Less severe retinopathy of prematurity induced by surfactant replacement therapy

To assess the effect of surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) on the prevalence and severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), we compared data from 160 SRT-treated preterm infants with data from 230 historic controls. The prevalence of ROP was 30.6% in the treatment group and 23.4% in the control group. Severe ROP (stages 3-4) was seen in 6.1% of the infants with ROP in the treatment group and 20.3% of the ROP patients in the control group. Surfactant therapy had no influence on the prevalence of ROP (odds ratio 1.4, 95% confidence interval 0.797-2.459, p = 0.242). However, SRT was associated with a decreased risk for severe ROP, compared to mild ROP (odds ratio 0.226, 95% confidence interval 0.056-0.905, p = 0.036). These data suggest that SRT is associated with a decreased risk for severe ROP.     

Fabrication and Evaluation of Bi-layer Tablet Containing Conventional Paracetamol and Modified Release Diclofenac Sodium

The objectives of present investigation were to achieve immediate release of paracetamol and tailored release of diclofenac sodium from bi-layer tablets. A 2³ full factorial design was adopted using the amount of polyethylene glycol, microcrystalline cellulose and crospovidone as independent variables for fabricating paracetamol tablets. Diclofenac sodium tablets were prepared using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose as a matrixing agent. The results of analysis of variance showed that the friability of paracetamol was distinctly influenced by the formulation variables. The in vitro drug release behaviour of diclofenac tablets was compared with a marketed formulation. The optimized formulations of paracetamol and diclofenac sodium were used for manufacturing of bi-layer tablets. The bi-layer tablets showed immediate release of paracetamol and modified release of diclofenac.     

金刚大化学成分的研究

从百部科黄精叶钩吻属植物金刚大(Croomia japonica Miq)的根部分得五个成分,分别为粉蕊黄杨胺A(pachysamine A,Ⅰ)、金刚大啶(croomionidine,Ⅱ)、金刚大碱(croomme,Ⅲ)、脱氢金刚大碱(didehydrocroomine,Ⅳ)和β-谷甾醇。应用波谱(IP,MS,¹HNMR和¹³CNMR等)分析、理化数据测定和化学转化,确定丁它们的结构,其中金刚大啶为新甾体生物碱。     

Exogenous lung surfactant: effect on radiographic appearance in premature infants

At birth, premature infants of 25-29 weeks gestation, at high risk for development of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), were given a single dose (90 mg) of calf lung surfactant extract (CLSE) by intratracheal instillation. The frequency and severity of RDS were assessed with use of a simple radiographic scoring system in which pulmonary parenchymal densities and the prominence of the air-bronchogram effect were used as indicators of widespread atelectasis. Radiographs were obtained in surfactant-treated and control infants within the first 90 minutes of life as part of an initial evaluation of their pulmonary status. Subsequent examinations were performed at less than 24 hours and less than 48 hours of age. Radiographic assessment of lung disease compared consistently with coordinated data on oxygen and mean airway pressure requirements of the infants. Both indicated a significantly decreased frequency and severity of RDS in the infants treated with surfactant. The results provide supporting evidence of the effectiveness of exogenous lung surfactant replacement in mitigating RDS in very premature infants.     

耐力训练过程中大鼠体内糖储备及胰岛激素变化与黄芪、生脉穴位注射的干预效应

目的:穴位注射疗法在临床应用较多,但在运动医学领域研究不多。观察穴位注射黄芪、生脉对耐力训练大鼠糖储备和运动能力的影响。方法:实验于2004-07在陕西师范大学完成。①实验分组:健康雄性SD大鼠32只,体质量180～220g,随机抽签法分为安静对照组、训练对照组、生理盐水组、药物注射组,每组8只。②实验方法:建立穴位注射黄芪、生脉大鼠的耐力跑台训练实验模型,安静对照组安静笼饲养。训练对照组、生理盐水组、药物注射组先于动物跑台上进行5周适应性训练,之后跑速每周递增,5d/周,共5周;然后进行2周的大强度耐力训练,30min/d,7d/周,共2周。训练对照组、生理盐水组、药物注射组第8周第1天以速度为35m/min运动至力竭。③实验评估:7周后取材测定肝糖原、肌糖原、血清胰岛素、胰高血糖素的变化。实验中对动物处置符合动物伦理学标准。结果:纳入大鼠32只,均进入结果分析。①通过大强度耐力训练,药物注射组与其他3组相比,肝糖原含量均升高(P<0.05);训练对照组肌糖原比安静对照组降低(P<0.05),生理盐水组与训练对照组相比则显著性升高(P<0.01)。②训练对照组胰岛素比安静对照组明显降低(P<0.01);生理盐水组及药物注射组都能抑制这种降低的趋势(P<0.01);药物注射组胰高血糖素较安静对照组、训练对照组要高,且有显著性差异(P<0.01)。结论:穴位注射黄芪、生脉使大强度耐力训练大鼠体内糖储备显著增加,同时可以提高胰岛激素水平,从而提高了大鼠的运动能力。     

