Antitumor effect research progress of shikonin and its derivatives / 药学学报

Shikonin, the main active ingredient of Lithospermum, and its derivatives have been proved to have antitumor effects, and the anti-tumor mechanisms involve multiple targets. Based on recent literatures, this review focuses on the antitumor effects and its mechanisms. More emphases are given on the aspects of induction of apoptosis, induction of necrosis, acting on matrix metalloproteinase, acting on the protein tyrosine kinase and antiangiogenesis. The current status and problems of shikonin derivatives in antitumor effects are simply summarized and lookout for the development of antitumor drugs with shikonin as leading compounds.

[Gender-based analyses of intervention outcome in non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of gender on outcomes in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome undergoing intervention treatment. METHODS: In a multi-center randomized trial, the patients diagnosed as non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome were randomly assigned to undergo early intervention (coronary angiography ≤ 24 h after randomization) or delayed intervention (coronary angiography ≥ 36 h after randomization). The primary outcome was a composite of death, myocardial infarction or stroke at 180 days. The secondary outcomes were death, myocardial infarction, refractory ischemia, stroke or revascularization at 180 days. RESULTS: Among 815 patients (545 males, 270 females), the incidences of primary and secondary outcome were equivalent for both genders (P > 0.05). Males of the early intervention group had a greater incidence of the primary outcome (7.1% vs 14.8%, P = 0.00). The secondary outcome was a composite of death, myocardial infarction or refractory ischemia occurring in 12.5% of males in early intervention group and 21.2% in delayed intervention group. Significant difference existed (P = 0.00). The incidence of another secondary outcome as a composite of death, myocardial infarction, refractory ischemia, stroke or revascularization was equivalent for males in early intervention group and delayed intervention group (26.8% vs 32.4%, P > 0.05). The incidences of primary outcome (12.6% vs 14.3%, P > 0.05) and secondary outcome (18.5% vs 23.5% P > 0.05; 28.5% vs 27.7% P > 0.05) were equivalent for females in early intervention group and delayed intervention group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome undergoing intervention demonstrate no significant gender differences in efficacy and safety. Early intervention reduces the rate of myocardial infarction for males, but it is not superior to delayed intervention for females.

Progress in the study of drug delivery system based on nanoparticles to overcome multi-drug resistance / 药学学报

Multi-drug resistance (MDR) of cancer cells is a major cause of failure in chemotherapy. To the majority of anti-cancer drugs, tumor cells are able to generate a multi-drug resistance; but there is no common views on the mechanism of MDR. This review summarizes the use of drug delivery system based on nanoparticles to overcome MDR in recent years. Three kinds including non-modified, ligand-modified and multifunctional drug delivery systems are described. Especially, the mechanism of reversing MDR based on nanoparticles is covered. Through efficiently offsetting and antagonizing the action of pumping drugs out of the tumor cells, drug delivery system based on nanoparticles can increase the concentration of the drug in tumors, while reduce the side effects on normal cells and overcome multi-drug resistance. The use of drug-loaded nanoparticles, which combines nanotechnology with the strategy of active and passive targeting administration, has shown significant prospect improving cancer therapy.

Studies on dissolution rate in vitro of silymarin dropping pill / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To test the dissolution rate of silymarin dropping pill as well as to be compared with other three commercial products of the silymarin.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>By UV spectrophotometry, we studied the dissolution conditions of silymarin dropping pill and compared its dissolution rate with Yiganling tablets (film-coating, sugar-coating) and Legalon capsule which are available in the market.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The dissolution parameters T50 and Td of silymarin dropping pill, Yiganling tablet (film-coating), Yiganling tablet (sugar-coating) and Legalon capsule are 6.78, 9.85 min, 51.01, 73.78 min, 74.35, 86.97 min and 53.10, 72.65 min.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The dissolution rate of silymarin dropping pill is superior to that of two kinds of Yiganling tablets and Legalon capsule.</p>