Preparation of the Levo-Tetrahydropalmatine Liposome Gel and Its Transdermal Study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop a liposome gel containing levo-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP) and evaluate its transdermal properties. Methods: A L16 (43) orthogonal experiment was conducted to optimize the preparation of l-THP liposomes and assess their characterization and stability in a gel. The transdermal features were analyzed through in vivo and in vitro experiments on rats and Strat-M® membrane, respectively. The metabolism of l-THP in liver and skin S9 fractions was also studied. Results: The optimization of the orthogonal experiment revealed that the ideal mass ratio of phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and l-THP during preparation was 10:1:3. The resulting liposome exhibited a particle size of 68 nm, a PDI of 0.27, a drug loading of 4.33%, an encapsulation of 18.79%, and a zeta potential of -41.27 mV. Both the l-THP and its liposome-gel formulation were found to be stable for a duration of 45 days at 4 °C and 30 °C. During the in vivo transdermal study, the maximum concentration (Cmax) of l-THP from the liposome gel was 0.16 µg/mL, and the time to reach this maximum concentration (tmax) was 1.2 hours. The relative bioavailability of l-THP in the liposome gel was 233.8% compared to the emulsion. The concentration of l-THP (prepared in PBS) decreased at a rate of 0.0067 µg/mL/min in the liver S9 fraction and 0.0027 µg/mL/min in the skin S9 fraction, however, this difference was not observed when l-THP was encapsulated in liposomes. l-THP passed through the Strat-M® membrane at a rate of 0.0032 mg/cm2/h and 0.002 mg/cm2/h for the emulsion and liposome gel, respectively. Conclusion: The optimal process for the preparation of l-THP liposomes was obtained. Compared to the emulsion, the liposomes provided greater bioavailability when used transdermally. The liposomes also provided greater stability for l-THP during storage.

Physiologically Inspired Mucin Coated Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 Enhances Biotherapy by Regulating the Pathological Microenvironment to Improve Intestinal Colonization.

The delivery of probiotics to the microbiota is a promising method to prevent and treat diseases. However, oral probiotics will suffer from gastrointestinal insults, especially the pathological microenvironment of inflammatory diseases such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the exhausted mucus layer, which can limit their survival and colonization in the intestinal tract. Inspired by the fact that probiotics colonized and grew in the mucus layer under physiological conditions, we developed a strategy for a super probiotic (EcN@TA-Ca2+@Mucin) coated with tannic acid and mucin via layer-by-layer technology. We demonstrated that mucin endows probiotics with superior resistance to the harsh environment of the gastrointestinal tract and with strong adhesiveness to the intestine through its interaction with mucus, which enhanced colonization and growth of probiotics in the mucus layer without removing the coating. Moreover, EcN@TA-Ca2+@Mucin can distinctly down-regulate inflammation with ROS scavenging and reduce the side effects of bacterial translocation in inflammatory bowel diseases, increasing the abundance and diversity of the gut microflora. We envision that it is a powerful platform to improve the colonization of probiotics by regulating the pathological microenvironment, which is expected to provide an important perspective for applying the intestinal colonization of probiotics to treat a variety of diseases.

A Prospective Study Comparing Platelet-Rich Plasma and Local Anesthetic (LA)/Corticosteroid in Intra-Articular Injection for the Treatment of Lumbar Facet Joint Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness and safety between autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and Local Anesthetic (LA)/corticosteroid in intra-articular injection for the treatment of lumbar facet joint syndrome. METHODS: Forty-six eligible patients with lumbar facet joint syndrome were randomized into group A (intra-articular injection with PRP) and group B (intra-articular injection with LA/corticosteroid). The following contents were evaluated: pain visual analog scale (VAS) at rest and during flexion, and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMQ), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and modified MacNab criteria for pain relief and applications of post-treatment drugs. All outcome assessments were performed immediately after and at 1 week, 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: No significant difference between groups was observed at baseline. Compared with pretreatment, both group A and group B demonstrated statistical improvements in the pain VAS score at rest or during flexion, the RMQ, and the ODI (P < 0.01). And there were significant differences between the 2 groups on the above-mentioned items (P < 0.05). For group B, subjective satisfaction based on the modified MacNab criteria and objective success rate were highest (80% and 85%) after 1 month, but only 50% and 20% after 6 months. However, for group A, they increased over time. In addition, there were no treatment-related complications in either group during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Both autologous PRP and LA/corticosteroid for intra-articular injection are effective, easy, and safe enough in the treatment of lumbar facet joint syndrome. However, autologous PRP is a superior treatment option for longer duration efficacy.

