Production of enriched cakes by apple pulp and peel powder and evaluation of chemical, functional and textural properties / Producción de pasteles enriquecidos por pulpa de manzana y cáscara en polvo y evaluación de propiedades químicas, funcionales y texturales

Background: Apple pomace is a by-product of the fruit juice industry and comprises peel, seed, stem, and pulp tissues. This by-product contains dietary fibers, polyphenols, vitamins, and organic acids that can benefit human health and have a high potential as a dietary source. Baked products are well-known food types to humans and have a key role in feeding people worldwide. Nowadays, enriched products such as bread, cakes, and biscuits are available in stores. Different studies worldwide have been done about applying the by-products of the fruit juice industry in the bakery. Objective: This research aimed to evaluate apple peel (APE) and pulp (APU) powders separately as a partial substitute for wheat flour in cake production. Methods: Apple peel and pulp separately produced as the residual wastes of juicing were dried for 3 hours in oven (60°C). The dried pulp and peel were ground and sieved using a 60 µm mesh. In this research, chemical and physicochemical analyses were performed according to AACC (Approved Methods of the American Association of Cereal Chemists) and standard food analysis methods. Textural characteristic was analyzed by a texture analyzer (Brookfield CT3-10 Kg, US) equipped with an aluminum probe. Results: Different levels of APE and APU powders (10%, 20%, and 30 %) were used to enrich the cakes. The ash content, fat content, water adsorption capacity, and oil absorption capacity of the wheat flour were lower than APU and APE, whereas the moisture content, protein content, bulk density, and pH showed a reverse trend. Adding APU and APP to the cake formula increased total dietary fiber (TDF) from 4.14 % in the control sample to 27.71 % in the sample with 30 % apple peel powder (APE-30). The highest a* colorimetric parameter (redness) in the cake core was 3.82 in the APE-30 sample. The addition of APE and APU significantly increased the hardness, gumminess, and chewiness of the samples (p<0.05). APE-10 samples could improve the nutritional properties of the cakes without significant reduction (p>0.05) in overall acceptance compared to the control sample. Conclusion: The results of this research demonstrated that a partial replacement of the wheat flour with apple pulp and peel significantly increased the dietary fibers, especially insoluble dietary fiber, compared to the control sample. Apple pulp and apple peel powders had the potential for use in cake making as a good source of dietary fibers

Antecedentes: la pulpa de manzana es un subproducto de la industria del jugo de frutas y se compone de tejidos de cáscara, semillas, tallo y pulpa. Este subproducto contiene fibra dietética, polifenoles, vitaminas y ácidos orgánicos que pueden ser beneficiosos para la salud humana y tienen un alto potencial como fuente dietética. Los productos horneados son de tipos de alimentos bien conocidos para los seres humanos y son clave en la alimentación de las personas de todo el mundo. Hoy en día, los productos enriquecidos como pan, pasteles y galletas están disponibles en las tiendas. Se han hecho diferentes estudios en todo el mundo sobre la aplicación del subproducto de la industria del jugo de frutas en la panadería. Objetivo: El propósito de esta investigación fue evaluar los polvos de cáscara de manzana (APE) y pulpa (APU) como sustituto parcial de la harina de trigo en la producción de pasteles. Métodos: Cáscaras de manzana y pulpa producidas por separado como desechos residuales de jugos, se secaron durante 3 horas en el horno (60 °C). La pulpa seca y la cáscara fueron molidas y tamizadas usando una malla de 60 micras. En esta investigación el análisis químico y físico-químico realizado de acuerdo con el AACC (Aprobado Métodos de la Asociación Americana de Químicos del Cereales) y los métodos estándar de análisis de alimentos. La característica textural fue analizada por el analizador de textura (Brookfield CT3-10 Kg, US) equipado con una sonda de aluminio. Resultados: Se utilizaron diferentes niveles de polvos APE y APU (10, 20 and 30 %) para enriquecer los pasteles. La capacidad de absorción de ceniza, grasa, agua y aceite de la harina de trigo fue menor que la APU y APE, mientras que la humedad, la proteína, la densidad a granel y el pH mostraron una tendencia inversa. Además, APU y APE en fórmula de pastel, aumentaron la fibra dietética total (TDF) de 4.14 % en la muestra de control a 27.71 % en la muestra con un 30 % de polvo de pelar de manzana (APE-30). El parámetro más alto a* colorimétrico en núcleo de pastel fue de 3.82 (enrojecimiento) en la muestra APE-30. La adición de APE y APU aumentó significativamente la dureza, gomosidad y masticabilidad de las muestras (p<0.05). Las muestras de APE-10 podrían mejorar las propiedades nutricionales de los pasteles sin reducción significativa (P<0.05) en aceptación general, en comparación con la muestra de control. Conclusión: Los resultados de este estudio demostraron que un reemplazo parcial de la harina de trigo por pulpa de manzana y cáscara aumentó significativamente la fibra dietética especialmente la insoluble, cuando se compara con la muestra de control. La pulpa en polvo y la cáscara de manzana tienen el potencial de uso en la fabricación de pasteles como una buena fuente de fibra dietética.

