Healthcare Products Research Articles

Glycerol Metabolism Contributes to Competition by Oral Streptococci through Production of Hydrogen Peroxide.

Glycerol is an abundant carbohydrate found in oral cavity, both due to biological activities of humans and microbes, and as a common ingredient of foods and health care products. However, very little is understood regarding the metabolism of glycerol by some of the most abundant oral bacteria, commensal streptococci. This was in part because most streptococci cannot grow on glycerol as the sole carbon source. Here we show that Streptococcus sanguinis , an oral commensal associated with dental health, can degrade glycerol for persistence and competition through two independent pathways, one of which generates hydrogen peroxide at levels capable of inhibiting a dental pathobiont, Streptococcus mutans . Preliminary studies suggest that several other commensal streptococci are also able to catabolize glycerol, and glycerol-related genes are being actively expressed in human dental plaque samples. Our findings reveal the potential of glycerol to significantly impact microbial homeostasis which warrants further exploration.

Fluorescent sensing of rutin by carbon dots derived from the heart of cumin seeds

Carbon dots (CDs) prepared from biomass usually produce poor quantum yield and reproducibility. A fine separation of raw materials may enhance the fluorescence performance. In this work, embryos of cumin seeds were precisely chosen as the carbon source to prepare (CDs) through hydrothermal method. The obtained product (CDs-E) possessed a higher quantum yield of 10.60 % than those synthesized with testas or whole seeds, which may be due to the relatively smaller particle size and more C-N functional groups. Rutin, as a common natural active component, could quench the fluorescence of CDs-E notably through internal filtering effect. Herein, a highly selective fluorescent sensor based on CDs-E for detecting rutin was proposed with a linearity range of 0.05 ∼ 30 μM and a detection limit of 0.015 μM obtained. Additionally, the developed method was successfully applied for the detection of rutin in Flos Sophorae, rutin tablets and capsules. This work showed the significance of fine classification for natural carbon source in preparation of CDs and provided a feasible method for quality monitoring of rutin-related pharmaceuticals, health care products and traditional Chinese medicinal materials.

Advances in the synthesis of cytidine-5'-diphosphate choline

Cytidine-5'-diphosphate choline (CDP-choline) plays a crucial role in the formation of the phospholipid bilamolecular layer in cell membranes and the stabilization of the neurotransmitter system, acting as a precursor to phosphatidylcholine and acetylcholine. CDP-choline has been found effective in treating functional and consciousness disorders resulting from brain injury, Parkinson's disease, depression and glaucoma, and other conditions. As such, CDP-choline is widely utilized in clinical medicine and health care products. The conventional chemical synthesis process of CDP-choline is gradually being replaced by biosynthesis due to the expensive and toxic reagents involved, the production of various by-products, and the high cost of industrial production. Biosynthesis of CDP-choline offers two strategies: microbial fermentation and biocatalysis. Microbial fermentation utilizes inexpensive raw materials but results in a relatively low conversion rate and requires a complex separation and purification process. Biocatalysis, on the other hand, involves two stages: the growth of a living "catalyst" and the conversion of the substrate. Although the synthetic process in biocatalysis is more complex, it offers a higher conversion ratio, and the downstream processing technique for extraction is relatively less costly. Consequently, biocatalysis is currently the primary strategy for the industrial production of CDP-choline. This review aims to summarize the progress made in both chemical synthesis and biosynthesis of CDP-choline, with particular focus on the metabolic pathway and the synthetic processes involved in biocatalysis, in order to provide insights for the industrial production of CDP-choline.

Mitigating human fall injuries: A novel system utilizing 3D 4-stream convolutional neural networks and image fusion

Unintentional human falls, especially in seniors, lead to serious injuries, fatalities, and reduced standard of life. Vision-based fall detection methods have demonstrated their usefulness in timely fall response, helping to lessen such injuries. This paper presents an automated vision-based fall detection system that triggers immediate fall reporting. By incorporating human segmentation and image fusion in the pre-processing stage, the system enhances the accuracy of human action classification, thereby ensuring precise fall alerts. It further employs the innovative 4-stream 3D convolutional neural network (4S-3DCNN) model to learn different but consecutive spatial and temporal features. The system processes video input or live surveillance, segmenting human presence every 32 frames using a fine-tuned deep-learning model and applying a three-level image fusion to accentuate movement differences. This technique produces four pre-processed images, input to the 4S-3DCNN model for classification. Consecutive detection of “Falling” and “Fallen” actions triggers an alert for immediate intervention. The original 4S-3DCNN model is an end-to-end trained deep learning model with a fully connected layer serving as a classifier. The research also evaluates the performance of combining the 4S-3DCNN model with Autoencoders and Support Vector Machines (SVM) networks as classifiers. The SVM classifier demonstrated ideal fall detection performance with 100% accuracy using the MCFD, URFD, and Le2i FDD datasets. The proposed system is vital for detecting and preventing falls and reducing healthcare expenses and productivity losses.

