Effect of Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati and Ramulus Cinnamomi compatibility on uric acid metabolism and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and kidney injury molecule-1 in rats with hyperuricemia.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati and Ramulus Cinnamomi compatibility (PR) on uric acid metabolism and the expression of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) in rats with hyperuricemia. METHODS: Seventy male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 7 groups with 10 rats per group, including the normal group, model group, allopurinol group, benzbromarone group and PR groups at 3 doses (3.5, 7, 14 g/kg). Except the normal group, rats of the other groups were intragastrically administered 100 mg/kg hypoxanthine and 250 mg/kg ethambutol, and subcutaneously injected with 200 mg/kg potassium oxonate. All rats were continuously modeled for 17 days, and gavaged with corresponding drugs. The rats of the normal and model groups were gavaged with saline, once a day, for 2 weeks. The levels of serum uric acid (SUA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) were determined. In addition, the contents of NGAL and KIM-1 in urine and the mRNA and protein expressions of xanthine oxidase (XOD) in liver of hyperuricemia rats were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively. Moreover, the pathological changes of kidney were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stain method. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the levels of SUA, BUN, NGAL and KIM-1 and the expressions of hepatic XOD mRNA and protein in the hyperuricemia rats were increased signifificantly (P<0.01). PR signifificantly decreased the levels of SUA, BUN, NGAL and KIM-1 and down-regulated the mRNA and protein expressions of hepatic XOD (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In addition, the pathological changes of kidney were signifificantly suppressed by oral administration of PR. CONCLUSIONS: PR ameliorated uric acid metabolism and protected renal function, the underlying mechanism was mediated by decreasing the levels of SUA, BUN, NGAL and KIM-1, inhibiting the expression of hepatic XOD and ameliorating the pathological change of kidney.

[Preparation of cinnamomi cortex oil microspheres based on porous silicon dioxide and its property characterizations].

To determine the optimum process for preparing Cinnamomi Cortex oil microspheres based on porous silicon dioxide. After porous silica dioxide adsorbed Cinnamomi Cortex oil, Cinnamomi Cortex oil microspheres were prepared by the dropping method, with sodium alginate as the skeleton materials. The preparation process was optimized through the L(9) (3(4)) orthogonal test design, with microspheres diameter, distribution, drug loading capacity and entrapment efficiency as the indexes. The cinnamon volatile oil microspheres were characterized by scanning election microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. An in vitro drug release experiment was conducted. The results showed that the microspheres prepared with the optimal process parameters were in good shape, even in size and good in dispersibility, with an average diameter of 1.61 mm, an average drug loading capacity of 32.85%, an entrapment efficiency of 94.79%. The maximum drug release capacity reached 72.6%, 95.0%, 97.4%, respectively, under pH 4.0, 6.8, 7.4 in 6 hours. Meanwhile, microsphere generation was tested by IR, TGA and other methods. The established optimum process for preparing Cinnamomi Cortex oil microspheres was proved to be stable and practical.

[Study thought of multi-dimensional structure quality control of Xiaoaiping injection based on material basis component structure].

The quality control over traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparations has long been an important issue on the international development road of TCMs. Because of the complexity of TCM ingredients, preparation production and its quality control become a big difficulty. How to produce TCM preparations with preparation quality stability and controllability is the key problem in urgent need of solution in current TCM preparation field. The author thought that according to the characteristics of TCM preparation process, the multidimensional dynamic quality control model in the production process might become one of methods for solving quality controllability of TCM preparations. Therefore, we proposed the study through of the multi-dimensional structure quality control based on TCM material basis component structure. The study aims to control over the stability of TCM preparation quality during the whole process of dynamic changes (the component analysis monitoring on intermediates during the process of production, herbal source, intermediate production to preparation products). Xiaoaiping injection was taken as the example to expound the multidimensional quality control process of Xiaoaiping injection, in the hope of providing new ideas for the quality control over modern TCM preparations.

Treatment with Huperzine A improves cognition in vascular dementia patients.

UNLABELLED: In the present study, we tested the efficacy and safety of Huperzine A in treatment of mild to moderate vascular dementia (VaD). This was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study with 78 patients with mild to moderate VaD. The participants were randomized to receive either vitamin C (100-mg bid) as placebo (n = 39) or Huperzine A (0.1-mg bid) (n = 39) for 12 consecutive weeks. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE), clinical dementia rating (CDR), and activities of daily living (ADL) scores were used for the assessment of cognition. The assessments were made prior to treatment, and 4, 8, and 12 weeks of the treatment. The adverse effects of the treatment were also recorded. After 12 weeks of treatment, the MMSE, CDR, and ADL scores significantly improved in the Huperzine A group (P < 0.01 for all comparisons), whereas the placebo group did not show any such improvement (P > 0.05 for all comparisons). No serious adverse events were recorded during the treatment. CONCLUSION: Huperzine A can significantly improve the cognitive function in patients with mild to moderate vascular dementia. Further, the medicament is safe.