Formulation development of ambroxol hydrochloride soft gel with application of statistical experimental design and response surface methodology

The purpose of present work was to develop ambroxol hydrochloride soft gel formulation with the application of statistical experimental design and response surface methodology (RSM). A two-factor, three-level (3(2)) full factorial design of experiment with RSM was run to evaluate the main and interaction effect of two independent formulation variables that included the amount of low-acetylated gellan gum and sodium citrate. The dependent variables included viscosity (Y(1)), amount of drug release at 10 min (Y(2)) and 30 min (Y(3)), and gelation time (Y(4)). In order to obtain a formulation having the maximum amount of drug release at 10 min and minimum gelation time, RSM optimization was used. The prepared formulations were evaluated for pH, viscosity, rheological properties, gelation time, drug content, in vitro drug release, appearance, and taste. All the formulations showed a gelation time in the range of 6 to 48 min. The drug content in all the formulations was within limit (99.6 ± 1.56%). The viscosity of all the formulations was found in the range of 1872-12,182 cP. Dissolution studies of the formulations showed drug release in the range of 40.56-72.46% within 10 min and 80.2-100.5% within 30 min. Human evaluation tests revealed that all the gels possessed acceptable characteristics. This study showed that the soft gel formulation GA5, containing 0.3% of gellan gum and 0.4% of sodium citrate, has potential use as an immediate release soft gel for oral drug delivery. LAY ABSTRACT: The objective of this investigation was to develop a new, immediate-release, soft gel dosage form for ambroxol hydrochloride, an oral expectorant and mucolytic agent. This novel soft gel dosage form needs to be suitable for pediatric and geriatric patients as well as patients with dysphagia. A statistical technique was used for optimization of the gel formulation. The methodology, called a design of experiment with response surface methodology, evaluated several independent formulation variables, including the amount of two ingredients, low-acetylated gellan gum and sodium citrate. Their effects were studied by comparing physical properties of the gel such as viscosity, amount of drug release at 10 and 30 min, and gelation time. The final optimized formulation (0.3% of gellan gum and 0.4% of sodium citrate) was chosen to maximize the amount of drug release at 10 min, minimize gelation time, and optimize viscosity in a reasonable range. After this optimization exercise, the prepared ambroxol hydrochloride soft gel formulations were evaluated for pH, viscosity, rheological properties, gelation time, drug content, in vitro drug release, appearance, and taste. Human evaluation tests revealed that all the gels possessed acceptable organoleptic characteristics.     

Flavocoxid,a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase,blunts pro-inflammatory phenotype activation in endotoxin-stimulated macrophages

Background and purpose:

The flavonoids, baicalin and catechin, from Scutellaria baicalensis and Acacia catechu, respectively, have been used for various clinical applications. Flavocoxid is a mixed extract containing baicalin and catechin, and acts as a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (COX) and 5-lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes. The anti-inflammatory activity, measured by protein and gene expression of inflammatory markers, of flavocoxid in rat peritoneal macrophages stimulated with Salmonella enteritidis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was investigated.

Experimental approach:

LPS-stimulated (1 µg·mL⁻¹) peritoneal rat macrophages were co-incubated with different concentrations of flavocoxid (32–128 µg·mL⁻¹) or RPMI medium for different incubation times. Inducible COX-2, 5-LOX, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and inhibitory protein κB-α (IκB-α) levels were evaluated by Western blot analysis. Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) binding activity was investigated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene and protein expression were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively. Finally, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite levels in macrophage supernatants were evaluated.

Key results:

LPS stimulation induced a pro-inflammatory phenotype in rat peritoneal macrophages. Flavocoxid (128 µg·mL⁻¹) significantly inhibited COX-2 (LPS = 18 ± 2.1; flavocoxid = 3.8 ± 0.9 integrated intensity), 5-LOX (LPS = 20 ± 3.8; flavocoxid = 3.1 ± 0.8 integrated intensity) and iNOS expression (LPS = 15 ± 1.1; flavocoxid = 4.1 ± 0.4 integrated intensity), but did not modify COX-1 expression. PGE₂ and LTB₄ levels in culture supernatants were consequently decreased. Flavocoxid also prevented the loss of IκB-α protein (LPS = 1.9 ± 0.2; flavocoxid = 7.2 ± 1.6 integrated intensity), blunted increased NF-κB binding activity (LPS = 9.2 ± 2; flavocoxid = 2.4 ± 0.7 integrated intensity) and the enhanced TNF-α mRNA levels (LPS = 8 ± 0.9; flavocoxid = 1.9 ± 0.8 n-fold/β-actin) induced by LPS. Finally, flavocoxid decreased MDA, TNF and nitrite levels from LPS-stimulated macrophages.

Conclusion and implications:

Flavocoxid might be useful as a potential anti-inflammatory agent, acting at the level of gene and protein expression.