Matrine,oxymatrine, and compound Kushen injection from the roots of Sophora flavescens: an overview of their anticancer activities

In the present review, we updated current information on the chemistry, contents, and anticancer properties of matrine (MT), oxymatrine (OMT), and compound Kushen injection (CKI). The anticancer properties were focused on lung, breast, and liver cancer cells because they are most susceptible. Sources of information were from Google, Google Scholar, PubMed, PubMed Central, Science Direct, PubChem, J-Stage, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Reference was also made on botanical websites, such as Flora of China and World Flora Online. MT and OMT are dominant quinolizidine alkaloids from the roots of Sophora flavescens (Kushen) of the family Fabaceae. Against lung, breast, and liver cancer cells, MT and OMT inhibit cell proliferation; induce cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy; restrict angiogenesis; and inhibit cell metastasis, invasion, and migration. The processes involve various molecular targets and signaling pathways. CKI is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) composed of root extracts of S. flavescens and Smilax glabra (Baituling) of the family Smilacaceae. With MT and OMT as major components, CKI has been approved for the treatment of cancer in China more than 20 years ago. In recent years, systematic reviews and meta-analysis have been undertaken to evaluate the anticancer effects of CKI. When CKI is used alone and in combination with chemotherapy of western medicine, there is much to be learned concerning their interactions besides their individual and integrated efficacy. Some perspectives of MT, OMT, and CKI are discussed, and their suggestions for future research are provided.     

The effects of grape seed extract on glycemic control,serum lipoproteins,inflammation, and body weight: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

The aim of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to analyze the effects of grape seed extract (GSE) on glycemic control and serum lipoproteins, inflammation and body weight. Two independent authors systematically searched online databases including EMBASE, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from inception until May 30, 2019. Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool was applied to assess the methodological quality of included trials. The heterogeneity among the included studies was assessed using Cochrane's Q test and I‐square (I²) statistic. Data were pooled using a random‐effects model and weighted mean difference (WMD) was considered as the overall effect size. Fifty trials were included in this meta‐analysis. Pooling effect sizes from studies demonstrated a significant decrease in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (WMD): ?2.01; 95% confidence interval (CI): ?3.14, ?0.86), total cholesterol (TC; WMD: ?6.03; 95% CI: ?9.71, ?2.35), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (WMD: ?4.97; 95% CI: ?8.37, ?1.57), triglycerides (WMD: ?6.55; 95% CI: ?9.28, ?3.83), and C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentrations (WMD: ?0.81; 95% CI: ?1.25, ?0.38) following GSE therapy. Grape seed did not influence HbA1c, HDL cholesterol levels, and anthropometric measurements. This meta‐analysis demonstrated that GSE intake significantly reduced FPG, TC, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and CRP levels.     

甘草种子与种苗质量分级标准研究

目的:研究甘草种子、种苗质量分级标准,为甘草药材规范化生产奠定基础。方法:以全国主产区所流通的甘草种子、种苗为样本,通过收集种子的发芽率、净度、含水量、千粒质量,种苗的根长、芦头直径和百株质量等指标信息,采用K-均值聚类分析法、标准差法、平均值法并结合生产实践对甘草种子、种苗进行分级,并开展田间栽培比较试验,对等级划分的合理性进行验证。结果:甘草种子质量等级划分为3个等级,各级甘草种子的千粒质量不低于8 g,含水量不低于10%,一级种子:发芽率≥90%,净度≥90%;二级种子:90%>发芽率≥85%,90%>净度≥85%;三级种子:85%>发芽率≥80%,85%>净度≥80%。甘草种苗质量等级划分为3个等级,一级种苗:根长≥45 cm,芦头直径≥0.8 cm,1.3 kg≤百株质量<0.8 kg;二级种苗:45 cm>根长≥35 cm,0.8 cm>芦头直径≥0.6 cm,0.8 kg≤百株质量<0.4 kg;三级种苗:35 cm>根长≥25 cm,0.6 cm>芦头直径≥0.4 cm,0.4 kg≤百株质量≤0.2 kg。结论:经验证,甘草种子、种苗质量等级划分合理,便于生产实践应用。     

Is the future magnetic? Magseed localisation for non palpable breast cancer. A multi-centre non randomised control study