Establishment of the fingerprint of Temurin- 5 powder and content determination of 4 components / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To establish the fing erprint of Temurin- 5 powder，conduct chemical pattern recognition analysis ，and determine the contents of 4 components simultaneously. METHODS The fingerprints of 10 batches of Temurin- 5 powder were established and similarity evaluation was performed by using high performance liquid chromatography （HPLC）combined with the Similarity Evaluation System of Chromatographic Fingerprints of Traditional Chinese Medicine （2012 edition）；common peaks were identified by comparing with mixed substance control. The common peaks were analyzed by systematic cluster analysis and principal component analysis with SPSS 26.0 software. The HPLC method was used to determine the contents of gallic acid ， geniposide，chlorogenic acid and ellagic acid in 10 batches of samples. RESULTS A total of 15 common peaks were identified from the fingerprints of 10 batches of Temurin-5 powder，and the similarity was 0.997-0.999. It was identified that peak 1 was gallic acid ，peak 3 was geniposide ，peak 5 was chlorogenic acid and peak 12 was ellagic acid. Among the 10 batches of samples ， S4 and S 9 were grouped into one category ，S6-S8 were grouped into one category ，and the other batches of samples were grouped into one category. The accumulative variance contribution rate of first three principal components was 89.245％. The linear ranges of gallic acid ，geniposide，chlorogenic acid and ellagic acid were 5.55-177.5，15.98-511.5，2.56-82.0 and 13.48-431.5 μg/mL， respectively. RSDs of precision ，stability（24 h）and repeatability tests were all less than 2％（n＝6 or n＝7）. The average recoveries were 101.56％，102.21％，98.60％ and 96.62％，respectively，RSDs were 1.90％，1.61％，1.58％ and 1.73％（n＝6）. Average contents of above components were 5.03-5.64，10.38-12.16，1.40-1.69，6.47-7.11 mg/g，respectively. CONCLUSIONS The established fingerprint is stable and feasible ，and the content determination method meets the relevant regulations. Combined with chemical pattern recognition analysis ，it can be used for the quality control of Temurin- 5 powder.

Efficacy of combined application of glycine powder air-polishing in non-surgical treatment of peri-implant diseases / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical efficacy of combined application of glycine powder air-polishing and mechanical submucosal debridement in non-surgical treatment of peri-implant diseases.@*METHODS@#A randomized controlled clinical study was carried out on patients diagnosed with peri-implant diseases in the Department of Periodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, between May of 2020 and June of 2021.Twenty-eight patients with totally sixty-two implants were enrolled.The patients were randomly divided into the test group and control group. The patients in the test group (13 subjects/32 implants) received mechanical submucosal debridement using titanium curettes combined with application of glycine powder air-polishing, while the control group (15 subjects/30 implants) received mechanical submucosal debridement using titanium only. Clinical parameters, such as plaque index (PLI), pocket probing depth (PPD), bleeding index (BI) and the percentage of suppuration on probing on implants' level (SoP%) were measured at baseline and 8 weeks after non-surgical intervention. Changes and group differences of clinical parameters of the implants before and 8 weeks after non-surgical intervention were compared.@*RESULTS@#Mean PLI, PPD, BI of both the test group and control group significantly reduced 8 weeks after non-surgical intervention (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the test group achieved lower BI (2.7±0.8 vs. 2.2±0.7, P < 0.05), more reduction of BI (0.6±0.7 vs. 1.1±0.6, P < 0.01) and more reduction of SoP% (21.9% vs. 10%, P < 0.05) after non-surgical intervention. Both the control and test groups exhibited comparable PLI and PPD reductions (P>0.05). For the implants diagnosed with peri-implant mucositis, the test group revealed more signi-ficant reduction in BI and SoP% than the control group (1.0±0.7 vs. 0.4±0.7, P=0.02; 6.3% vs. 0, P=0.012). There was no significant difference existing in PLI and PD improvement between the control group and test group (P>0.05). For the implants diagnosed with peri-implantitis, there was no significant difference existing in PLI, PPD, BI and SoP% improvement values between the test and control groups (P>0.05). No complications or discomforts were reported during the study.@*CONCLUSION@#Both treatment procedures could relieve the inflammation of peri-implant soft tissue. Non-surgical mechanical submucosal debridement combined application of glycine powder air-polishing is associated with significant reduction of soft tissue bleeding and suppuration on probing especially in the implants diagnosed with peri-implant mucositis.

