Acute Toxicity Test of Chinese Herbal Compound Tongmai Tangyanming Capsule

[Objective] This study was conducted to determine the safe dose of Tongmai Tangyanming capsule in clinic by evaluating its acute toxicity, so as to ensure clinical medication safety. [Method] The test was designed according to ＂Technique Requirements of Research of New Chinese Medicine＂ and ＂Guide for Research of New Chinese Medicine＂, mice were intragastrically administrated with Tongmai Tangyanming capsule at a maximum concentration and a maximum volume, and the acute toxic response of mice was observed, so as to determine medi- na lethal dose （LDso） and maximum administration dosage of Tongmai Tangyanming capsule. [Result] The LD^o could not be detected in the test, and the maximum administration dosage of mouse was calculated to be 112.104 g of dried herbs/（kg.d）, equivalent to 260 times of clinical dose of adult. [Conclusion] Chinese herbal compound Tongmai Tangyanming capsule has low acute toxicity, and its clinical dose is safe and reliable.

Acute Toxicity Test of Qiangli Bupi Paste

[Objective] The toxicity of Qiangli Bupi Paste was investigated, to provide a test basis for its further development and safe use. [Method] Forty Kunming mice, half male and half female, were selected and divided into the CK group and the Qiangli Bupi Paste group, each of which included 20 mice. The acute toxicity of Qiangli Bupi Paste was observed by the maximum administration dosage method. No mice and abnormal response were observed within 14 d in various groups. The tested animals were also subjected to anatomical observation. [Result] All the tested animals survived in the test, and behaved normally, with glossy hair. Their body weights accorded with the growth regularity. During the anatomy, no important vis- ceral organs showed pathological changes, and there were no significant differences in body weight between the two groups before administration, on the 7~ after ad- ministration and the 14 d after administration （P〉0.05）. [Conclusion] In the acute toxicity test of Qiangli Bupi Paste, the maximum administration dosage was 48 g/kg （equivalent to 96 times of the daily dose of adult in clinic）, and no obvious toxic response was observed.

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor expression in the spinal dorsal horn of a rat model of formalin-induced inflammatory pain following intrathecal injection of butorphanol

Clinical and animal experiments have proved that intrathecal injection of butorphanol has an analgesic effect. However, whether the analgesic effect is associated with activation of the N-methyI-D-aspartate （NMDA） receptor remains unclear. This study presumed that intrathecal injection of butorphanol has an analgesic effect on formalin-induced inflammatory pain in rats, and its analgesic effect is associated with inhibition of NMDA receptors. Concurrently, ketamine was injected into the intrathecal space, which is a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, to determine the analgesic mechanism of butorphanol. The total reflection time in phase 1 and phase 2 of rat hind paws carding action was reduced when the butorphanol dose was increased to 25 μg, or a low dose of butorphanol was combined with ketamine. Intrathecal injection of a high dose of butorphanol alone or a low dose of butorphanol combined with ketamine can remarkably reduce NMDA receptor expression in the Ls spinal dorsal hom of formalin-induced pain rats. The results suggest that intrathecal injection of butorphanol has analgesic effects on formalin-induced inflammatory pain, and remarkably reduces NMDA receptor expression in the rat spinal dorsal horn Ketamine strengthens this analgesic effect. The analgesic mechanism of intrathecal injection of butorphanol is associated with inhibition of NMDA receptor activation.

Acute and 28-day Sub-acute Oral Toxicity Evaluation of Two Dietary Bamboo Charcoal Powders in Sprague-Dawley Rats

No data were available on the acute oral toxicity, short-term oral toxicity of vegetable carbon in animals. This study was designed to evaluate the safety of two commercially available dietary bamboo charcoal powders（BCP1 and BCP2）. The size distribution of the two powders was determined by a Mastersizer 2000 laser particle size analyzer prior to the in vivo safety studies. For the acute toxicity study, a single dose of 11.24 g/kg body weight of BCP1 and BCP2 was given once orally to healthy Sprague-Dawley（SD） rats. Mortality and clinical symptoms were observed and recorded for the first 30 min after treatment, at 4 h post-administration, and then at least once daily for 14 days after administration. In the repeated dose 28-day oral toxicity study, BCP1 and BCP2 were administered orally at doses of 2.81, 5.62, and 11.24 g/kg body weight for 28 days to SD rats. Animals were sacrificed and organs and blood samples were analyzed. Results showed that both BCP1 and BCP2 were micro-sized and various in size. In the acute toxicity and the repeated dose 28-day oral toxicity studies, BCP caused neither mortality nor visible signs of toxicity in rats. No significant differences were found in the relative organ weights or in biochemical parameters in BCP treated groups compared to a control group. No treatment-related histological changes were observed in the organs of these animals. Based on these data, it is concluded that the median lethal dose（LD50） of BCP for both male and female rats is more than 11. 24 g/kg body weight and the no-observed-adverse-effect level（NOAEL） is 〉11.24 g/kg body weight for 28 days.

