布地奈德联合特布他林雾化吸入对急性哮喘发作的临床疗效

目的 探讨布地奈德联合特布他林雾化吸入在治疗急性哮喘发作的疗效,并对其安全性进行分析。方法 2011年11月至2014年11月江阴市第二人民医院呼吸科住院治疗的急性哮喘发作的患者180例,采取随机分组的原则并征求患者及家属的同意后,将其分为对照组(93例)以及试验组(87例),对照组采用布地奈德治疗,试验组采用布地奈德联合特布他林雾化联合治疗,根据患者哮喘急性发作后病情的严重程度,将哮喘急性发作患者分为轻度组和中重度组,比较各组患者的疗效、症状消失时间以及肺功能改善情况。结果 试验组的轻、中重组均比对照组在治疗总有效率上有优势,并且两组的轻度患者治疗总有效率都比中重度组高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);试验组的轻度、中重度患者呼吸困难、咳嗽、哮鸣音以及湿啰音症状消失的时间较对照组明显缩短,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);治疗后,两组患者的FEV₁、FVC及PEF等肺功能指标较治疗前均明显升高,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 使用布地奈德联合特布他林雾化吸入治疗急性哮喘发作比单一使用布地奈德有明显优势。     

盐酸丙卡特罗口服或硫酸特布他林雾化联合布地奈德雾化治疗儿童咳嗽变异性哮喘的有效性及经济性研究

目的 比较盐酸丙卡特罗口服溶液口服联合布地奈德雾化与硫酸特布他林雾化液雾化吸入联合布地奈德雾化治疗儿童咳嗽变异性哮喘患儿的有效性和经济性。方法 纳入2020年1月—2020年12月上海中医药大学附属龙华医院收治的120例咳嗽变异性哮喘患儿,按随机数字表法将其分为丙卡特罗组与特布他林组,每组各60例。丙卡特罗组予以布地奈德雾化联合盐酸丙卡特罗口服溶液口服治疗,特布他林组予以布地奈德联合硫酸特布他林雾化治疗。评估两组疗效和安全性。比较两组治疗前后1秒用力呼气容积（FEV₁）、用力肺活量（FVC）、呼气峰值流速（PEF）、嗜酸性粒细胞（EOS）、免疫球蛋白E（IgE）水平。比较两组成本-效果。结果 特布他林组总有效率（96.67%）显著高于丙卡特罗组（86.67%,P＜0.05）。两组患儿治疗后FEV₁、FVC、PEF显著高于治疗前（P＜0.05）,特布他林组患儿FEV₁、FVC、PEF显著高于丙卡特罗组（P＜0.05）。两组患儿治疗后EOS和IgE水平显著低于治疗前（P＜0.05）,特布他林组患儿EOS和IgE水平显著低于丙卡特罗组（P＜0.05）。特布他林组患儿不良反应发生率与丙卡特罗组比较差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。丙卡特罗组治疗经济学显著优于特布他林组（P＜0.05）。结论 与丙卡特罗口服液相比,硫酸特布他林雾化吸入治疗儿童咳嗽变异性哮喘可能具有较好效果及安全性,但丙卡特罗口服液具有更高经济价值。     

清咳平喘颗粒在慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重期患者中的临床疗效观察

目的 观察清咳平喘颗粒治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）急性加重期患者的临床疗效。方法 回顾性选取2019年11月—2021年5月在上海市（复旦大学附属）公共卫生临床中心呼吸内科住院的COPD急性加重期患者70例为研究对象,根据药物治疗方法分为试验组和对照组,每组各35例。对照组根据病情常规给予低流量氧疗、抗感染、解痉平喘化痰等综合治疗,试验组在对照组治疗基础上加用清咳平喘颗粒,开水冲服,每次10 g,每日3次。两组均治疗10 d。观察两组患者治疗前后中医证候疗效,慢性阻塞性肺疾病症状评估测试（CAT）评分,肺功能、动脉血气、炎症指标及不良反应。结果 试验组中医证候疗效总有效率（88.6%）明显高于对照组（68.6%）（P＜0.05）。试验组及对照组患者治疗前CAT评分、动脉血气、肺功能指标比较差异均无统计学意义（P＞0.05）,治疗后两组患者CAT评分和动脉二氧化碳分压（pCO₂）均较治疗前显著降低（P＜0.05）,治疗后两组患者动脉血氧分压（pO₂）、第1秒用力呼气容积（FEV1）和第1秒用力呼气容积/用力肺活量（FEV1/FVC）均较治疗前显著升高（P＜0.05）;治疗后试验组患者CAT评分、动脉血气及肺功能指标较对照组改善均更明显,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。治疗前,两组患者外周血白细胞（WBC）计数、C反应蛋白（CRP）、血清降钙素原（PCT）水平比较均无统计学差异（P＞0.05）,治疗后两组患者WBC、CRP、PCT水平均较本组治疗前显著降低（P＜0.05）,且治疗后试验组WBC、CRP、PCT水平较显著低于对照组（P＜0.05）。试验组不良反应发生率14.3%与对照组（8.6%）比较,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。结论 清咳平喘颗粒治疗COPD急性加重期患者有协同作用,缓解临床症状,改善肺功能,疗效及安全性均较好。     