A Case Report of Sanguis Draconis for Treating a Patient With Refractory Wound Dehiscence After Breast Cancer Chemotherapy.

Breast cancer is one of the most common female malignant tumors. According to data statistics, the incidence of breast cancer was 7% to 10% for a variety of malignant tumors, being only lower than that of uterine cancer. The methods of treating breast cancer are given priority over operative treatment and combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, exosmosis of chemotherapeutic drugs is a common complication of chemotherapy. Exosmosis of drugs can stimulate local organs to induce acute inflammatory reaction and necrosis, which finally lead to wound infection and difficulty in healing. In December 2013, a patient with full-thickness wound (an area of 5 × 3 cm) dehiscence at the completion of the second phase of chemotherapy for left breast cancer after radical operation was admitted to our department. Her wound had healed after radical operation. The patient followed an integrative therapy treatment protocol that consisted of an external application of a phytomedicine called Sanguis Draconis and combined with a series of conventional treatments, including 3M Transparent Dressing moist therapy, increase in nutrition, and prevention therapies for infection. The patient's integrative treatment program resulted in complete wound healing, and the successful completion of the late 6 courses of chemotherapy. The article describes the nursing experiences associated with this case study.

Sanguis draconis (Daemonorops draco): a case report of treating a chronic pressure ulcer with tunneling.

Pressure ulcers are a frequently encountered difficulty in clinical nursing care. In cases of pressure ulcers, continued pressure on soft tissue leads to pathological processes in affected tissues that include ischemia and hypoxia, nutritional and metabolic disorders, and degeneration and necrosis. Pressure ulcers are a common clinical complication. In February 2013, our department admitted a patient with Parkinson's disease who suffered from a chronic pressure ulcer with tunneling. This patient was given an integrative therapy treatment protocol that consisted of external applications of a phytomedicine called sanguis draconis, combined with a series of conventional treatments, including local oxygen therapy, custom-built vacuum aspiration, and anti-infection therapies. The patient's integrative treatment program resulted in complete amelioration of the pressure ulceration. The following sections describe the nursing experiences associated with this case study.

Antifungal Metabolites Produced by Chaetomium globosum No.04, an Endophytic Fungus Isolated from Ginkgo biloba.

The fungal endophyte Chaetomium globosum No.04 was isolated from the medicinal plant Ginkgo biloba. The crude extract of the fungus fermentation were active in the agar-diffusion tests against the phytopathogenic fungi Rhizopus stolonifer and Coniothyrium diplodiella. Further bioassay-guided chemical investigation led to the isolation and purification of six alkaloids and three non-targeted compounds from 50 L fermentation of this endophytic fungus and their structures were elucidated as chaetoglobosin A, C, D, E, G, R (1-6), ergosterol, allantoin and uracil, by means of spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1-6 showed significant growth inhibitory activity against R. stolonifer and C. diplodiella at a concentration of 20 µg/disc. We present here, for the first time, the potent antifungal activity of chaetoglobosins from endophytic fungi against two important phytopathogenic fungi R. stolonifer and C. diplodiella.

Protective effects of combined micronutrients on islet beta-cells of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

There is a tendency for the incidence of diabetes in a population to increase with an improvement in living standards. This would imply the involvement of nutritional factors in the development of diabetes, and so nutritional considerations could be a key aspect in the research and development of an effective remedy for diabetes. In this study, combined micronutrients (selenium, vitamin E, vanadium, and chromium) were orally supplemented to streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Results showed that combined micronutrients could decrease the high blood glucose levels (p<0.05 or p<0.01) of diabetic mice. The protective effects of combined micronutrients on structures of beta-cells in pancreatic islets of diabetic mice were observed histopathologically and ultrastructurally. In addition, the supplementation of combined micronutrients increased insulin expression by beta-cells in pancreatic islets of diabetic mice at both translational and transcriptional levels. The immune molecular mechanisms involved were preliminarily regarded as downregulation of the expression of pathogenic T-helper 1 lymphocyte (Th1) cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) (p<0.01) along with upregulation of the expression of protective T-helper 2 lymphocyte Th2 cytokine interleukin 10 (IL-10) (p<0.01) which ameliorates the Th1/Th2 imbalance in diabetes. In conclusion, supplementation of combined micronutrients to diabetic mice could effectively improve disordered glucose metabolism, protect islet structures, and improve the function of beta-cells in pancreatic islets, which are affected by differential regulation of the expression of Th1/Th2 cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes.