Impact of Hofstede's cultural dimensions on sustainable competitive advantage: The mediating role of entrepreneurial innovativeness among Malaysian ethnic entrepreneurs.

This study investigated the impact of Hofstede cultural dimensions on sustainable competitive advantage with the mediating role of entrepreneurial innovativeness among Malays, Malaysian Chinese, and Malaysian Indian entrepreneurs in the retail industry. This study involved a quantitative approach with standardized questionnaires distributed among target respondents through non-probability sampling techniques, including snowball sampling, quota sampling, and convenience sampling. The data were collected in a cross-sectional setting from Malaysian retail ethnic entrepreneurs.

An advanced bionic knee joint mechanism with neural network controller.

In this article, a tensegrity-based knee mechanism is studied for developing a high-efficiency rehabilitation knee exoskeleton. Moreover, the kinematics and dynamics models of the knee mechanism are explored for bringing about further improvement in controller design. In addition, to estimate the performance of the bionic knee joint, based on the limit function of knee patella, the limit position functionality of the bionic knee joint is developed for enhancing the bionic property.

Depletion of miR-380 mitigates human bronchial epithelial cells injury to improve chronic obstructive pulmonary disease through targeting CHRNA4.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) not only causes respiratory damage, but also affects circulatory function, which can be life-threatening in severe cases. Therefore, it is very essential to reveal the molecular mechanism of its pathogenesis.

Methods: Human Bronchial Epithelial cells were exposed to 20% cigarette smoke extract (CSE) condition to simulate the cells in COPD patients.

Simultaneous determination of ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rg1, paeoniflorin, albiflorin and oxypaeoniflorin in rat plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: Application to a pharmacokinetic study of wen-Yang-Huo-Xue soft capsule.

A simple and sensitive HPLC-MS/MS method was developed and fully validated for simultaneous determination of ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rg1, paeoniflorin, albiflorin and oxypaeoniflorin in rat plasma. Plasma samples were pretreated with protein precipitation using acetonitrile. The chromatographic separation was carried out on a C column with a gradient mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water (containing 0.

Effect of polymorphisms in CYP3A4, PPARA, NR1I2, NFKB1, ABCG2 and SLCO1B1 on the pharmacokinetics of lovastatin in healthy Chinese volunteers.

Aim: This study examined whether gene polymorphisms (CYP3A4, ABCG2, SLCO1B1, NR1I2, PPARA and NFKB1) influenced the pharmacokinetics of lovastatin in Chinese healthy subjects.

Patients & Method: Plasma concentrations of lovastatin and lovastatin acid were quantified using LC/MS/MS.

Results: PPARA c.

Effects of Polymorphisms in NR1H4, NR1I2, SLCO1B1, and ABCG2 on the Pharmacokinetics of Rosuvastatin in Healthy Chinese Volunteers.

The nuclear receptors (NR)-farnesoid X receptor (FXR, NR1H4) and pregnane X receptor (PXR, NR1I2)-have important effects on the expression of genes related to the pharmacokinetics (PKs) of rosuvastatin. This study was designed to investigate whether the genetic variants in drug disposition genes (SLCO1B1 and ABCG2) combined with their upstream regulators (NR1H4 and NR1I2) would affect the PKs of rosuvastatin in a Chinese population. Sixty-one healthy male volunteers were enrolled and the plasma concentrations of rosuvastatin were measured using the liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometry/MS method.

Influence of valproic acid concentration and polymorphism of UGT1A4*3, UGT2B7 -161C > T and UGT2B7*2 on serum concentration of lamotrigine in Chinese epileptic children.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of valproic acid (VPA) and genetic polymorphism of the major metabolizing enzyme (UGT1A4, UGT2B7) of lamotrigine (LTG) and VPA on LTG concentration in Chinese epileptic children.

Methods: Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (UGT1A4*3, UGT2B7 -161C > T and UGT2B7*2) were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism or direct DNA sequencing. The concentrations of LTG and VPA were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and fluorescence polarization immunoassay, respectively.

Pharmacokinetics of escin Ia in rats after intravenous administration.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Escin, a natural mixture of triterpene saponins, is commonly utilized for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency, hemorrhoids, inflammation and edema. Escin Ia is the chief active ingredient in escin and plays key role in mediating its pharmacological effects. Adequate pharmacokinetic data are essential for proper application of escin agent in clinical practice.

Simultaneous determination of calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside, calycosin, formononetin, astragaloside IV and schisandrin in rat plasma by LC-MS/MS: application to a pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of Shenqi Wuwei chewable tablets.

A rapid, sensitive and reliable high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of the five main bioactive components, calycosin, calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside, formononetin, astragaloside IV and schisandrin in rat plasma after oral administration of Shenqi Wuwei chewable tablets. Plasma samples were extracted using solid-phase extraction separated on a CEC18 column and detected by MS with an electrospray ionization interface in multiple-reaction monitoring mode. Calibration curves offered linear ranges of two orders of magnitude with r > 0.

