Clinical study on cholesterol-lowering effect of RYR Cholestin among Americans with moderate hy-percholesterolemia / 上海预防医学

[Objective] To evaluate lipid -lowering efficacy and safety of RYR Cholestin , or Monascus purpureus (Red Yeast) Rice, in Americans with moderate hypercholesterolemia. [Methods] This study was an open-label, self-control, and multi-center clinical trial.A total of 187 subjects were entered into this trial (serum LDL-Cholesterol 3.50~4.92 mmol/L,total cholesterol 5.18~7.25 mmol/L, male:female=116∶71) , of whom 162 completed the study .Subjects were placed on the NCEP Step I Diet throughout the study and RYR Cholestin (2.4 g/day) was administered for 8 weeks following initial 4-week diet control . [ Results] Being on the diet alone for 4 weeks resulted in no significant changes in serum lipids .RYR Cholestin treatment for 8 weeks reduced serum total cholesterol , LDL-Cholesterol and triglycerides by 16 .6%, 24 .0%, and 25 .2%, respectively , and increased HDL-Cholesterol by 14 .3%( all P<0 .001 ) .There were 97 .5% of patients having ≥10% improvement in at least one of lipid risk factors, and 79.0%having ≥20% improvement.Discontinuation of RYR Cholestin intervention for 14 d led to a return of serum lipids to baseline of pre -study .And 29 possible product -related mild adverse re-actions were reported . [ Conclusion] RYR Cholestin is well tolerated and effective in reducing total and LDL-Cholesterol, and triglycerides, as well as in increasing HDL-Cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic patients, but those indicators return to the beginning baseline when the treatment is discontinued .

Clinical efficacy of subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy in mite-sensitized patients with allergic rhinitis / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical efficacy of subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with standardized house dust mite (HDM) extract for persistent allergic rhinitis (PER).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-eight patients with moderate to severe PER caused by HDM and who completed SCIT (Alutard SQ, ALK-Abell¨®) or SLIT (Chanllergen-Df drops, Wolwo Pharma) regimen for two years were enrolled in this open-label controlled study. The patients were divided into two groups: SCIT group consisted of 40 patients aged 7 to 57 years old [(19.0 ± 2.7) years, x(-) ± s], and SLIT group consisted of 58 patients aged 6 to 50 years old [(17.7 ± 3.2) years]. The nasal symptoms (sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction and pruritus) were evaluated using a four-point rating scale (from 0 = absent to 3 = severe) as well as 10 cm-visual analogue scale (VAS). Efficacy of SCIT and SLIT was assessed as the mean change from baseline in nasal symptom scores after 2-year course of immunotherapy, and the results were compared. SAS software version 9.1.3 was applied for statistical analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both SCIT and SLIT significantly reduced the individual symptom score of sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction and pruritus, and the total nasal symptom scores (including 4-point scale and VAS) after 2-year treatment when compared with the baseline (Z value were -3.14, -3.76, -3.09, -3.48, -4.13; -3.63, -3.21, -2.48, -3.56, -3.98, respectively, all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in decreased mean score of the individual and total nasal symptoms (4-point scale) between SCIT and SLIT groups (Z value were -0.97, -0.67, -0.36, -0.04, -0.67, respectively, all P > 0.05). However, a significant reduction of VAS score of nasal obstruction was found in SCIT group after 2-year treatment, compared with SLIT group (t = -2.21, P = 0.032). There was no significant difference in decreased VAS score of three other nasal symptoms as well as global rhinitis severity between two immunotherapy groups (t value were -0.57, -1.93, -1.73, -0.99, respectively, all P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both SCIT and SLIT demonstrated clinical improvement in moderate to severe PER patients sensitized to HDM after two years treatment. It is suggested that SCIT may relieve nasal obstruction significantly; however, the overall clinical efficacy is consistent with SCIT and SLIT.</p>

Compliance and safety evaluation of subcutaneous versus sublingual immunotherapy in mite-sensitized patients with allergic rhinitis / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the safety profile of subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) versus sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) caused by house dust mites. The treatment compliance and related factors were also evaluated.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 160 patients with AR were enrolled in this study and received either SCIT (Alutard SQ, ALK-Abelló) or SLIT (Chanllergen-Df drops, Wolwo Pharma). All subjects were divided into two groups: SCIT group consisted of 81 patients aged 7 to 62 years [(21.5 ± 14.6) years, x ± s], and SLIT group consisted of 79 patients aged 6 to 53 years [(15.1 ± 10.3) years]. The selected patients were persistent and moderate to severe AR sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae. Local and systemic reactions, as well as patient's adherence to the treatment, were carefully recorded and analyzed during the immunotherapy schedules (followed up for 6 months to 2 years). Statistical analysis was performed using a SPSS13.0 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Local swelling commonly occurred following injections throughout the treatment duration (62.9% of overall injections) in the SCIT group. Oral itching associated with drop intakes was reported by 4 subjects (5.1%) in the SLIT group. All local reactions were mild, well tolerated and self-limiting in both groups. A total of 11 patients (13.6%) with 18 injections (0.9%) experienced systemic reactions in the SCIT group, involving respiratory distress, asthmatic attacks, and urticaria. These adverse effects were mostly immediate reactions, and occurred more frequently in patients during the maintenance phase of treatment. There were also 11 patients (13.9%) who experienced systemic reactions in the SLIT group, including gastrointestinal symptoms, urticaria, and rhinitis exacerbations. However, systemic reactions to SLIT were mainly observed in patients during the up-dosing phase of treatment. No significant difference in the overall incidence of systemic adverse effects was found between the SCIT and SLIT groups (13.6% and 13.9% respectively, χ(2) = 0.004, P > 0.05). There was only one case of non-life-threatening systemic reaction (severe asthma) in the SCIT group. Others were mild or moderate and no anaphylactic shock occurred in any group. No significant difference in treatment compliance was found between the SCIT and SLIT groups (86.4% and 79.7% respectively, χ(2) = 0.84, P > 0.05), with an overall rate of compliance (83.1%) among 160 patients. The most common cause for treatment withdrawal was insufficient ineffectiveness, in both groups of SCIT (6.2%) and SLIT (10.1%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results suggest that the frequency of systemic adverse effects of SCIT is not significantly different from SLIT in mite-sensitized patients with AR, and both treatments are well tolerated and had favorable compliance during the study period.</p>

Effect on the Synthesis of 1,3 propanediol of Organic acids in the Two-stage Fermentation / 中国生物工程杂志

Effect of organic acids on the synthesis of 1,3 propanediol was studied.The adsorption of organic acids from glycerol fermentation liquor by ion-exchange resins was investigated.The results showed that organic acid and 1,3 propanediol production was in negative relationship.The static adsorption showed that ion-exchange resin 005 had the best adsorption abilities of the organic acids in the glycerol fermentation liquor.It was showed that the yield of 1,3propanediol increased by 166% after the extraction of organic acids from glycerol fermentation liquor and the convertion rate increased by 34%.