Clinical Simulation in the Regulation of Software as a Medical Device: An eDelphi Study.

Accelerated digitalization in the health sector requires the development of appropriate evaluation methods to ensure that digital health technologies (DHTs) are safe and effective. Software as a medical device (SaMD) is a commonly used DHT by clinicians to provide care to patients. Traditional research methods for evaluating health care products, such as randomized clinical trials, may not be suitable for DHTs, such as SaMD. However, evidence to show their safety and efficacy is needed by regulators before they can be used in practice. Clinical simulation can be used by researchers to test SaMD in an agile and low-cost way; yet, there is limited research on criteria to assess the robustness of simulations and, subsequently, their relevance for a regulatory decision. The objective of this study was to gain consensus on the criteria that should be used to assess clinical simulation from a regulatory perspective when it is used to generate evidence for SaMD. An eDelphi study approach was chosen to develop a set of criteria to assess clinical simulation when used to evaluate SaMD. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling based on their experience and knowledge in relevant sectors. They were guided through an initial scoping questionnaire with key themes identified from the literature to obtain a comprehensive list of criteria. Participants voted upon these criteria in 2 Delphi rounds, with criteria being excluded if consensus was not met. Participants were invited to add qualitative comments during rounds and qualitative analysis was performed on the comments gathered during the first round. Consensus was predefined by 2 criteria: if <10% of the panelists deemed the criteria as "not important" or "not important at all" and >60% "important" or "very important." In total, 33 international experts in the digital health field, including academics, regulators, policy makers, and industry representatives, completed both Delphi rounds, and 43 criteria gained consensus from the participants. The research team grouped these criteria into 7 domains-background and context, overall study design, study population, delivery of the simulation, fidelity, software and artificial intelligence, and study analysis. These 7 domains were formulated into the simulation for regulation of SaMD framework. There were key areas of concern identified by participants regarding the framework criteria, such as the importance of how simulation fidelity is achieved and reported and the avoidance of bias throughout all stages. This study proposes the simulation for regulation of SaMD framework, developed through an eDelphi consensus process, to evaluate clinical simulation when used to assess SaMD. Future research should prioritize the development of safe and effective SaMD, while implementing and refining the framework criteria to adapt to new challenges.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles as an antimicrobial mediator

AbstractSilver nanoparticles (AgNPs) become a topic of great research on account of their exemplary properties (optical, electrical, and antimicrobial properties). They have been executed as an exceptional antimicrobial agent having ability to combat microorganism’s in vivo and in vitro causing infections. The antibacterial activity of AgNPs covers Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as multidrug resistant (MDR) strains. AgNPs display manifold and immediate mechanisms of activity and in incorporation with antimicrobial agents as antibiotics or organic compounds, it exhibit synergistic impact against pathogens bacteria. The properties of AgNPs make them appropriate for their usage in healthcare and medical products where they might treat infections or inhibit them competently. A range of approaches to synthesize AgNPs are stated in literature; including physical, biological, and chemical techniques, with a growing need to establish eco-friendly processes. With the imperative need for novel and effective antimicrobial agents, this review intends to establish aspects affecting antimicrobial impacts of AgNPs, as well as to descript the benefits of employing AgNPs as new antimicrobial in different life science applications. This review summarizes synthesis of AgNPs and remarkable implementation of AgNPs dealing with their antimicrobic properties in the field of textile, food industry, agriculture, water treatment, and most importantly in health care sector. Additionally fundamental mechanism by which they implement their antimicrobic activity will also be addressed. Graphical abstract

Health care utilization, productivity losses, and burden of adverse childhood experiences in Singapore: Findings from a national survey.