Discussion on Particle Size of Powders and Decocted Powders in Famous Classical Formulas / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:Powders and decocted powders account for about 1/3 in the Catalogue of Ancient Famous Classical Formulas （the First Batch）， and have a very important position. Determination of preparation technology and particle size in the pulverization process is the key step in the research and development of powders and decocted powders following the original methods. However， there are many terms describing the preparation technology and particle size of powders and decocted powders in ancient Chinese medical books， and the parameters are not clear. Due to the lack of unified basis of particle size， the existing research results have not formed a uniform consensus. Based on ancient textual researches and experimental results， this article discusses the particle size of decocted powders and powders. Method:Through textual researches of the preparation technology and particle size of powders and decocted powders and powder classification in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia， the specifications of pulverized particle size were suggested. In addition， Xiebaisan and Danggui Buxuetang were taken as examples to investigate the influence of different particle sizes （4， 10， 24 mesh） on the preparation process of decocted powders and the obtained decoction. Result:The particle size of 4 mesh was equivalent to that of ancient as big as hemp bean. The contents of index components in Xiebaisan and Danggui Buxuetang with particle size of 4 mesh were higher than that of 10 mesh and 24 mesh， but the particle size of 50 mesh was too fine to be filtered. Conclusion:The suggested particle sizes of powders and decocted powders are recommended as Cumo is the power through 10-mesh sieve， Mo is the power through 24-mesh sieve， Ximo is the power through 80-mesh sieve， as big as hemp bean is the power through 4-mesh sieve and not through 10-mesh sieve.

Mechanism of action of Sini powder in treatment of liver cancer based on network pharmacology and molecular docking / 临床肝胆病杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of action of Sini powder in the treatment of liver cancer based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. MethodsTraditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform was used to obtain the compound and target of Sini powder, and the corresponding gene Symbol was obtained through Uniprot. The disease genes of liver cancer were obtained from Human Genome Database, and the genes with intersection with the target genes of Sini powder were screened out. Cytoscape3.7.1 software was used to draw the map of “traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-compound-target” network. STRING was used to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, R studio software was used to conduct gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses on therapeutic targets, and then the results were visualized. The active component with the highest number of targets was selected as the ligand, and the target with the highest degree in the PPI network was selected as the receptor, so as to predict the structure of receptor-ligand complex and the amino acid residues that bind to each other. ResultsIn this study, 91 core targets and 141 relevant active components of Sini powder were screened out, among which quercetin and kaempferol were the main active components in the treatment of liver cancer. TP53 and HSP90AA1 were the main therapeutic targets. The GO enrichment analysis obtained 1007 items which met the screening criteria, which were mainly involved in the biological processes of antioxidation reaction, activity regulation of protein serine and threonine kinase, and cellular stress response. The KEGG enrichment analysis obtained 102 pathways, which mainly regulated the hepatitis B pathway and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in the prevention and treatment of liver cancer. The results of molecular docking showed a synergistic antitumor effect between the crystal structure domains VAL147, CYS220, GLU221, and PRO222 of quercetin-TP53. ConclusionThis study reveals the mechanism of action of Sini powder in the treatment of liver cancer by acting on multiple targets and signaling pathways, which provides a theoretical basis for biological experiments.

