-8, an aromatic ester at C-14, and the saturation state of the ring D are important structural features necessary to the analgesic activity of the C(19)-diterpenoid alkaloids.

Remove cooking fume using catalytic combustion over Pt/La-Al2O3.

Five monolithic catalysts with low noble metal content were prepared by immerge method (Pt/gamma-Al2O3, Pt/La-Al2O3, Pt/YSZ-Al2O3, Pt+Pd/La-Al2O3 and Pd/La-Al2O3) and their activity measurements were carried out in a conventional fixed-bed flow reactor. The results show that La-Al2O3 can promote activity of the prepared catalysts and can decrease the complete conversion temperature of cooking fume. The Pt/La-Al2O3 catalyst has the highest activity and can be applied in wide range of gas hourly space velocity (GHSV). Some characterizations (XRD, TPR) were carried out with the objective to explain differences in catalytic behaviors. The prepared catalyst showed a great potential for application.