[Effect of Naoshuantong capsule on change of SSQOL index in patients with ischemic stroke in six mouths follow-up].

To evaluate the effect of Naoshuantong capsule on the life quality of patients with ischemic stroke in six months of follow-up studies, and observe the adverse events. The results would provide reference for the secondary prevention on the recovery stage of ischemic stroke. 696 patients from 12 Class III Grade I hospitals nationwide were divided into 2 groups by central randomization system. The study group, 344 cases, were treated with Naoshuantong capsule plus Aspirin, and the control group, 352 cases, were treated with Aspirin. The patients were treated for 6 months. At the end of treatment, SS-QOL used for evaluating the quality of life was observed. The safety index was defined by adverse observation event. The incidence of adverse events and laboratory tests results were observed before and after treatment at the same time. The results indicated that compared to the control group, the treatment group had significant statistical difference in the impact of effort, self-care ability and the the work or labor ability of patients (P < 0.05). No serious adverse events were observed. Naoshuantong capsule showed some superiority to Asprin on improving the quality of life on patients with ischemic stroke, and it could be used in secondary prevention on the recovery stage of ischemic stroke. Naoshuantong capsule is safe and effective in the treatment of convalescence ischemic stroke.

[Application of in vitro bionic digestion and biomembrane extraction for metal speciation analysis, bioavailability and risk assessment in lianhua qingwen capsule].

One of the causes of the high cost of pharmaceuticals and the major obstacles to rapidly assessing the bioavailability and risk of a chemical is the lack of experimental model systems. A new pre-treatment technology, in vitro bionic digestion was designed for metal analysis in Lianhua Qingwen capsule. The capsule was digested on 37 degrees C under the acidity of the stomach or intestine, and with the inorganic and organic compounds (including digestive enzymes) found in the stomach or intestine, and then the chyme was obtained. Being similar to the biomembrane between the gastrointestinal tract and blood vessels, monolayer liposome was used as biomembrane model Affinity-monolayer liposome metals (AMLMs) and water-soluble metals were used for metal speciation analysis in the capsule. Based on the concentration of AMLMs, the main absorption site of trace metals was proposed. The metal total contents or the concentration of AMLMs in the capsule were compared to the nutritional requirements, daily permissible dose and heavy metal total contents from the "import and export of medicinal plants and preparation of green industry state standards". The metal concentrations in the capsule were within the safety baseline levels for human consumption. After in vitro bionic digestion, most of trace metals were absorbed mainly in intestine. The concentration of As, Cd, Pb was 0.38, 0.07, 1.60 mg x kg(-1), respectively, far less than the permissible dose from the "import and export of medicinal plants and preparation of green industry state standards".

[Not all dietary supplements are biodegradable]. / Ikke alle kosttilskud er biologisk nedbrydelige

A 65-year-old man had for some time noticed rounded elements in his faeces. It was examined for parasites, which were, however, not detected. A specimen was then sent to a department of pathology. The specimen consisted of a rounded and collapsed process, 12 mm in diameter. It was quite thin-walled and hollow; the wall itself was tough and not elastic and classified as non-biological material. It was concluded that it was probably a capsule of medicine, dietary supplements, oil or a similar substance. The patient had eaten fish oil in capsules, and they had apparently not been biodegradable.

Targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic agents using improved radiosensitive liquid core microcapsules and assessment of their antitumor effect.

PURPOSE: Radiation-sensitive microcapsules composed of alginate and hyaluronic acid are being developed. We report the development of improved microcapsules that were prepared using calcium- and yttrium-induced polymerization. We previously reported on the combined antitumor effect of carboplatin-containing microcapsules and radiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We mixed a 0.1% (wt/vol) solution of hyaluronic acid with a 0.2% alginate solution. Carboplatin (l mg) and indocyanine green (12.5 microg) were added to this mixture, and the resultant material was used for capsule preparation. The capsules were prepared by spraying the material into a mixture containing a 4.34% CaCl(2) solution supplemented with 0-0.01% yttrium. These capsules were irradiated with single doses of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, or 2 Gy (60)Co gamma-rays. Immediately after irradiation, the frequency of microcapsule decomposition was determined using a microparticle-induced X-ray emission camera. The amount of core content released was estimated by particle-induced X-ray emission and colorimetric analysis with 0.25% indocyanine green. The antitumor effect of the combined therapy was determined by monitoring its effects on the diameter of an inoculated Meth A fibrosarcoma. RESULTS: Microcapsules that had been polymerized using a 4.34% CaCl(2) solution supplemented with 5.0 x 10(-3)% (10(-3)% meant or 10%(-3)) yttrium exhibited the maximal decomposition, and the optimal release of core content occurred after 2-Gy irradiation. The microcapsules exhibited a synergistic antitumor effect combined with 2-Gy irradiation and were associated with reduced adverse effects. CONCLUSION: The results of our study have shown that our liquid core microcapsules can be used in radiotherapy for targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic agents.

Impact of native, heat-processed and encapsulated hazelnuts on the allergic response in hazelnut-allergic patients.

BACKGROUND: Pollen-associated food allergy is common. However, systemic reactions or even life-threatening anaphylaxis are rare. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical impact of native, heat-processed and encapsulated hazelnuts (HN) in patients with proven HN allergy. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-two patients with a positive history of HN allergy were recruited. Sensitization was confirmed by a skin prick test (SPT) and sIgE against HN. After an HN-free diet, double-blind placebo-controlled challenges were performed with increasing amounts of native and roasted HN. A subset of patients were given HN capsules to circumvent the oral mucosa. Basophil activation was measured by flow cytometry before and after provocation but also ex vivo using native and roasted HN extracts. RESULTS: Three groups of HN-allergic patients were identified depending on their clinical reaction pattern. The dosages by which allergic reactions were elicitated varied for native HN from 0.01 to 2.0 g, with a median of 0.1 g, for roasted HN from 0.01 to 10.0 g, with a median of 0.23 g, and for encapsulated HN from 0.1 to 3.0 g, with a median of 0.3 g. Accordingly, the SPT was more frequently positive and resulted in greater weal reactions if native HN was used. This finding was confirmed by ex vivo basophil activation showing that significantly higher allergen extract concentrations (roasted>native) were necessary to induce 50% basophil activation. CONCLUSION: Our data show that heat processing of HN reduces its allergenicity. SPT but also the basophil activation test can be used to determine the reactivity of an allergen extract.

Tests of the pharmacodynamics and toxicity of Duliang capsule.

OBJECTIVE: To study the analgesic efficacy, toxicity and impact of Duliang capsule (DLC) and Duliang pill (DLP), different dosage forms of a patent Chinese herbal medicine, on the hemodynamics in mice and rats. METHODS: In hotplate and writhing tests in mice, the effects of both drugs on the latency of paw-licking response and the writhing number of times were observed. The changes of blood viscosity in rat models of blood stasis were measured with Viscometer-R80, and acute and chronic toxicity of DLC observed. RESULTS: DLP at the dose of 5 g/kg.b.w. and DLC at 10, 5 or 3 g/kg.b.w. significantly prolonged the latency of paw-licking response and reduced writhing times. The analgesic effects of DLC and DLP occurred 0.5 and 1 h respectively after the administration, and they could both lower the viscosity of the whole blood and hematocrit level in the blood-stasis rat models. Toxicity of the drug was not observed in acute or chronic toxicity tests. CONCLUSIONS: Both DLC and DLP possess strong analgesic effect and can lower blood viscosity and hematocrit, but DLC takes effect sooner than DLP as analgesics and can be effectively and safely applied clinically.