A novel adjuvant G3 induces both Th1 and Th2 related immune responses in mice after immunization with a trivalent inactivated split-virion influenza vaccine

A preferred adjuvant should promote both Th1 and Th2 responses. However, most adjuvants in common use are biased towards a Th2-driven response. Therefore, the ability of a novel saponin-based adjuvant G3 to inducing balanced Th1 and Th2 responses in BALB/c mice immunized with a split trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine was evaluated in comparison to that of the adjuvant Al(OH)₃. Clear differences in the IgG profiles induced by G3, Al(OH)₃ or non-adjuvanted vaccine were recorded. Both adjuvants enhanced high and similar levels of the Th2 associated IgG1 subtype compared to mice given vaccine alone. Only G3 enhanced the IgG2a subclass reflecting a Th1 response, whereas Al(OH)₃ even abrogated the IgG2a production. Accordingly, G3 enhanced the production of IL-2 and IFN-γ and also of IL-2/IFN-γ double secreting cells, emphasizing the strong Th1 driving effect of G3. Only Al(OH)₃ increased splenocyte production of IL-17. Taken together, the results indicate a strong propensity for G3 to induce both Th1 and Th2 driven immune responses.     

天麻道地产区的形成与变迁

天麻在我国已有2 000多年应用历史,为名贵中药材。天麻产地最早的记载为魏晋时期《吴普本草》所述的山东泰山和河南嵩山,并一直以山东泰安及其周边地区为道地产区,但从民国开始天麻产地发生了较大变化,道地产区向西迁移到西南地区。因此该文通过文献考证和实地走访调查,探讨分析了天麻道地产区的形成过程与产地变迁情况,介绍了天麻人工栽培历史和当前主流产地,并从自然、社会、交通、人文和种质资源方面分析了天麻道地产区形成和产地变迁的原因,从而为天麻质量评价和栽培生产研究提供参考。     

橡胶贴膏剂制备方法的应用分析

橡胶膏剂有溶剂法和热压法2种制备方法。溶剂法生产的产品黏性好、皮肤残留物少,但生产过程使用了溶媒,存在安全隐患和环境污染等问题;热压法生产橡胶膏剂,取消了溶媒,安全、环保、占地面积小、成本低、挥发性药物损失少、老化慢、生产周期短、生产效率高,热压法代替溶剂法生产橡胶膏剂是发展趋势。橡胶膏剂的涂胶工艺分为直涂法和反涂法2种,直涂法对布匹要求高,生产时胶面容易产生黏连等问题;反涂法操作简单、含膏量稳定、生产效率高,可应用四面弹性布做衬材。降低橡胶基质软化温度并且保证其耐热性能是实现反涂热压法生产橡胶膏剂的关键,调整基质中软化剂、增粘剂、橡胶等用量比例,能够实现热压法产品在光泽度、初粘性、持粘性、内聚力等方面与溶剂法相似。     

Adaptation of salivary Lactobacillus strains to xylitol

OBJECTIVE: Acid production from sugars is one of the virulence factors of cariogenic bacteria. To eliminate this factor, many authors have suggested using sugar substitutes like xylitol, which is not fermented by most oral bacteria. The aim of this work was to investigate whether oral strains of lactobacilli unable to utilise xylitol could become able to utilise this polyol. DESIGN: Twenty-eight oral strains and six ATCC strains of lactobacilli were tested. None was initially able to produce acids from xylitol. Media containing only xylitol was used in order to see if an adaptation was possible. The acid production from xylitol was measured by recording the pH variations of the culture medium. The acids produced were identified by HPLC. RESULTS: After a 15-days culture, 10 strains produced acids. After a 40-days culture, 11 more strains produced acid. When acid production occurred, lactic, formic, acetic, propionic and butyric acids were the organic acids formed by all the strains. CONCLUSIONS: Adaptation of oral strains of lactobacilli to xylitol can occur in vitro.     