“No Need to Get Salty” Or Is There? Sodium Functionality as a Consideration in Nutrition Public Health Policy

Aim: Public health professionals focus on both downstream (individual) and upstream (population-level) interventions to reduce sodium consumption and prevent sodium-related chronic diseases. Effective upstream interventions specifically aimed at reducing dietary sodium intake include the implementation of comprehensive nutrition standards that restrict the amount of sodium contained in foods available for purchase. The aim of this work was to identify sought-after foods that did not meet the Philadelphia Nutrition Standards’ sodium limits and reformulate those foods to be standards-compliant and consumer-acceptable. Subject and Methods: Two foods were reformulated for compliancy with the Philadelphia Nutrition Standards’ sodium limits and consumer acceptability: the hoagie roll and soft pretzel. Reformulation included sensory testing and engaging potential manufacturing partners to investigate products’ commercial potential. Results: While hoagie roll reformulation led to a local company manufacturing and selling the reformulated product, soft pretzel reformulation stalled due to lack of consumer acceptability of the reformulated product. Salt contributes desirable characteristics in the texture, taste, and appearance of the soft pretzel, the absence of which consumers found unacceptable. Conclusion: Product reformulation holds great potential to create lower-sodium foods that otherwise have all of the characteristics of the higher-sodium “original” products but requires an understanding of the role of salt in product recipes. Reducing salt without considering its multiple functions in food may result in a product that is unacceptable or even unsafe. A simple four-step tool can help public health practitioners evaluate the extent to which products are suitable for reformulation.

Trimetazidine and Cellular Response in Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Background: Organic cellular inflammatory response constitutes a pathophysiological mechanism present in all Coronary Artery Bypass Graftings (CABGs). In this aspect, the organism brings forth its defenses through answers that involve cellular components. Objectives: To evaluate, in a randomized double-blind prospective study, controlled with placebo, the effects of trimetazidine (Tmz) on cellular response, analyzed through the variation of leukocytes, neutrophils and monocytes. Patients and Method: 30 patients were randomly selected to be studied, with no more than a mild ventricular dysfunction, and divided into two groups (Tmz and placebo) stratified by echocardiography and receiving medication/placebo in a 60 mg/day dose. The samples of leukocytes, neutrophils and monocytes were obtained in the pre-operatory day without medication, at surgery day with 12 to 15 days of medication/placebo, with 5 minutes after the aortic declamping, and within 12, 24 and 48 hours after surgery. Results: The leukocytes and neutrophils levels have decreased significantly in the treated group when compared to the control group, in all analyzed moments (p = 0.012;p = 0.005). Conclusions and Clinical Implications: Trimetazidine has proved to reduce significantly the levels of total leukocytes and neutrophils in patients submitted to CABG.

Effect of a program to control perioperative blood glucose on the incidence of nosocomial infections in patients with diabetes: A pilot study

Aim: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a pilot program to control perioperative blood glucose in patients with diabetes. Methods: A pre-post intervention study was conducted in a 280-bed hospital in Spain. In the year 2008 we implemented perioperative insulin protocols aimed at blood glucose values from 80 to 180 mg/dL. Surgical patients with diabetes admitted on year 2009 (intervention group) were compared with a control group of patients with diabetes admitted for surgery on year 2007, matched 1:1 by traditional wound class. Results: We analyzed 96 patients. Implemented protocols were followed in 48% of patients intra-operatively and 75% of patients postoperatively. Patients in the intervention group had reductions in blood glucose at surgery 150 +/- 61 mg/dL vs. 172 +/- 53 mg/dL;p = 0.05), greater proportion of target glucose values throughout hospitalization (67% vs. 55%;p = 0.07), and reductions in the incidence of nosocomial infections after controlling for confounders (Odds Ratio: 0.20;95% Confidence intervals: 0.06 - 0.72;p = 0.014) when they were compared with the control group: The incidence of hypoglycemia was similar between two groups (0.12% vs. 0.10%, p = 0.867), respectively. Conclusion: Although our protocol needs improvements to increase implementation it was useful to control blood glucose safely and for reducing nosocomial infections.