Design principle and application prospect of a novel Chinese medicine oral instant powders / 中草药

Excellent taste is of great significance to ensure the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine. Aiming at the deficiency of traditional Chinese medicine powder preparation and the demand of children and elderly people with insufficient swallowing function, a novel dosage form called Chinese medicine oral instant powders was proposed. The introduction of this concept was inspired by the characteristics of ancient Jujube Instant Beverage, Longjiao Powders from Japan and freeze-dried tablets. It was also based on the understanding of the structure-property-function of traditional Chinese medicine powder, and integrated powder modification technology, taste masking technology, and the pretreatment technology of raw materials. In this manuscript, the concept, basic characteristics, composition of raw materials and accessories, design principle, process route, core equipment, quality evaluation methods and technical advantages of Chinese medicine oral instant powders were introduced in detail. It is hoped that the development of Chinese medicine oral instant powders will help to meet the needs of special population. Meanwhile, it will provide new ideas and technologies for the innovation of powder decoctions, hospital preparations and Chinese patent medicine powders in new era.

Pulmonary immunization: deposition site is of minor relevance for influenza vaccination but deep lung deposition is crucial for hepatitis B vaccination

Vaccination the pulmonary route could be an attractive alternative to parenteral administration. Research towards the best site of antigen deposition within the lungs to induce optimal immune responses has conflicting results which might be dependent on the type of vaccine and/or its physical state. Therefore, in this study, we explored whether deep lung deposition is crucial for two different vaccines, .., influenza and hepatitis B vaccine. In view of this, influenza subunit vaccine and hepatitis B surface antigen were labeled with a fluorescent dye and then spray-dried. Imaging data showed that after pulmonary administration to mice the powders were deposited in the trachea/central airways when a commercially available insufflator was used while deep lung deposition was achieved when an in-house built aerosol generator was used. Immunogenicity studies revealed that comparable immune responses were induced upon trachea/central airways or deep lung targeting of dry influenza vaccine formulations. However, for hepatitis B vaccine, no immune responses were induced by trachea/central airways deposition whereas they were considerable after deep lung deposition. Thus, we conclude that deep lung targeting is not a critical parameter for the efficacy of pulmonary administered influenza vaccine whereas for hepatitis B vaccine it is.

Study on screening potential allergenic proteins from infant milk powders based on human mast cell membrane chromatography and histamine release assays / 药物分析学报

Cow's milk allergy is mainly observed in infants and young children. Most allergic reactions affect the skin, followed by the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems. Conventional diagnosis is based on po-sitive allergy studies and evaluation of parameters including IgE and IgG1 levels, acute allergic skin response and anaphylactic shock reactions. We developed a cell membrane chromatographic (CMC) method based on human mast cells (HMC-1) for screening potential allergens in infant formula milk powders (IFMP). HMC-1 cell membranes were extracted and mixed with silica to prepare cell membrane chromatography columns (10 mm × 2 mm i.d., 5 mm). Under the conditions of 0.2 mL/min flow rate and 214 nm detection wavelength, human breast milk showed no retention. However, IFMP showed clear retention. The retained fractions were collected and analyzed through matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Four major milk proteins, i.e., α-casein, β-casein, α-lactalbumin, and β-lactoglobulin A, were identified. Furthermore, these proteins and β-lacto-globulin B showed clear retention on HMC-1/CMC columns. To test the degranulation effects of the five proteins, histamine and β-hexosaminidase release assays were carried out. All five proteins induced HMC-1 cells to release histamine and β-hexosaminidase. Also, we established a reversed phase liquid chromatographic (RPLC) method for the determination of the five proteins in IFMP and the results showed that 90％ proteins in IFMP were α-casein and β-casein. We concluded that cow's milk proteins may be potential allergens and caseins cause more β-casein allergic risk than other proteins. This con-clusion was consistent with other studies.