氨溴索联合哌拉西林舒巴坦对老年重症肺炎患者的疗效及对肺功能、IL-8、ECP的影响

目的 研究氨溴索联合哌拉西林舒巴坦对老年重症肺炎患者的疗效及对肺功能、白介素-8（IL-8）、嗜酸性细胞阳离子蛋白（ECP）的影响。方法 选择2013年1月-2017年12月宝鸡市中医医院收治的101例老年重症肺炎患者,随机分为两组。对照组静脉滴注哌拉西林舒巴坦,2.5 g/次,2次/d;观察组联合静脉滴注氨溴索,15 mg/次,2次/d。两组均治疗2周。比较两组的住院时间、临床症状改善时间、肺功能、IL-8和ECP水平。结果 观察组治疗的总有效率为92.00%,显著高于对照组的78.43%（P<0.05）。观察组的临床症状改善时间、平均住院时间均显著短于对照组（P<0.05）。两组治疗后的第一秒最大呼气量（FEV1）、用力肺活量（FVC）、用力呼气25%流速（MEF25）、最大呼气流速峰值（PEF）以及用力呼气50%流速（MWV50）均显著升高（P<0.05）;且观察组显著高于对照组（P<0.05）。两组治疗后的血清IL-8、ECP水平均显著降低（P<0.05）,且观察组显著低于对照组（P<0.05）。结论 氨溴索联合哌拉西林舒巴坦对老年重症肺炎患者的疗效显著优于单纯使用哌拉西林舒巴坦,不仅能改善其肺功能,还能有效对抗炎症反应。     

不同剂量氨溴索对老年慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者的疗效及肺功能的影响

目的探讨不同剂量氨溴索对老年慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）患者的疗效及肺功能的影响。方法选取200例COPD患者,随机分为两组,大剂量组（102例）给予大剂量（60 mg/次）盐酸氨溴索静脉滴注,小剂量组（98例）给予小剂量（30 mg/次）盐酸氨溴索静脉滴注,通过比较治疗后的疗效、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、血清超敏C反应蛋白（CRP）、肺功能指标及治疗期间不良反应情况,评价不同剂量氨溴索对老年慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者的疗效及肺功能的影响。结果大剂量组有效率89.2%,小剂量组有效率75.5%,大剂量组的治疗有效率高于小剂量组（P<0.05）。治疗前,两组CRP和TNF-α相比无统计学差异;治疗后两组CRP和TNF-α水平均明显降低（P<0.05）,且大剂量组CRP和TNF-α水平明显低于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗前,两组FVC、FEV1和FEV1/FVC%相比,差异无统计学意义;治疗后两组FVC、FEV1和FEV1/FVC%均明显升高（P<0.05）,且大剂量组上述肺功能指标明显高于小剂量组（P<0.05）。治疗期间,两组不良反应率无明显差异。结论大剂量氨溴索对慢性阻塞性肺疾病用药安全有效,可显著减小肺部炎症反应,提高肺部通气量,值得临床推广使用。     

孟鲁斯特联合布地奈德和特布他林治疗哮喘急性发作的疗效观察

目的 研究孟鲁斯特联合布地奈德和特布他林治疗哮喘急性发作的临床疗效。方法 选取2012年5月-2014年5月商洛市中心医院收治的支气管哮喘急性发作患者100例,随机分为对照组和治疗组,每组各50例。对照组在对症治疗的基础上给予雾化吸入布地奈德气雾剂,0.5 mg/次,3次/d;同时口服硫酸特布他林片,2.5 mg/次,3次/d。治疗组在对照组基础上口服孟鲁司特钠咀嚼片,10 mg/次,1次/d。两组均连续治疗7 d。观察两组的临床疗效,比较两组症状消失时间、哮喘发作频率、肺功能改善情况。结果 治疗后,对照组和治疗组的总有效率分别为88.0%、98.0%,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P < 0.05)。治疗组的咳嗽消失时间、湿啰音消失时间、喘息消失时间、哮鸣音消失时间、日间和夜间发作频率具显著短于对照组,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P < 0.05)。治疗后,两组患者FEV1占预计值的百分比(FEV1%Pred)、用力吸气肺活量(FVC)、呼气流量峰值(PEF)均显著升高,同组治疗前后差异具有统计学意义(P < 0.05);且治疗后治疗组FEV1%Pred、FVC、PEF高于对照组,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P < 0.05)。结论 孟鲁斯特联合布地奈德和特布他林治疗哮喘急性发作具有较好的临床疗效,可有效改善哮喘急性发作患者的肺功能和临床症状,具有一定的临床推广应用价值。     

清咳平喘颗粒联合头孢克洛和盐酸氨溴索治疗儿童急性支气管炎的临床疗效

目的 观察清咳平喘颗粒联合头孢克洛和盐酸氨溴索治疗儿童急性支气管炎的临床疗效。方法 前瞻性将 2020 年 8月-2021 年 12 月上海市(复旦大学附属)公共卫生临床中心收治的急性支气管炎患儿 166 例纳入研究,采用随机数字表法,分为对照组和试验组。对照组给予头孢克洛干混悬剂和盐酸氨溴索口服溶液治疗,试验组在对照组基础上联用清咳平喘颗粒,均治疗 7 d。观察比较两组患儿临床症状改善状况及治疗效果。观察两组患儿用药期间咳嗽、咳痰、发热、肺部啰音情况;观察两组患儿治疗前后血清炎症因子白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)水平变化及咳嗽中医证候积分,统计不良反应发生情况。结果 最终共 160 例患儿完成研究,对照组和试验组各 80 例,试验组总有效率(87.50%)显著高于对照组(80.00%)(P<0.05);治疗后试验组咳嗽、咳痰、发热、肺部啰音症状消失时间均显著短于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组治疗后咳嗽中医证候积分以及炎症因子均较本组治疗前降低(P<0.05),且试验组降低更明显(P<0.05)。两组患儿不良反应发生率分别为 5.00%、3.75%,无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论 清咳平喘颗粒联合头孢克洛干混悬剂和盐酸氨溴索口服溶液治疗儿童急性支气管炎有协同作用,可明显改善患儿临床症状,降低炎症因子水平,缩短患儿病程,提高疗效。     

多索茶碱联合氨溴索治疗小儿哮喘的疗效及其对T淋巴细胞亚群和肺功能的影响

目的 探讨多索茶碱联合氨溴索对小儿哮喘患者的临床疗效及其对T淋巴细胞亚群和肺功能的影响。方法 选取格尔木市人民医院2017年1月—2019年1月收治的60例小儿哮喘患者作为研究对象,按照随机双盲法将患儿分为对照组和观察组,每组各30例。对照组患儿静脉滴注盐酸氨溴索注射液,将药物加入到葡萄糖注射液（或生理盐水）中,2~6岁儿童：7.5 mg/次,3次/d;2岁以下儿童：7.5 mg/次,2次/d。观察组患者在对照组治疗的基础上静脉滴注多索茶碱注射液,100 mg/次,以25%葡萄糖注射液稀释至40 mL,时间应在20 min以上。两组患者均以2周为1个疗程,两组患者均治疗1个疗程。观察两组患者的临床疗效,同时比较两组治疗前后的T淋巴细胞亚群和肺功能的水平。结果 治疗后,观察组患者的治疗总有效率为93.3%,明显高于对照组的73.3%（P<0.05）。治疗后,两组患者各项T淋巴细胞亚群水平明显优于治疗前（P<0.05）,且观察组各项T淋巴细胞亚群水平明显优于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗后,两组患者各项肺功能指标均较治疗前改善（P<0.05）,而观察组患者各项肺功能指标治疗后比治疗前变化幅度明显大于对照组（P<0.05）。结论 多索茶碱联合氨溴索治疗小儿哮喘可获取显著的治疗效果,可有效改善患者T淋巴细胞亚群水平,改善肺功能,具有重要的临床价值。     

