Traditional Chinese Medicine for HIV-Associated Acute Herpes Zoster: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials

Background. Herpes zoster (HZ) is a common infection in individuals with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used widely in clinical practice for HZ, which remains not supportive of evidence. This review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of TCM in treating HIV-associated HZ. Methods. Nine electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) testing TCM in treating HIV-associated HZ. Data were extracted on citations, interventions, and outcomes, by two authors independently. For the quality evaluation, Cochrane risk-of-bias tool 2.0 was used. Meta-analyses were performed by Revman5.3 software. Effect estimation presented as risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous data and mean difference (MD) for continuous data with their 95% confidence interval (CI). Results. Twelve RCTs (n = 644) were included; the majority of them had a high or unclear risk of bias. Meta-analysis showed that pain intensity (VAS 0–5) in the Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) group was lower than it in the drugs group (MD = −0.87, 95% CI [−1.69, −0.04], two trials, n = 93). Duration of herpes-related pain (days) of patients in the combination group was shorter than those in the drugs group (MD = −9.19, 95% CI [−16.73, −1.65], n = 144). The incidence of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in the combination group was lower than in the drugs group (RR = 0.49, 95% CI [0.25, 0.99], n = 202). As for cure rate (complete absence of pain and herpes), two trials showed that CHM was better than drugs (RR = 1.58, 95% CI [1.13, 2.22], n = 93), five trials showed combination treatment was better than drugs (RR = 1.40, 95% CI [1.08, 1.82], n = 224). The cure rate in the acupuncture group was more than that in the drugs group (RR = 1.99, 95% CI [1.18, 3.36], n = 120). Four trials reported adverse effects and found no serious adverse events occurred. Conclusion. CHM and acupuncture demonstrate more benefits than drugs in pain relief, cure rate improvement, and incidence reduction of PHN. However, given the data limitation and TCM therapies’ diversity, the conclusions need to be verified in future trials

Colorimetric assay for the rapid determination of free-base nicotine in e-liquid

Nicotine exists in e-liquids primarily as the monoprotonated form and free-base form, the former is absorbed by the smoker relatively slowly and the latter is considered the bioavailable form of nicotine. Nowadays e-liquid manufacturers tend to increase nicotine in smoke aerosols, up to a content comparable to conventional cigarettes. Organic acids are added to suppress nicotine in free-base from, because the quick absorption of free-base nicotine (FBN) by the upper respiratory tract produces more bitterness and harshness to smokers. Although several methods have been developed to access FBN in conventional cigarettes or electronic cigarettes, spectrometric methods have rarely been reported. A water-solubility indicator Alizarin Red S (ARS) was introduced for the measurement of free-base nicotine. Since ARS exhibits lower acidity than organic acids, it does not compete for the tertiary amine with organic acids, but can only interact with FBN. The ARS turns from pale yellow to pink once it has been deprotonated by nicotine, and the binding constant between ARS and nicotine was determined to be 1.08 × 106 M-1. A linear calibration curve A = 0.0056c + 0.3309 with r2 = 0.9984 as a function of FBN was constructed, and applied for the evaluation of FBN in prepared e-liquid samples, with RMSE 1.12 mg g-1 for the 20 mg g-1 liquids, and 1.37 mg g-1 for the 50 mg g-1 liquids. The evaluation of FBN in commercial e-liquids agreed well with published e-liquid values. It is believed that the convenient method herein developed will be useful for manufacturers to balance the strength and harshness levels of nicotine in e-liquids.</p

A Flexible Approach to Methyl (5S)-5-Alkyltetramate Derivatives

Regioselective Grignard reagent additions to 3-methoxy-maleimides and subsequent diastereoselective reductive dehydroxylation of the resulting N,O-acetals were studied. On the basis of these studies, a flexible and highly regio- and diastereoselective approach to methyl 5-alkyltetramate derivatives was disclosed. The method is the first direct and flexible asymmetric cationic synthon-based approach, and allows for the synthesis of various methyl (5S)-5-alkyltetramate derivatives that are otherwise inaccessible by the commonly used methods based on alpha-amino acids.NSFC [20572088, 20602028, 20832005]; Fujian Provinc

The role of quality of care and attitude towards disability in the relationship between severity of disability and quality of life: findings from a cross-sectional survey among people with physical disability in China

Background: People with physical disability (PWPD) is the largest subgroup of people with disability (PWD) in China, but few studies have been conducted among this vulnerable population. The objective of this study was to investigate the level of quality of life (QoL), self-perceived quality of care and support (QOCS), severity of disability and personal attitude towards disability among people with physical disability in China, as well as to identify how QoL can be affected by severity of disability through QOCS and personal attitude towards disability among PWPD. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,853 PWPD in Guangzhou, China. Data were collected on participants’ QoL, QOCS, personal attitude towards disability and severity of disability. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the effects of the other variables on QoL. Results: Even with a mild disability (mean score:1.72), relatively low levels of QoL (mean score: 2.65- 3.22) and QOCS (mean score: 2.95 to 3.28), as well as unfavorable personal attitude towards disability (mean score: 2.75 to 3.36) were identified among PWPD. According to SEM, we found that the influence of severity of physical disability on QoL is not only exerted directly, but is also indirectly through QOCS and their personal attitudes towards disability, with QOCS playing a more important mediating role than PWPD’s attitudes towards their own disability. Conclusions: Unfavorable health status was identified among PWPD in China. Focusing on improvement of assistance and care services has the potential to substantially improve PWPD’s QoL. Further research should focus on understanding the needs and their current state of health care of PWPD in China thus being able to develop better interventions for them