Managing Acanthoscelides obtectus Say on Stored Phaseolus lunatus L. with Six Indigenous Botanical Powders

Telfairia occidentalis, Piper guineensis, Gmelina arborea, Bryophyllum pinnate, Amaranthus viridis, and Musanga ceropolides were separately assessed for insecticidal effects on Acanthoscelides obtectus Say, a pest of stored Phaseolus lunatus L. The plants were assessed in a completely randomized design for aduticidal and reproductive inhibition potential as well as effect on seed weight at three treatment doses (2%, 4%, 6% and 0 as the control). Results showed that at 144 hours post-treatment, P. guineensis at 6% dose had the highest significant (P=0.05) mortality (59.5%) of A. obtectus. This was followed by P. guineensis which had comparable effect 2% (50.9%) and 45 (54.9%). The least significant mortality was observed in control. At 4% and 6% A. viridis had similar mortality effect on A. obtectus as 6% G. arborea, while 2% A. viridis, 6% B. pinnate, 2% and 4% G. arborea had similar effect. The highest number of progeny emerged after 49 days were observed in control (345.33±8.84) while P. guineensis significantly (P=0.05) inhibited progeny followed by 6% G. arborea and 6% M. ceropolides. Phaseolus lunatus seeds treated with 6% P. guineensis also had the least significant weight loss while the control had the greatest weight loss of 32.56 g. Though all these test plants significantly (P=0.05) increased adult mortality, reduced progeny emergence and weight loss in seeds than the control. Piper guineensis however, exhibited the best insecticidal property. Piper guineensis and G. arborea were significantly more active in inhibiting A. obtectus reproduction and progeny emergence, but increased adult mortality leading to reduction in weight loss.

In vivo pharmacokinetic study on naringin and paeoniflorin of Painong Powder with or without Platycodonis Radix in rats / 中草药

Objective To compare the pharmacokinetic effect of Platycodonis Radix in Painong Powder on naringin and paeoniflorin in rats, and study the compatibility effects of Platycodonis Radix. Methods A total of 12 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into the Painong Powders full formula group and Painong Powder without Platycodonis Radix group; The solution of Painong Powders full formula and Painong Powder without Platycodi Radix was ig administrated to rats at dose of 16 g/kg. The blood was collected from theretinal vein plexus of rats at predetermined time and pre-prepared with liquiritin as internal standard (IS). UPLC-MS/MS was adopted to determine the contents of naringin and paeoniflorin. The chromatography was eluted with mobile phase consisted of 0.1% formic acid and methyl alcohol at a flow rate of 0.2 μL/min. ESI sources were adopted to scan in a negative ion scanning mode. Results After ig administration Painong Powder and Painong Powder without Platycodonis Radix, the main pharmacokinetic parameters of naringin were as follow: AUC0-t = (2 643.22 ± 277.75), (1 934.01 ± 371.98) μg∙h/L; Cmax = (597.57 ± 22.46), (477.13 ± 25.67) μg/L; CL = (821.96 ± 175.64), (542.21 ± 100.97) L/(h∙kg); Paeoniflorin showed AUC 0-t = (3 178.25 ± 235.97), (1 384.11 ± 320.11) μg∙h/L; Cmax = (816 ± 28.88), (402.67 ± 58.22) μg/L; CL = (1 102.27 ± 341.17), (482.59 ± 39.74) L/(h∙kg) (P<0.05). Conclusion Compared Painong Powders without Platycodonis Radix, the naringin and paeoniflorin in rat plasma showed similar pharmacokinetic changes after oral :201 administration Painong Powders full formula, such as the peak time was shortened, the rate of absorption, peak concentration, and the clearance were accelerated. This study proved scientific compatibility of Platycodonis Radix in Painong Powder and provided a reference for further study of the prescription compatibility regularity in Painong Powders.