桂龙咳喘宁胶囊联合沙丁胺醇治疗支气管哮喘的临床研究

目的 探讨桂龙咳喘宁胶囊联合硫酸沙丁胺醇吸入气雾剂治疗支气管哮喘的临床疗效。方法 选取2020年1月—2021年6月开封市第二中医院收治的114例支气管哮喘患者,按照随机数字表法将114例患者分为对照组和治疗组,每组各57例。对照组雾化吸入硫酸沙丁胺醇吸入气雾剂,200 μg/次,3次/d。治疗组患者在对照组基础上口服桂龙咳喘宁胶囊,1.5 g/次,3次/d。两组患者连续治疗1个月。观察两组的临床疗效,比较两组的临床症状消失时间、肺功能指标和血清中透明质酸（HA）、转化生长因子-β₁（TGF-β₁）、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（BFGF）水平。结果 治疗后,治疗组总有效率（94.74%）明显高于对照组总有效率（82.46%）（P<0.05）。治疗后,治疗组患者咳嗽、咯痰、哮鸣音消失时间明显短于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗后,两组的第一秒用力呼气量占用力肺活量比值（FEV1/FVC）、用力呼出25%肺活量的呼气流量占预计值百分比（FEF25% pred）显著升高,呼气流速峰值（PEFR）显著降低（P<0.05）;且治疗组的FEV1/FVC、FEF25% pred高于对照组,PEFR低于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗后,两组的血清HA、TGF-β₁、BFGF水平均显著降低（P<0.05）,且治疗组血清HA、TGF-β₁、BFGF水平比对照组降低更显著（P<0.05）。结论 桂龙咳喘宁胶囊联合硫酸沙丁胺醇吸入气雾剂可提高支气管哮喘的临床疗效,减轻临床症状,提高肺功能指标,降低血清HA、TGF-β1、BFGF水平,治疗安全性良好。     

盐酸氨溴索联合止咳平喘糖浆治疗小儿咳嗽的临床研究

目的 研究盐酸氨溴索联合止咳平喘糖浆治疗小儿咳嗽的临床效果。方法 选择2012年1月-2015年12月在成都市龙泉驿区妇幼保健院进行诊治的咳嗽患儿200例,随机分为两组。观察组采用盐酸氨溴索联合止咳平喘糖浆治疗,对照组采用盐酸氨溴索治疗。两组均治疗2周。观察患儿治疗完成后的临床症状和临床表现,记录咳嗽好转时间及咳嗽消失时间,并进行治疗效果的判定,检测两组患儿的肺功能指标：呼气流量峰值、用力肺活量、一秒钟用力呼气量、50%肺活量最大呼气流速与25%肺活量最大呼气流速,并在治疗结束后,对所有患儿通过电话或门诊随访6个月,观察两组的复发率,并记录转变为哮喘的患儿例数。结果 观察组的咳嗽好转时间及咳嗽消失时间均明显短于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。观察组的总有效率为93.00%,明显高于对照组的74.00%,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。经过治疗后,两组的呼气流量峰值、用力肺活量、一秒钟用力呼气量、50%肺活量最大呼气流速与25%肺活量最大呼气流速均明显升高,统计治疗前后比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;且观察组的升高幅度明显优于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。经过6个月的随访发现,对照组有22例患儿复发,复发率为22.00%;观察组有6例复发,复发率为6.00%,观察组患儿的复发率明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;对照组有14例患儿转变为哮喘,转变率为14.00%;观察组有2例患儿转变为哮喘,转变率为2.00%,观察组患儿的转变率明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 盐酸氨溴索联合止咳平喘糖浆对小儿咳嗽具有较好的疗效,可以有效改善患儿的肺功能,降低复发率和哮喘转变率,具有较高的临床应用价值。     