Evaluation of Stability and Biocompatibility of Chitosan/Sodium Tripolyphosphate and Chitosan/Flaxseed Gum Composite Nanoparticles Loaded with Bighead Carp Peptides

Chitosan nanoparticle is becoming an excellent carrier for the delivery of bioactive components due to the advantages of simple preparation, low cost and high biocompatibility. Previous studies have shown that chitosan/sodium tripolyphosphate (CS/TPP) and chitosan/flaxseed gum (CS/FG) nanoparticles loaded with bighead carp peptides (BCP) have the advantages of small particle size, high encapsulation rate and significant slow-release effect. This study explored the effects of ionic strength, pH, simulated digestion and storage time on the preparation of chitosan/sodium tripolyphosphate (CS/TPP-BCP) and chitosan/flaxseed gum (CS/FG-BCP) nanoparticles, and evaluated the extracellular lactate dehydrogenase content and antioxidant capacity in vivo of Caco-2 cells treated with the chitosan nanoparticles and their cellular uptake. The results showed that the two kinds of chitosan nanoparticles were stable under acidic conditions and sensitive to a solution with opposite charges. The stability of the nanoparticles loaded with bighead peptides was higher than that of free peptides and both nanoparticles showed higher biocompatibility and cell uptake

Some recent studies on hohlraum physics

Some of our recent studies on hohlraum physics are presented, mainly including simulation study on hohlraum physics experiments on SGIII prototype, the design of Au + U + Au sandwich hohlraum for ignition target, and an initial design of elliptical hohlraum and pertinent drive laser power in order to generate an ignition radiation profile

Separation and Characterization of C70(C14H10) and C70(C5H6) from an

通讯作者地址: Xie, SY (通讯作者), Xiamen Univ, Coll Chem & Chem Engn, State Key Lab Phys Chem Solid Surfaces, Xiamen 361005, Peoples R China 地址: 1. Xiamen Univ, Coll Chem & Chem Engn, State Key Lab Phys Chem Solid Surfaces, Xiamen 361005, Peoples R China 2. Xiamen Univ, Coll Chem & Chem Engn, Dept Chem, Xiamen 361005, Peoples R China 3. Xiamen Univ, Fujian Prov Key Lab Theoret & Computat Chem, Xiamen 361005, Peoples R China 4. Xiamen Univ, Sch Life Sci, Xiamen 361005, Peoples R China 电子邮件地址: [email protected], [email protected] derivatives of fullerenes are prevalent in the fullerene-producing flame, the chemistry of these derivatives has rarely been discussed in the previous literature. In this paper, two D-Sh-C-70 derivatives, C-70(C14H10) and C-70(C5H6), were isolated from the soot of an acetylene benzene combustion. On the basis of detailed MS, NMR, IR, and UV/vis analyses in combination with DFT calculations, the cycloadduct structures of C-70(C14H10) and C-20(C5H6) were identified. Both the anthracene (C14H10) and the cyclopentadiene (C5H6) adducts, supposed as the intermediate species produced during the combustion process, were characterized to bond at a [6,6] ring junction at the end of the olivary C-70 cage. The present work exemplifies the capture of possible intermediates by the C-70 fullerene from the flame and thus provides insight into the mechanism responsible for the formation of fullerene-containing soot.NSFC21031004 20973137 21021061 973 projects 2007CB815301 2007CB81530

Separation and Characterization of C70(C14H10) and C70(C5H6) from an Acetylene–Benzene–Oxygen Flame

[email protected], [email protected] derivatives of fullerenes are prevalent in the fullerene-producing flame, the chemistry of these derivatives has rarely been discussed in the previous literature. In this paper, two D(Sh)-C(70) derivatives, C(70)(C(14)H(10)) and C(70)(C(5)H(6)), were isolated from the soot of an acetylene benzene combustion. On the basis of detailed MS, NMR, IR, and UV/vis analyses in combination with DFT calculations, the cycloadduct structures of C(70)(C(14)H(10)) and C(20)(C(5)H(6)) were identified. Both the anthracene (C(14)H(10)) and the cyclopentadiene (C(5)H(6)) adducts, supposed as the intermediate species produced during the combustion process, were characterized to bond at a [6,6] ring junction at the end of the olivary C(70) cage. The present work exemplifies the capture of possible intermediates by the C(70) fullerene from the flame and thus provides insight into the mechanism responsible for the formation of fullerene-containing soot.NSFC 21031004 ,20973137,21021061 973 projects 2007CB815301 ,2007CB81530

Propeller‐Like Nanorod‐Upconversion Nanoparticle Assemblies with Intense Chiroptical Activity and Luminescence Enhancement in Aqueous Phase

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/133596/1/adma201601261-sup-0001-S1.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/133596/2/adma201601261_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/133596/3/adma201601261.pd