Baicalin, silver titanate, Bletilla striata polysaccharide and carboxymethyl chitosan in a porous sponge dressing for burn wound healing.

Objective: This study tests the efficacy of Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP), carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), baicalin (BA) and silver titanate (ST) in a wound dressings to fight infection, promote healing and provide superior biocompatibility.

Methods: The antibacterial activity of BA and ST was evaluated in vitro using the inhibition zone method. BA/ST/BSP/CMC porous sponge dressings were prepared and characterized.

Ensemble Multi-Quantiles: Adaptively Flexible Distribution Prediction for Uncertainty Quantification.

We propose a novel, succinct, and effective approach for distribution prediction to quantify uncertainty in machine learning. It incorporates adaptively flexible distribution prediction of [Formula: see text] in regression tasks. This conditional distribution's quantiles of probability levels spreading the interval (0,1) are boosted by additive models which are designed by us with intuitions and interpretability.

Cu(I) Metal-Organic Framework Composites with AgCl/Ag Nanoparticles for Irradiation-Enhanced Antibacterial Activity against .

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as prospective antibacterial agents or synergistic agents for their versatile chemical building components and structures. In this work, copper(I) halide MOFs of Cu(I)bpyCl (bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine) composited with AgCl/Ag nanoparticles were synthesized, and their antibacterial activities were measured against and . The attached chlorine in Cu(I)Cl nodes of the MOFs served as loading sites for silver ions, in which AgCl and concomitant metallic Ag nanoparticles were in situ generated.

Effect of Different Types of Hypoglycemic Medications on Psoriasis: An Analysis of Current Evidence.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic recurrent inflammatory skin disease with a high risk of diabetes based on disease severity.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of different hypoglycemic medications in patients with psoriasis.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of hypoglycemic medications in patients with psoriasis.

Psoriasis complicated with metabolic disorder is associated with traditional Chinese medicine syndrome types: a hospital-based retrospective case-control study.

Objective: To explore the distribution law of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome types in patients with psoriasis vulgaris complicated by metabolic disorders based on the same pathogenic factors as blood-heat and blood-stasis in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and metabolic disorders and to further analyze the correlation between adiponectin and the distribution law.

Methods: From 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019, patients diagnosed with psoriasis in the inpatient or outpatient department of Dermatology Ward of Shanghai Yueyang Hospital and normal participants who underwent physical examination in the physical examination center over the same period were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, medical history, metabolic disorder indices, and TCM syndrome indices of psoriasis patients and healthy volunteers were evaluated.

TM4SF19-AS1 facilitates the proliferation of lung squamous cell carcinoma by recruiting WDR5 to mediate TM4SF19.

Background: As reported, long non-coding RNAs are a pivotal player in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) progression. We noticed the remarkably upregulated transmembrane-4-l-six-family-19 antisense RNA 1 (TM4SF19-AS1) in LSCC and further demonstrated the function it played in LSCC and the possible molecular mechanism.

Methods: Via bioinformatics approach, we evaluated TM4SF19-AS1 and TM4SF19 levels in LSCC tissue, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot revealed their mRNA and protein levels in LSCC cells.

Experimental Investigation of Unconfined Compression Strength and Microstructure Characteristics of Slag and Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Stabilized Riverside Soft Soil.

To solve the issues of insufficient early strength of cement stabilized soil and high resource cost, high reduction cost, and high environmental cost induced by the application of cement, the slag and fly ash-based geopolymer was adopted as the stabilizer to treat riverside soft soil. This study mainly investigated the effects of stabilizer content, slag-to-fly ash ratio, and alkaline activator content on the strength of geopolymer stabilized soils with different curing ages. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray energy spectrum analysis (EDS) tests were carried out.

Effect of Accelerators on the Workability, Strength, and Microstructure of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete.

The preparation of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) with both high-early-strength and good workability contributes to further promotion of its development and application. This study investigated the effects of different accelerators (SM, alkaline powder accelerator; SF, alkaline powder accelerator containing fluorine; and AF, alkali-free liquid accelerator containing fluorine) on the workability and strength properties of UHPC. The microstructure of UHPC was also characterized by using XRD and SEM.