Comparative pharmacokinetics and the bioavailability of escin Ib and isoescin Ib following the administration of escin, pure escin Ib and isoescin Ib in rats.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Adequate pharmacokinetic data of escin, a natural mixture of triterpene saponins used for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency, hemorrhoids, inflammation and edema, is of special interest in view of the growing use of escin agent in clinical medicine. However, pharmacokinetic data are inadequate to support their clinical indication. Escin Ib and isoescin Ib are the chief active ingredients in escin, pharmacokinetics study of them would be helpful for improving the practice of escin application.

The impact of CYP2D6 polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics of codeine and its metabolites in Mongolian Chinese subjects.

Purpose: Codeine is an analgesic drug acting on μ-opioid receptors predominantly via its metabolite morphine formed almost exclusively by CYP2D6. Genetic polymorphisms in CYP2D6 are associated with diminished pain relief and/or severe opioid side effects. In Chinese individuals, CYP2D6*10 is the most common allele with reduced enzyme activity.

Simultaneous analysis of codeine and its active metabolites in human plasma using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: application to a pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of codeine.

A rapid and sensitive bioassay based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of codeine and its active metabolites, including morphine, morphine 3β-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine 6β-glucuronide (M6G), in human plasma. Sample preparation of plasma after the addition of naloxone as internal standard (IS) involved solid-phase extraction (SPE) on C18 cartridges. Reversed-phase chromatography using a gradient elution with methanol and 0.

CYP2C8 polymorphism frequencies among Han, Uighur, Hui, and Mongolian Chinese populations.

Purpose: To determine the allele frequency of three codon-changing variants (CYP2C8*2, CYP2C8*3, and CYP2C8*4) in the Han, Uighur, Hui, and Mongolian Chinese populations, and compare genetic polymorphism differences between the Han and minority Chinese ethnicities.

Methods: Five hundred seventy four healthy unrelated volunteers from four major nationalities (Han: 136; Uighur: 153; Hui: 158; Mongolian: 127) in China were recruited. The study was approved by the local research ethics committee.

[Pharmacokinetics of nicotine in blood and brain using microdialysis and stable labelled isotope].

Objective: Using the stable isotopes as the internal standard of microdialysis technology to establish a new method to study the whole and local brain dynamics of nicotine percutaneous preparations.

Method: Using th healthy rats as experimental animals, administrating nicotine in abdominal transdermal way, then sample in the blood and brain simultaneously by microdialysis which use deuterium nicotine (DL-nicotine) as internal standard. Detecting the samples by LC-MS/MS method.

Comparative pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of escin Ia and isoescin Ia after administration of escin and of pure escin Ia and isoescin Ia in rat.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Escin Ia and isoescin Ia have been traditionally used clinically as the chief active ingredients of escin, a major triterpene saponin isolated from horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) seeds for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency, hemorrhoids, inflammation and edema.

Aim Of The Study: To establish a sensitive LC-MS/MS method and investigate the pharmacokinetic properties of escin Ia and isoescin Ia in rats and the pharmacokinetics difference of sodium escinate with pure escin Ia and isoescin Ia. The absolute bioavailability of escin Ia and isoescin Ia and the bidirectional interconversion of them in vivo were also scarcely reported.

[Study on in vitro microdialysis recovery of Shuanghuanglian].

Objective: To explore the feasibility of microdialysis techniqiue to be used in pharmacokinetic study of Chinese medicine, taking Shuanghuanglian as a model drug.

Method: The samples were obtained by retrodialysis, determined by HPLC gradient elution to calculate the in vitro recovery rate (RR) of specific components. To study the difference of RR of a certain component in different dialysis mediums, and the effect of flow rates and concentration on RR.

[Study of pharmacokinetics of nicotine in local brain by using microdialysis and stable labeled isotope].

The paper is to report the study of pharmacokinetics of transdermal administered nicotine in the brain of freely moving rat by using microdialysis with stable labeled isotope as internal standard. The pharmacokinetic behavior of nicotine in Sprague Dawley rat brain was investigated after intranasal administration (3.75 mg).

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous quantification of escin Ia and escin Ib in human plasma: application to a pharmacokinetic study after intravenous administration.

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of escin Ia and escin Ib in human plasma. After a solid-phase extraction (SPE), the analytes were separated on a Zorbax Extend C(18) column by isocratic elution with a mobile phase of methanol-acetonitrile-10 mm ammonium acetate (27:27:46, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and analyzed by mass spectrometry in the positive ion multiple reaction monitoring mode.

Simultaneous analysis of isomers of escin saponins in human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: application to a pharmacokinetic study after oral administration.

A rapid and sensitive bioassay based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the simultaneous determination of four isomeric escin saponins (escin Ia, escin Ib, isoescin Ia and isoescin Ib) in human plasma has been developed and validated. Sample preparation of plasma after addition of telmisartan as internal standard (I.S.