Efficacy of gut lavage,hemodialysis, and hemoperfusion in the therapy of paraquat or diquat intoxication

Clinical and in vitro investigations were carried out to test the efficacy of gut lavage, hemodialysis, and hemoperfusion in the treatment of poisoning with paraquat or diquat. In a patient suffering from diquat intoxication 130 times more diquat was removed by gut lavage 30 h after ingestion than was removed by complete aspiration of the gastric contents.Determination of in vitro clearances for paraquat and diquat by hemodialysis showed that, at serum concentrations of 1–2 ppm, such as are frequently encountered in poisoning in man, toxicologically relevant quantities of herbicide cannot be removed from the body. At a concentration of 20 ppm, on the other hand, hemodialysis proved to be effective, the clearance being 70 ml/min at a blood flow rate of 100 ml/min. The efficacy of hemoperfusion with coated activated charcoal was on the whole better. Especially at concentrations around 1–2 ppm, the clearance values for hemoperfusion were some 5–7 times higher than those for hemodialysis.In a patient suffering from paraquat poisoning, both hemodialysis as well as hemoperfusion were carried out. The in vitro results could be confirmed: At serum concentrations of paraquat less than 1 ppm no clearance could be obtained by hemodialysis while by hemoperfusion with activated charcoal quite high clearance values were measured and the serum level dropped down to zero.

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Zusammenfassung Klinische Untersuchungen und Laboratoriumsversuche wurden durchgeführt, um die Wirksamkeit von Darmspülung, Hämodialyse und Hämoperfusion bei Paraquat- und Deiquat-Vergiftungen zu prüfen.Bei einem Patienten wurde 30 Std nach Deiquat-Aufnahme durch Darmspülung 130mal mehr Deiquat entfernt als durch vollständige Aspiration des Mageninhaltes. In vitro-Versuche ergaben, daß bei Blutserumkonzentrationen von 1–2 ppm, die bei Vergiftungen oft gemessen werden, durch Hämodialyse keine toxikologisch relevanten Paraquat- oder Deiquat-Mengen entfernt werden können. Dagegen erwies sich die Hämodialyse bei 20 ppm und einer Blutumlaufgeschwindigkeit von 100 ml/min mit einer Clearance von 70 ml/min als wirksam. Die Hämoperfusion mit beschicheter Aktivkohle war in diesen Versuchen aber eindeutig überlegen, denn insbesondere bei Konzentrationen um 1–2 ppm waren die Clearance-Werte 5–7mal höher als bei der Hämodialyse.Die in vitro-Ergebnisse wurden bei einem Patienten mit einer Paraquat-Vergiftung bestätigt: Bei Konzentrationen unter 1 ppm war die Hämodialyse wirkungslos, während durch Hämoperfusion relativ hohe Clearance-Werte erreicht wurden, so daß der Serumspiegel rasch unter die Nachweisgrenze abfiel.

     

In vitro studies on sterically stabilized liposomes (SL) as enzyme carriers in organophosphorus (OP) antagonism

This study describes a new approach for organophosphorous (OP) antidotal treatment by encapsulating an OP hydrolyzing enzyme, OPA anhydrolase (OPAA), within sterically stabilized liposomes. The recombinant OPAA enzyme was derived from Alteromonas strain JD6. It has broad substrate specificity to a wide range of OP compounds: DFP and the nerve agents, soman and sarin. Liposomes encapsulating OPAA (SL)* were made by mechanical dispersion method. Hydrolysis of DFP by (SL)* was measured by following an increase of fluoride ion concentration using a fluoride ion selective electrode. OPAA entrapped in the carrier liposomes rapidly hydrolyze DFP, with the rate of DFP hydrolysis directly proportional to the amount of (SL)* added to the solution. Liposomal carriers containing no enzyme did not hydrolyze DFP. The reaction was linear and the rate of hydrolysis was first order in the substrate. This enzyme carrier system serves as a biodegradable protective environment for the recombinant OP-metabolizing enzyme, OPAA, resulting in prolongation of enzymatic concentration in the body. These studies suggest that the protection of OP intoxication can be strikingly enhanced by adding OPAA encapsulated within (SL)* to pralidoxime and atropine.     