Design of dual targeting immunomicelles loaded with bufalin and study of their anti-tumor effect on liver cancer.

Objective: Bufalin is an effective drug for the treatment of liver cancer. But its high toxicity, poor water-solubility, fast metabolism and short elimination half-life limit its use in tumor treatment. How to make the drug accumulate in the tumor and reduce side effects while maintaining its efficacy are urgent problems to be solved.

Determination of Endogenous Bufalin in Serum of Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on HPLC-MS/MS.

Bufalin is a cardiotonic steroid and a key active ingredient of the Chinese medicine . It has significant anti-tumor activity against many malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Previous studies have shown that human bodies contain an endogenous bufalin-like substance.

Regulatory effects of four ginsenoside monomers in humoral immunity of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Ginsenosides Rb1, Rh1, Rg1 and Rg3 are known as the main active components extracted from the roots of the Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, and were reported to have immunoregulatory effects.

Bufalin-loaded bovine serum albumin nanoparticles demonstrated improved anti-tumor activity against hepatocellular carcinoma: preparation, characterization, pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution.

Objective: To prepare and evaluate the liver-targeted drug delivery system of Bufalin with higher liver uptake and stronger antitumor activity against hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: Bufalin-loaded bovine serum albumin nanoparticle was prepared by desolvation method, to investigate the release performance and to evaluate the pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution. The antitumor activity against hepatocellular carcinoma was evaluated and , respectively.

Characteristic Analysis of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Randomized Controlled Trials of Oncology: A Comparison of Published Studies.

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been widely used by cancer patients and oncologists in the past decades. The present study aimed to examine and compare the characteristics and registration status of published studies in a sample of recently published CAM randomized controlled trial (RCT) reports of oncology in leading journals of 3 categories: general and internal medicine (GIM), clinical oncology (CO), and CAM.

Methods: Articles published in the top 5 journals of the 3 categories from 2006 to 2015 were searched in PubMed.

Successful in vivo hyperthermal therapy toward breast cancer by Chinese medicine shikonin-loaded thermosensitive micelle.

The Chinese traditional medicine Shikonin is an ideal drug due to its multiple targets to tumor cells. But in clinics, improving its aqueous solubility and tumor accumulation is still a challenge. Herein, a copolymer with tunable poly(N-isopropylacrymaide) and polylactic acid block lengths is designed, synthesized, and characterized in nuclear magnetic resonance.

Investigating the potential of Shikonin as a novel hypertrophic scar treatment.

Background: Hypertrophic scarring is a highly prevalent condition clinically and results from a decreased number of apoptotic fibroblasts and over-abundant production of collagen during scar formation following wound healing. Our previous studies indicated that Shikonin, an active component extracted from Radix Arnebiae, induces apoptosis and reduces collagen production in hypertrophic scar-derived fibroblasts. In the study reported here, we further evaluate the potential use of Shikonin as a novel scar remediation therapy by examining the effects of Shikonin on both keratinocytes and fibroblasts using Transwell® co-culture techniques.

Shikonin reduces TGF-β1-induced collagen production and contraction in hypertrophic scar-derived human skin fibroblasts.

Hypertrophic scarring/hypertrophic scars (HS) is a highly prevalent condition following burns and trauma wounds. Numerous studies have demonstrated that transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF‑β1) plays an essential role in the wound healing process by regulating cell differentiation, collagen production and extracellular matrix degradation. The increased expression of TGF-β1 is believed to result in the formation of HS.

Functional and mechanistic investigation of Shikonin in scarring.

Scarring is a significant medical burden; financially to the health care system and physically and psychologically for patients. Importantly, there have been numerous case reports describing the occurrence of cancer in burn scars. Currently available therapies are not satisfactory due to their undesirable side-effects, complex delivery routes, requirements for long-term use and/or expense.

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method for determination of actinoside E in rat plasma and application to a pharmacokinetic study.