Mechanism of simplified formula of Tuoli Xiaodu Powder in promoting of diabetic wound healing based on molecular docking and network pharmacology / 中草药

Objective: To investigate the active ingredients and molecular mechanism of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus, Angelica sinensis, Angelicae dahurica, and Gleditsia sinensis in Tuoli Xiaodu Powder in promoting of diabetic wound healing. Methods: UPLC-Q-TOF/MS in positive and negative ion modes was applied to analyze the components in the ethanol extract from Tuoli Xiaodu Powder. Molecular docking technology was used to predict the targets proteins of these components. The function and pathway annotations of target proteins were performed through relevant databases such as Uniprot and KEGG. The drug components-target-function diagram was constructed using Cytoscape software. Results: Twenty-eight compounds containing flavonoids, saponins, coumarins, alkaloids, and triterpenoids were identified in positive and negative ion modes. Among these compounds, 17 compounds could interact with 17 target proteins, and there were 210 pairs of component-target relationships by analyzing the results of molecular docking. Among them, five targets were related to immune regulation, six targets were related to antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, six targets were related to cell differentiation, 10 targets were related to cell migration, six targets were related to angiogenesis, two targets were related to stimulation of epithelial growth factor, six targets were related to vasodilation, and two targets were related to estrogen. Conclusion: The flavonoids, saponins, coumarins, steroids, and triterpenoids contained in the simplified formula possess many biological effects such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, immune regulation, and angiogenesis. These functions may be related to its modulation of NF-κB, PI3K/Akt/eNOS, and MAPK pathway through regulating NF-κB, MAPK, PI3K, and ERK2 targets.

Correlation between surface features and hygroscopicities of Achyranthis bidentatae Radix extract powders added with different excipients / 中成药

AIM To investigate the correlation between surface features and hygroscopicities of Achyranthis bidentatae Radix extract powders added with different excipients.METHODS Achyranthis bidentatae Radix aqueous extract was added with crospovidone CL-SF,maltodextrin DE11-14,β-cyclodextrin,Arabic gum,dextrin,mannitol,soluble starch and lactose,respectively,after which extract powders were prepared,and hygroscopicities and morphological changes were determined.Then the surface features of various extract powders were compared by double exponential model.RESULTS Compared with other excipients,soluble starch and β-cyclodextrin could reduce the saturated moisture content of the extract powders more obviously,and crospovidone CL-SF exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on powder synechia after moisture absorption.No direct relationship between hygroscopicities and specific surface area or pore volume was observed,but specific surface area,pore volume and average particle size demonstrated positive correlations with model parameter A1.CONCLUSION Addition of proper excipients can improve the surface features and hygroscopicities of Achyranthis bidentatae Radix extract powders.

Effects of three preparation technologies on the oral bioavailability of berberine α-hydroxy β-decanoylethyl sulfonate / 中成药

AIM To compare the effects of three preparation technologies on the oral bioavailability of HB (berberine α-hydroxy β-decanoylethyl sulfonate,houttuyn berberine).METHODS Solid dispersions,HP-β-CD inclusion complexes and nanosuspension freeze-dried powders were prepared.The suspensions of crude drug and these three preparations were intragastrically administered to SD rats,respectively.HPLC-MS/MS was adopted in the content determination of HB in plasma.then pharmacokinetics parameters were calculated.RESULTS Compared with the crude drug,three preparation technologies could significantly increase the Cmax value of this component (P ＜ 0.05),especially for HP-β-CD inclusion complexes (P ＜ 0.01).And HP-β-CD inclusion complexes demonstrated much higher AUC0-6h than the crude drug and the other two preparation technologies (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION HP-β-CD inclusion complexes can effectively increase the oral bioavailability of HB.

Effect of Yupingfeng granule on Th17/Treg balance in children with milk protein allergy / 中国医师杂志

Objective To observe Thl7 cells,Treg cells and their related factors in peripheral blood of children with milk protein allergy and explore the influence of Yupingfeng granule on Th17 / Treg imbalance and its clinical effect.Methods 40 children with milk protein allergy were divided into two groups randomly:the conventional treatment group (n =20),Yupingfeng granule group (n =20).The conventional treatment group received conventional treatment for 2 months.On the basis of routine treatment,Yupingfeng granule group was additionally treated with Yuping feng granule.The serum Th17,Treg cell counts,interleukin (IL)-17 and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) levels were detected,and the eczema area and severity index (EASI) score of rash in children was recorded.Results The levels of Th17 cells and IL-17 in allergy children were obviously increased compared with those of the normal children,while the Treg cells,and the TGF-β1 level were lower than those of the normal children (P ＜ 0.05).After treatment,the Thl7 cells,the IL-17 levels and ESAI scores of the conventional treatment group and the Yupingfeng granule group were lowered,while the Treg cells and the TGF-β1 levels were increased (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the conventional treatment group,these indexes increased and decreased more significantly in the Yupingfeng granule group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Milk allergy children have obvious imbalance of Thl7/Treg;the Yupingfeng granule can adjust this imbalance and alleviate the allergic symptoms of milk protein.

