Aloe‐emodin: A review of its pharmacology,toxicity, and pharmacokinetics

Aloe‐emodin is a naturally anthraquinone derivative and an active ingredient of Chinese herbs, such as Cassia occidentalis, Rheum palmatum L., Aloe vera, and Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. Emerging evidence suggests that aloe‐emodin exhibits many pharmacological effects, including anticancer, antivirus, anti‐inflammatory, antibacterial, antiparasitic, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective activities. These pharmacological properties lay the foundation for the treatment of various diseases, including influenza virus, inflammation, sepsis, Alzheimer's disease, glaucoma, malaria, liver fibrosis, psoriasis, Type 2 diabetes, growth disorders, and several types of cancers. However, an increasing number of published studies have reported adverse effects of aloe‐emodin. The primary toxicity among these reports is hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, which are of wide concern worldwide. Pharmacokinetic studies have demonstrated that aloe‐emodin has a poor intestinal absorption, short elimination half‐life, and low bioavailability. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the pharmacology, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics of aloe‐emodin reported to date with an emphasis on its biological properties and mechanisms of action.     

Sequential Therapy Based on Evolvement of Patterns: A New Model for Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

In order to solve the problem of long-term (>9 months) efficacy in the treatment of Alzheimer''s disease (AD) by conventional therapy (CT), a staged and multiply-targeted sequential therapy based on the evolvement of patterns (STEP) was developed. Its main innovations include: (1) the time order of evolution of patterns defined by Chinese medicine (CM) in AD was found, that is, "the orderly pattern evolution starting from Shen (Kidney) deficiency, progressing to phlegm, stasis and fire, and worsening to severe toxin as well as functional collapse"; (2) the cascade hypothesis of Shen deficiency in AD and its sequential therapy based on Shen-reinforcing was proposed, that is, "reinforcing Shen in the early stage and throughout the whole process, resolving phlegm, activating blood and purging fire in the middle stage, detoxifying and replenishing vitality to stop the collapse in the advanced stage", and through meta-analysis, clinical drug use was optimized, thus the leap from "inferential selection" to "evidence-based selection" was realized; (3) the STEP regimen combined with CT maintained cognitive and behavioral stability in AD patients for at least 12 months, with cognitive enhancement and behavioral synergy after 9 months, and cognitive benefit was superior to CT at 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 months, respectively. The 2-year cognitive improvement rate was increased by 25.64% (P=0.020) and the cognitive deterioration rate was decreased by 48.71% (P=0.000). Among them, the cognitive and functional benefits of Shen-reinforcing therapy for very early AD (350 cases) for 1 year were better than the placebo (P<0.001), and the dementia conversion rate was reduced by 8.85% (P=0.002). The behavioral symptomatic relief of patients with vascular dementia received fire-purging therapy (540 cases) was superior to those received CT (P=0.016). These data suggested that the STEP regimen has synergistic effects on CTs at least in terms of cognitive benefit, and the earlier the use, the greater the benefit will have. Therefore, the STEP regimen should be considered as one of the clinical options, particularly for the dearth of effective pharmaceutical or immunological interventions that are currently available for AD.     

肾炎1号方联合西药治疗肾病综合征疗效及对患者凝血指标、免疫功能的影响

目的:探讨肾炎1号方联合西药治疗肾病综合征临床疗效及对患者凝血指标、免疫功能的影响。方法:选取肾病综合征患者共52例,分为对照组26例、治疗组26例。两组患者均予以基础治疗,对照组在基础治疗上给予泼尼松片治疗。治疗组在对照组基础上加用肾炎1号方治疗。结果:与对照组治疗后相比,治疗组治疗24 h后Upr、CHOL、TG、Scr、Fg、D-D均下降,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗组治疗后补体C₃升高明显,与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后治疗组中医证候积分各项均低于对照组,治疗组总有效率88.46%高于对照组的76.92%,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:肾炎1号方联合西药治疗肾病综合征临床效果较好,能更有效地控制患者蛋白尿、升高血清白蛋白水平、降低血清胆固醇,并且能调节机体体液免疫紊乱、改善高凝状态。     

腹腔镜微创治疗高龄完全性直肠脱垂

目的探讨腹腔镜微创治疗高龄完全性直肠脱垂的手术方法,总结手术操作体会及临床治疗经验。方法总结2012年6月~2017年6月收治的22例完全性直肠脱垂患者的临床资料,患者年龄67~79岁,均在腹腔镜下行悬吊固定。结肠造影和术中均可见明显增厚且冗长的乙状结肠,直肠周围组织宽松,膀胱直肠窝或子宫直肠窝之间脂肪结缔组织明显增厚,尤其是直肠前壁。术中切除直肠周围增厚的脂肪结缔组织,切除冗长的乙状结肠和直肠上端,行结肠直肠吻合。结果所有患者手术顺利,无中转开腹。手术时间平均(86.59±14.84)min,出血量平均(63.41±23.67)ml,术后住院时间平均(10.01±1.57)d。无吻合口出血、感染、肠瘘等并发症发生,无术中死亡或术后2周内死亡病例。22患者均获得临床治愈,随访2~4年,平均(2.81±0.91)年,患者排便次数1~2次/d,肛门功能正常,无复发。结论腹腔镜下微创切除直肠周围增厚的结缔组织、切除冗长的乙状结肠和直肠上端,是一种较好的微创治疗高龄直肠脱垂的方法。     

白芷酒炖前后挥发性成分的HS-SPME-GC-MS分析

目的探讨白芷酒炖前后对挥发性成分的影响。方法采用顶空固相微萃取技术(HS-SPME)结合气相色谱-质谱法(GC-MS)对白芷酒炖前后挥发性成分及其相对百分含量进行对比分析。结果从白芷生品中初步检测出53个峰,鉴定出36个成分;从白芷酒炖中检测出32个峰,鉴定出26个成分;与生品成分比较,酒炖白芷中有22种成分未测到,但新增了12种成分,表明酒炖白芷中的挥发性成分的组成和含量均发生了变化。结论白芷酒炖后由于受热及辅料黄酒的作用使挥发性成分的种类及含量发生了明显变化,并存在成分转化,本研究为白芷酒炖的炮制机理及其在都梁丸中应用的物质基础研究提供了科学依据。