Some aspects of protease production by a strain of Streptococcus sanguis

Our previous studies indicated that Arginine (Arg) plays a key nutritional role in Streptococcus sanguis P4A7 and that this organism can grow on whole casein as the sole nitrogen source. Its protease activities were therefore studied after glucose-limited continuous culture in a chemically-defined medium with either free amino acids or casein as the nitrogen source. Both culture supernatant and cell-associated endopeptidase (EP) and exopeptidase (amino-AP and carboxy-CP) activities were determined. Growth rate (mu) had little effect on EP, 75% of which was consistently in culture supernatants; AP and CP both decreased as mu was increased and both were predominantly cell-associated. At high growth pH, EP was substantially increased while AP and CP activities were optimal at pH 7. The most striking nutritional effect occurred under nitrogen limitation (glucose excess) when EP and AP were greatly increased and CP greatly decreased. It was concluded that S. sanguis is well equipped to scavenge its environment for Arg under a wide range of growth conditions.     

增氧型纳米递送系统用于光动力治疗的研究进展

光动力治疗是一种新型非侵入性治疗手段,其原理是光敏剂经激光触发后将能量转移至氧气,生成具有细胞毒性的单线态氧,从而诱导肿瘤细胞发生凋亡或坏死。作为一种氧依赖性治疗方式,光动力治疗的抗肿瘤效果明显受限于实体瘤的乏氧微环境。因此,逆转并改善肿瘤组织的缺氧情况可显著增强光动力治疗效果。本文重点讨论纳米递送系统介导的肿瘤增氧策略的研究进展,包括氧气直接递送策略、酶催化产氧递送策略、响应型材料原位产氧递送策略和微生物体供氧递送策略,以提高光动力治疗抗肿瘤效果,为进一步研究增氧型光动力治疗纳米给药系统提供了新思路和新方案。     

基于UPLC特征图谱和Q-Marker量值传递评价经典名方半夏白术天麻汤颗粒剂的关键生产工艺

目的 基于特征图谱相关性和质量标志物（quality markers,Q-Marker）转移率评价半夏白术天麻汤（Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction,BBTD）颗粒剂的生产环节,明确关键控制点。方法 采用Acclaim^TM RSLC Lot Validation-120 C₁₈色谱柱（100 mm×2.1 mm,2.2 μm）进行分离,流动相为乙腈-水溶液,梯度洗脱,体积流量0.3 mL/min,检测波长235 nm,柱温30℃。以BBTD基准样品为参比,建立3批中试样品的UPLC指纹图谱,并进行相似度评价,分析Q-Marker在各生产环节的损失,评价生产工艺的合理性。结果 与BBTD基准样品相比,提取液、浓缩液、干膏粉、颗粒剂中均存在对应特征峰,以10种指标性成分及其总量表征的3批BBTD中试样品关键质量属性与其基准样品基本保持一致。结论 基于特征图谱和Q-Marker在各环节之间的量值传递,为经典名方BBTD制备工艺评价和质量控制提供了的理论依据。     

Reviewing Threats to Wild Rhodiola sachalinensis, A Medicinally Valuable yet Vulnerable Species

Occurring in China, DPR Korea, Japan, and Russian Federation and classified in the Red List of Chinese Flora as a vulnerable species, Rhodiola sachalinensis Boriss. is used increasingly in cosmetics, dietary supplements, and Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the (i) conservation status, harvesting and trade levels of R. sachalinensis,(ii) current state of experimental and commercial farming, and (iii) evidence of substitution or interchangeable use of R. sachalinensis with other Rhodiola species. We assessed data from multiple disciplines and languages including studies on R. sachalinensis biology and ecology, information on impacts of wild harvest, management measures, and current levels of cultivation. Our assessment shows that while R. sachalinensis is increasingly produced by cultivation, wild populations are decreasing and face multiple threats. These include (a) habitat loss including due to oil and gas infrastructure development on Sakhalin island,(b) climate change impacts on alpine ecosystems, and (c) overexploitation of wild plants to satisfy the growing commercial demand. Assessments of the conservation status of R. sachalinensis should commence in each Range State, as well as resource assessments and monitoring of harvesting and trade of wild R. sachalinensis. Even with increased reliance on cultivation, biodiversity conservation, and genetic diversity in wild populations are relevant to future use of this species.