Knowledge and Use of Complementary Food Fortification with Multiple Micronutrient Powders in Selected Communities in the Philippines

Introduction: Micronutrient malnutrition among young Filipino children is attributed to inadequate food intake and improper feeding practices. To improve nutrient intake, home fortification using multiple micronutrient powders (MNPs) targeting 6 -23 monthold children became an intervention program referred to as Point of Use Complementary Food Fortification with Multiple Micronutrient Powders in Zamboanga City and the Municipality of Aurora in Region IX, Philippines. This study aimed to determine the extent of knowledge and use of complementary food with MNPs in the context of the said intervention program and implementation areas. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 120 randomly selected primary caregivers with 6 -23-month-old children in the covered program areas. A questionnaire designed to elicit knowledge and use of MNPs was developed and pre-tested before data collection. Results: Results showed that all respondents were aware of MNPs, with local health workers as the information source. Percentage of respondents with knowledge of the purpose of MNPs varied widely. Among those who did, the most well-known function was improving children’s health status. The most common practice of fortifying food with MNP involved adding it to boiled rice and vegetable dishes. Home fortification is popularly practised after cooking the food. Of the 20% respondents who claimed to observe changes in their children due to MNP, the top two positive results were children’s increased appetite and increased growth. Conclusion: Awareness of the MNP does not necessarily translate into knowledge of what the MNP is made up of or its purpose. Although home food fortification using MNP was practised by most households, this study revealed deviations from recommendations on how to properly fortify their foods using the MNPs. Based on the findings in this study, there is a need to complement awareness of the primary caregivers with knowledge on MNPs through counselling and initiating support groups among caregivers to serve as credible and first hand examples of the proper use of MNPs.

Effects of Extracts of Liaoxuan Kaxifu Powders on Proliferation of HaCaT Induced by TNF-α / 中国中医药信息杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of extracts ofLiaoxuan Kaxifu Powders (LE) on proliferation and transcription of IL-8 and ICAM-1 in HaCaT induced by TNF-α; To discuss its mechanism of action.Methods Cultured HaCaT was assigned into normal group, TNF-α group and low-, medium- and high-dose of LE group. Every group was induced by 40 ng/mL TNF-α except for normal group, and then LE groups were treated by different concentrations (8, 40, 200μg/mL) of LE for 48 h. The proliferation of HaCaT was evaluated by MTT and the apoptosis was detected by inverted fluorescence microscope. Levels of IL-8 and ICAM-1 in HaCaT were assessed by ELISA, and their mRNA expressions was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.Results Compared with normal group, the absorbency of HaCaT and the contents and mRNA expressions of IL-8 and ICAM-1 increased in TNF-α group (P<0.05,P<0.01); compared with TNF-α group, LE of all dose groups could significantly inhibit the absorbency, decrease the contents and mRNA expressions of IL-8 and ICAM-1 (P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion LE is able to inhibit the proliferation of HaCaT induced by TNF-α, and the mechanism is probably related to promoting apoptosis and down-regulating the gene expressions of IL-8 and ICAM-1, and then maintaining the normal level of HaCaT.

Study on characteristics and dissolution behavior in decoction for boiling powders of Chinese materia medica / 中草药

Objective: To study the powder characteristics and dissolution behavior of the composition in decoction for boiling powders of Chinese materia medica, and to provide scientific evidence for particle size control and its application. Methods: Four kinds of herbal pieces such as Scutellariae Radix, Coptidis Rhizoma, Puerariae Radix, and Glycyrrhizae Preparata Radix were prepared in powders. Powder characteristics including particles distribution and mobility, and dispersion properties of particles in the water decoction were investigated. Additionally, dissolution behaviors of the composition in decoction made from powders and pieces were compared. Results: Well-distributed particles and high mobility were observed in Scutellariae Radix, Coptidis Rhizoma, and Glycyrrhizae Radix Preparata powders, rather than in Puerariae Radix powder. The suspended particles in the decoction in both powders and pieces were submicron. However, optical and electrical properties showed that the suspended particles in the decoction made from powders were more, bigger, and easier to settle as heterogeneous liquid was. Dissolution velocity and amount of the active ingredients in the decoction made from powders were significantly higher than those of pieces. Conclusion: As a new type of herbal decoction which could increase the dissolution of active ingredients, it could shorten decocting duration and improve the availability of herbs. The boiling powders are worth being studied and promoted.