IntroductionMagseed is an alternative method of localising non-palpable breast lesions that has addressed many of the limitations of wire guided localisation (WGL). It consists of a paramagnetic seed that can be visualised on mammography and ultrasound. Intraoperative localisation of the seed is achieved with the use of the Sentimag probe. The aim of this study was to prospectively compare localisation in patients undergoing wide local excision (WLE) for non-palpable lesions between Magseed and WGL.MethodsWe prospectively collected data on all patients undergoing image-guided WLE between October 2017 and September 2018 in two academic breast units with a planned accrual of 100 consecutive patients undergoing Magseed localisation. Data was also collected on a cohort of 100 consecutive patients undergoing WGL in the same time period.ResultsDemographic and disease characteristics were well balanced between the two groups. 4/104 patients were converted preoperatively from Magseed to WGL (2 misplaced Magseeds; 2 undetected Magseeds). Intraoperative identification and excision of the localised lesion was successful in all patients as confirmed with specimen radiography. Overall no significant differences were observed in the proportion of patients requiring re-excision between the two groups (Magseed 16% vs. WGL 14% p = 0.692). Specimens size by weight and volume was similar for both groups (Magseed 39.6 g vs. WGL 44.5 g p = 0.206 and 90.1 cm³ for Magseed vs. 95.6 cm³ for WGL p = 0.579).ConclusionsIn our series Magseed localisation proved to be as reliable and effective as WGL in terms of lesion identification, excision with tumour free margins and specimen weight.     

WHO working group meeting to amend WHO Recommendations to assure the quality,safety and efficacy of live attenuated yellow fever vaccines

The current WHO Recommendations to assure the quality, safety and efficacy of live attenuated yellow fever vaccines were adopted in 2010. This document recommends that vaccine virus master and working seed lots should be tested for viscerotropism, immunogenicity and neurovirulence in monkeys. A vaccine manufacturer has reported, recently, discrepancies on the clinical scoring of monkeys during assessment of working seed lots and suggested aligning neurotropism assessment of yellow fever vaccines virus seed lots with that of neurovirulence testing of polio vaccines virus seed lots. In this approach, clinical signs are recorded but do not form part of the assessment or pass/fail criteria. At its 71^st meeting in August 2020, the ECBS agreed to establish a drafting group and to consult with manufacturers and other stakeholders on the proposed amendment. Then a survey had been conducted to seek opinions of stakeholders on the neurotropism testing and revision of current WHO Recommendations for yellow fever vaccines. It was recognized from the answers of the survey that the test for neurovirulence in monkeys presents several technical challenges which could be addressed in the amended version of the Recommendations.On 18–19 March 2021, a virtual WHO working group meeting was held to discuss a proposed draft of the amended text with participants of yellow fever vaccine manufacturers and relevant regulators. Overall, there was a consensus among manufacturers and regulators that clinical evaluation provides important information and should be retained as part of the neurotropism test. However, there was also agreement that the test is somewhat subjective, and that analysis can be difficult. It was recognized that there was potential for improvement in both test execution and analysis to increase harmonization between manufacturers. Alternative tests to the non-human primates neurovirulence test would be useful but it was agreed that none seem to be sufficiently developed at present. Based on these working group discussions, it was proposed that the appendix on neurotropism test to be further revised by the WHO drafting group and submitted to ECBS for review and adoption.Issues other than neurotropism test were discussed in the meeting as well. There were a number of points identified during the meeting, such as new platform of production, animal models, deep sequencing, international standards, that are outside the current recommendations that are worthy of further discussion. Therefore, it is recommended that there would be a future meeting with various stakeholders to discuss the potential revision of the whole Recommendations for yellow fever vaccines in order to meet the current needs.     

不同浓度的外源NO对刺五加种子激素及酶含量变化的影响

目的:研究外源NO对刺五加种子解除休眠及萌发过程中内源激素及酶的变化规律,为打破刺五加种子休眠和人工栽培提供依据。方法:考察不同浓度(1,5,10,20 mmol·L~(-1))的外源NO供体硝普钠(SNP)处理刺五加种子,而后进行变温层积处理。采用高效液相色谱法检测出在不同层积时间(0,30,50,80,100,130 d)的内源激素赤霉素(GA3),脱落酸(ABA),吲哚乙酸(IAA),吲哚丁酸(IBA)及水杨酸(SA)含量变化。采用酶标仪全程监测体内酶[过氧化氢酶(CAT),超氧化物歧化酶(SOD),过氧化物酶(POD),丙二醛(MDA)]水平的变化。结果:在刺五加种子萌发过程中,GA3,IAA,IBA和SA的含量逐渐增大,脱落酸的含量逐渐减小。POD和MDA水平显著下降,CAT和SOD的酶活力显著上升。外源NO可以提高刺五加种子萌发率,缩短种子萌发时间,20 mmol·L~(-1)SNP促进种子萌发效果最为明显,10 mmol·L~(-1)SNP促进种子萌发效果最弱,呈"V"型变化。结论:SNP促进刺五加种子萌发可能通过提高种子萌发过程中的激素和酶的含量,以提高种子内源NO含量而实现。     