Aquatic Insects and Trace Metals: Bioavailability,Bioaccumulation, and Toxicity

Abstract

The uptake of metals from food and water sources by insects is thought to be additive. For a given metal, the proportions taken up from water and food will depend both on the bioavailable concentration of the metal associated with each source and the mechanism and rate by which the metal enters the insect. Attempts to correlate insect trace metal concentrations with the trophic level of insects should be made with a knowledge of the feeding relationships of the individual taxa concerned. Pathways for the uptake of essential metals, such as copper and zinc, exist at the cellular level, and other nonessential metals, such as cadmium, also appear to enter via these routes. Within cells, trace metals can be bound to proteins or stored in granules. The internal distribution of metals among body tissues is very heterogeneous, and distribution patterns tend to be both metal and taxon specific. Trace metals associated with insects can be both bound on the surface of their chitinous exoskeleton and incorporated into body tissues. The quantities of trace meals accumulated by an individual reflect the net balance between the rate of metal influx from both dissolved and particulate sources and the rate of metal efflux from the organism. The toxicity of metals has been demonstrated at all levels of biological organization: cell, tissue, individual, population, and community. Much of the literature pertaining to the toxic effects of metals on aquatic insects is based on laboratory observations and, as such, it is difficult to extrapolate the data to insects in nature. The few experimental studies in nature suggest that trace metal contaminants can affect both the distribution and the abundance of aquatic insects. Insects have a largely unexploited potential as biomonitors of metal contamination in nature. A better understanding of the physico-chemical and biological mechanisms mediating trace metal bioavailability and exchange will facilitate the development of general predictive models relating trace metal concentrations in insects to those in their environment. Such models will facilitate the use of insects as contaminant biomonitors.     

Pharmacological treatment of COVID-19: an opinion paper

The precocity and efficacy of the vaccines developed so far against COVID-19 has been the most significant and saving advance against the pandemic. The development of vaccines has not prevented, during the whole period of the pandemic, the constant search for therapeutic medicines, both among existing drugs with different indications and in the development of new drugs. The Scientific Committee of the COVID-19 of the Illustrious College of Physicians of Madrid wanted to offer an early, simplified and critical approach to these new drugs, to new developments in immunotherapy and to what has been learned from the immune response modulators already known and which have proven effective against the virus, in order to help understand the current situation.     

Alzheimer’s disease – current trends in basic and clinical research. Highlights from the 16th ECNP

Advances in the molecular biological knowledge of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have led to a growing interest by the pharmaceutical industry in the development of novel compounds that selectively modulate nAChR function. The ability of (-)-nicotine, an activator of nAChRs, to enhance attentional aspects of cognition in animals and humans, to exert neuroprotective and anxiolytic-like effects, and presumably to mediate the negative correlation between smoking and Alzheimer's (and Parkinson's) Disease, has focused interest on the potential therapeutic utility of modulators of nAChR function for treatment of some of the deficits associated with these progressive, neurodegenerative conditions. Numerous compounds are known which activate nAChRs and which might serve as lead compounds toward the development of such agents. The pharmacologic diversity of neuronal nAChR subtypes suggests the possibility of developing selective compounds which would have more favourable side-effect profiles than existing agents. This broader class of agents, collectively called cholinergic channel modulators (ChCMs), is anticipated to encompass compounds which would have more favourable side-effect profiles than existing agents, which generally exhibit low selectivity. This selectivity may be achieved by preferentially activating some subtypes of nAChRs (i.e., Cholinergic Channel Activators, ChCAs) or inhibiting the function of other subtypes (Cholinergic Channel Inhibitors, ChCIs). An overview of the biology of nAChRs and the rationale for the use of ChCMs for the treatment of dementia related to neurodegenerative diseases are presented, followed by a discussion of lead compounds and compounds under consideration for clinical evaluation.     

Steroidal sapogenin contents in some domestic plants

In order to find out the values of the steroid resources for the future use. the compositions and contents of steroidal sapogenins from 13 domestic plants have been investigated. As a result,Dioscorea nipponica, D. quinqueloba andSmilax china were found to have large amount of diosgenin. And pennogenin inTrillium kamtschaticum andParis verticillata, yuccagenin inAllium fistulosum, hecogenin inAgave americana and neochlorogenin inSolanum nigum were appeared to be major steroidal sapogenins.