Simultaneous Determination of Two Components in Aspirin and Phenobarbital Powders by HPLC / 中国药师

Objective:To establish an HPLC method for the determination of two components in aspirin and phenobarbital pow-ders.Methods:AThermoBDSC18column(250mm×4.6mm,5μm)wasusedwithacetonitrile-methanol-0.01mol·L-1KH2PO4so-lution -triethylamine(10∶35∶55∶0.1)(adjusting pH to 3.5 with phosphoric acid )as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 1.0 ml· min-1 and the detection wavelength was 242nm. The column temperature was ambient and the injection volume was 20 μl. Results:There was a good linear relationship when the content of aspirin and phenobarbital was within the range of 0. 402 0 ~1. 608 0 mg· ml-1(r=0.999 7) and 0.061 2 ~0.244 8 mg·ml-1(r =0.999 6), respectively. The average recovery was 99.21%(RSD =0. 49%,n=9) and 99. 63% (RSD=0. 39%,n=9), respectively. Conclusion:The method is simple and accurate with good repro-ducibility, and can be used to control the quality of the preparation.

GC-MS Fingerprint of an Active Ingredients Group from Jinxuan Zhike Xunxi Powders / 中国药师

Objective:To analyze Jinxuan Zhike Xunxi powders ( JZX) and an active ingredients group ( AIG) obtained from JZX by GC-MS, and develop a characteristic fingerprint of AIG. Methods: A gas chromatography-mass spectrum ( GC-MS) method was applied to analyze the main compositions in JZX and AIG, and the characteristic fingerprint information in the fingerprint spectrum was determined. Results:Totally 10 batches of AIG were detected, and a promising GC-MS fingerprint spectrum containing characteristic information for AIG was obtained. Conclusion: The developed fingerprint with good repeatability can be successfully applied in the quality control of AIG.

The adsorption thermodynamics of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L. ) powder obtained by spray drying technology / Termodinámica de adsorción de polvo de caña de azúcar (Saccharum officinarum L. ) obtenido mediante la tecnología de secado por aspersión

Background: Sugarcane is one of the world's largest crop. It grows in the tropical and subtropical regions, and its harvest provides 80% of the world's sugar. In Latin America unrefined cane sugar is widely available and much less expensive than refined sugar. Sugarcane is a crop of great interest in Colombia due to the economic impact on the rural population and its application as sweetener agent. The powder of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is widely used as a raw material in a wide range of industries such as foods, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and chemical. Objectives: The aim of the research work was the evaluation of the adsorption thermodynamics of sugarcane powder obtained by spray drying technology. Methods: The adsorption isotherms of sugarcane powder were evaluated at temperatures of 4 ± 0.1, 20 ± 0.2 and 30 ± 0.3 °C and its thermodynamic properties such as Gibbs free energy (G), differential heat of adsorption (∆H) and differential entropy (∆S) were calculated as a function of moisture content. Experimental data of adsorption isotherms were fitted to the GAB (Guggenheim ­ Andersen - de Boer), BET (Brunauer ­ Emmett - Teller), Henderson, Caurie, Smith, Hasley, Peleg, and Oswin models. Results: The results showed a type-II sigmoidal behavior, with temperature having a statistically significant effect. The GAB equation showed a better fit to the experimental data modeling (0.11≤aw≤0.87) although all models showed validity and goodness of fit to the experimental data. The net isosteric heat increased to a maximum value (57 kJ mol-1) and then decreased with the increase in moisture content. Conclusions: The sugarcane powder with maltodextrin, obtained by spray drying got low adsorption thermodynamic stability, as it required very low energy to occur this phenomenon, being obtained the maximum net isosteric heat when moisture content of 4.7% (d.b). This value is within the range of the monolayer moisture content found in the GAB and BET models.