生大黄贴敷神阙穴在经皮肾镜钬激光碎石术后应用观察

目的探讨生大黄贴敷神阙穴配合莱菔子热熨,预防经皮肾镜钬激光碎石术后患者腹胀便秘的效果。方法选取2015年1月—2019年12月收治的行经皮肾镜钬激光碎石术后患者100例,随机分为试验组50例,对照组50例;在临床护理方法相同的基础上试验组采用生大黄加75%酒精调贴敷神阙穴配合莱菔子热熨。结果2组患者腹胀便秘发生率比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),试验组发生腹胀便秘发生率明显低于对照组。结论生大黄贴敷神阙穴配合莱菔子热熨有效地预防经皮肾镜钬激光碎石术后患者腹胀、便秘,促进患者康复。     

含功能性油的水飞蓟宾超饱和自纳米乳的制备与体外评价

目的制备含功能性油的水飞蓟宾超饱和自纳米乳(SLB-S-SNEDDS),并对其进行表征及体外评价研究,以提高难溶性药物水飞蓟宾的生物利用度。方法铁氢化钾还原力与1,1-二苯基-2-苦肼基(DPPH)自由基清除实验筛选功能性油脂;伪三元相图考察乳化剂乳化能力;测定粒径、多分散指数(PDI)、Zeta电位等考察混合油相比例与载药量;相容性与溶出度实验筛选促过饱和物质并考察其质量浓度;从外观、粒径分布、自乳化效率、形态学等方面表征SLB-S-SNEDDS,并进行溶出度、抗氧化能力、细胞毒性等体外评价。结果所得SLB-S-SNEDDS处方为(1)小麦胚芽油/Capryol 90-Cremophor ELP-Transcutol HP与(2)沙棘籽油/Capryol 90-Cremophor ELP-Transcutol HP,1 g基质(包含0.043 g小麦胚芽油或沙棘籽油、0.387 g Capryol 90、0.380 g Cremophor ELP、0.190 g Transcutol HP),水飞蓟宾的添加量为各组分平衡溶解度之和的20%,Soluplus的添加量为上述总质量的0.1%。小麦胚芽油、沙棘籽油体系分别为淡黄色、亮黄色透明状均一液体,2种体系自乳化分散后均呈近球形白色扁平乳滴,粒径约为50 nm,乳化时间均为65 s。与药物原料及SLB-SNEDDS相比,SLB-S-SNEDDS中水飞蓟宾的累积溶出率8h内均维持在85%～110%,表明该体系能够显著提高药物的溶出度。SLB-S-SNEDDS与铁氰化钾反应后的吸光度(A值0.452～0.782,0.488～0.765)以及DPPH自由基清除率(39.09%～96.02%,30.54%～89.20%)均高于相应质量浓度下水飞蓟宾原料的A值与清除率(0.411～0.760,22.89%～63.21%),表明2种处方体系均能提高水飞蓟宾的抗氧化能力。细胞毒性实验结果显示,在5、10μmol/L药物浓度下,水飞蓟宾原料组、水飞蓟宾S-SNEDDS组及其相应的空白S-SNEDDS组细胞生存率均90%,说明SLB-S-SNEDDS及其所用辅料对人克隆结肠腺癌细胞(Caco-2)毒性较小、安全性较好。结论制备的含功能性油SLB-S-SNEDDS在提高水飞蓟宾累积溶出率的同时,增强了其抗氧化能力,为将超饱和自纳米乳(S-SNEDDS)用于改善难溶性药物水溶性及其生物活性提供有益参考。     

微波消解ICP-MS法测定市售薏苡仁中5种重金属有害元素的含量

目的基于微波消解ICP-MS法对国内市售薏苡仁药材中5种重金属元素含量的测定,建立控制薏苡仁药材重金属的限量检测方法。方法通过微波消解进行样品处理电感耦合等离子质谱法,测定60批市售薏苡仁药材中As、Cd、Cu、Hg、Pb的含量。结果薏苡仁中重金属平均含有量As为0.0139 mg/kg、Cd为0.0038 mg/kg、Cu为4.0909 mg/kg、Hg为0.0015 mg/kg、Pb为0.1019 mg/kg、总量为4.2119 mg/kg。市售薏苡仁药材中Cu和Pb的含有量差别最大,且Cu的含有量最高,As、Cd、Hg的含有量差别不大,且含量普遍较低;国内市售的60批薏苡仁药材中5种重金属元素和重金属总量均符合现行标准。结论国内市售薏苡仁药材中重金属含量普遍合格;微波消解ICP-MS法测定方法简便、快速、准确,可用于中药材中这5种重金属元素的含量测定。