A highly sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of actinoside E in rat plasma. The analytes were extracted by ethyl acetate and an analogue of actinoside F was used as the internal standard. The mobile phase consisted of methanol-water (50: 50, V/V) containing 0.

Hepatoprotective Activity of the Total Saponins from Actinidia valvata Dunn Root against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Damage in Mice.

The protective activity of the total saponins from Actinidia valvata Dunn root (TSAV) was studied against carbon-tetrachloride- (CCl(4)-) induced acute liver injury in mice. Mice were orally administered TSAV (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) for five days and then given CCl(4). TSAV pretreatment significantly prevented the CCl(4)-induced hepatic damage as indicated by the serum marker enzymes (AST, ALT, and ALP).

New triterpenoids with cytotoxic activity from actinidia valvata.

Two new triterpenoids, 30-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-2alpha,3alpha,24-trihydroxyurs-12,18-diene-28-oic acid O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (1) and 2alpha,3beta,3,30-tetrahydroxyurs-12,18-diene-28-oic acid O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (2) were isolated from roots of Actinidia valvata Dunn. Their structures were elucidated by means of extensive spectroscopic studies. Both these two new compounds showed moderate cytotoxic activity in vitro against BEL-7402 and SMMC-7721 tumor cell line.

[A comparison study of pharmacokinetics between bufalin-loaded bovine serum albumin nanoparticles and bufalin in rats].

Objective: To determine the bufalin concentration in rats' plasma by establishing a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method, and to evaluate and compare the pharmacokinetic characteristics of bufalin-loaded bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (bufalin-BSA-NP) and bufalin.

Methods: Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups with five rats in each group, and administered with a single dose of 0.6, 0.

Combined application of macroporous resin and high speed counter-current chromatography for preparative separation of three flavonoid triglycosides from the leaves of Actinidia valvata Dunn.

In this paper, the combined techniques of macroporous resin column chromatography and high speed counter-current chromatography were applied for preparative separation of flavonoid triglycosides from the leaves of Actinidia valvata Dunn, a famous Chinese medicinal herb. Twelve kinds of macroporous resins were investigated by adsorption and desorption tests. HPD-300 resin showed the maximum effectiveness and thus was selected for the first cleaning-up, in which 20% ethanol was used to remove the undesired constituents and 60% ethanol to elute the targets.

[Evaluation of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis of hilar and mediastinal masses of unknown etiologies].

Objective: To explore the diagnostic values of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in the patients with hilar and mediastinal masses.

Methods: A total of 91 patients with mediastinal/hilar masses undergoing EBUS-TBNA in Zhongshan Hospital between September 2009 and March 2011 were retrospectively enrolled. Their unknown etiologies were difficult to be assessed by a traditional biopsy.

Novel flavonoids from the leaves of Actinidia valvata Dunn: structural elucidation and antioxidant activity.

Two novel flavonoids, kaempferol 3- O- α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-3) (2,4-di- O-acetyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl) (1-6) β-D-galactopyranoside (1) and kaempferol 3- O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-3) (4-O-acetyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl) (1-6) β-D-galactopyranoside (2), along with three known ones, kaempferol-3- O-β-D-galactopyranoside (3), kaempferol (4), and 7-hydroxychromone (5), have been isolated from the leaves of Actinidia valvata Dunn, and their structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1-3 exhibited dose-dependent activity in scavenging 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals, superoxide anion radicals, and hydroxyl radicals, and inhibited lipid peroxidation of mouse liver homogenate IN VITRO.

[Possibility and necessity of constructing new nanoformula systems of traditional Chinese medicine].

The past decade has witnessed the remarkable progress on nanotechnology and nanoherb. With the globally rapid development of nanotechnology, we are considering to construct new nanoformula systems of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by using porous materials, multilayered core-shell particles or nanoparticles containing various multifunctional parts. With the compatibility of sovereign, minister, assistant and courier in a formula, new nanoformula systems of TCM will have various advantages, such as containing multiple active species, controlled release, targeting function, and labeling and tracing capabilities.