There is poor understanding on health care utilization, productivity losses, and burden of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in multiethnic Asian populations. Part of this research gap stems from the limited epidemiological data on neglect, emotional abuse, bullying, and dysfunctional home environments. This study estimated health care utilization, productivity losses, and burden of ACEs (at least one exposure and multiple exposures) in Singapore. A total of 4,441 adult residents were recruited via door-to-door surveys in a nationally representative study in Singapore. All participants were assessed for ACEs, health care utilization, productivity losses, chronic physical disorders, and mental disorders on structured interviews. Approximation formulas were applied to calculate the estimated cost of ACEs in Singapore. ACEs were prevalent (63.9%) in the Singapore population. Individuals exposed to ≥ 3 ACEs (13.1%) utilized more direct medical care (e.g., primary care doctor and accident and emergency visits) and experienced greater productivity losses than those without ACEs (36.1%). The adjusted excess costs associated with ACEs per person were estimated to be S$767.40 (at least one ACE; 63.9%) and S$2167.84 (≥ 3 ACEs; 13.1%). The adjusted incremental costs of ACEs in the Singapore population were estimated to be S$1.18 billion (at least one ACE) and S$680 million (≥ 3 ACEs) per year. The health and economic burden of ACEs is substantial in Singapore. Our results highlight the importance of investing in novel, population-based ACEs interventions, and the potential return on investment through preventive care and alleviation of the health care burden. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

An approach-based machine learning and automated thermal images to predict the dark-cutting incidence in cattle management of healthcare supply chain

The healthcare supply chain is a network made up of various systems, processes, and elements that function and interact seamlessly to offer healthcare services and products. Food safety is an essential component of the healthcare supply chain. In the cattle industry, the healthcare supply chain contributes positively to the global economy through providing high-quality products such as milk and meat. Stress in cattle is one of main factor that cause low quality meat called “dark meat”. Numerous studies have been conducted on the development of different non-invasive methods based on Infrared Thermography Technology (IRT) to enhance the meat quality by detecting stress in cattle pre-slaughtering. These studies have the following issues: lack of automating in detecting body temperature of cattle and ignoring detecting stress with prediction dark meat incidence. The present study endeavors a new fully automated system for detecting stress, and dark meat incidence, incorporating the following new approaches: Multiview face detecting, Automatic eye localisation for detecting body temperature automatically employing computer vision and image processing, respectively. Furthermore, machine learning algorithms like Support Vector Machine (SVM), Logistic Regression (LR), Naïve Bayes (NB), and Decision Tree (DT) have been developed specifically for stress detection and the prediction of dark meat. To develop automated system, two forms of data were collected: statistical temperature and infrared thermal images. Infrared thermal images are used to develop Multiview face detection and Automatic eye localisation. Temperature data used to develop the machine learning model. Results reveal that Multiview face detection better than the current methods in term of Precision 0.99, Recall 0.91, F-score 0.95 with high True positive rate 0.90 and zero False-positive rate. Automatic eye localisation has high accuracy, with the following values: sensitivity 0.9780, precision 0.7212, F measure of 0.8024, and misclassification 0.0455. Lastly, results elaborate that the decision tree model can attain a notable level of accuracy in terms of specificity, recall, F-measure, and Area Under the Curve (AUC), all at an optimal rate of 98%.

Dossier submission in the UK after Brexit

The withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU), commonly known as Brexit, occurred on January 31, 2020, triggering a transition period until December 31, 2020, during which the UK and EU negotiated their future relationship. Brexit has brought significant changes to regulatory frameworks, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector. This article examines the transition of dossier submission procedures in the UK following Brexit, focusing on the implications for marketing authorizations (MAs) and pharmacovigilance. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) transitioned to an independent regulatory body, establishing new guidelines for pharmaceutical companies seeking MAs in the UK. Key changes in marketing authorization routes include the conversion of centrally authorized products (CAPs) to UK MAs, the introduction of the Decentralized and Mutual Recognition Reliance Procedure (MRDCRP), and the implementation of a 150-day assessment timeline for national procedures. This article compares dossier requirements before and after Brexit in the UK and highlights pharmacovigilance requirements post-Brexit, emphasizing adjustments to reporting obligations, Qualified Person for Pharmacovigilance (QPPV) responsibilities, and the establishment of UK-specific Pharmacovigilance System Master Files (PSMFs). Additionally, it addresses the dossier Module 1 administrative information requirements to provide a comprehensive overview of the changes in regulatory procedures in the UK pharmaceutical sector following Brexit. Overall, the article aims to serve as a valuable resource for industry professionals, regulatory experts, and other stakeholders seeking clarity on the regulatory changes and their implications for pharmaceutical products in the UK following Brexit.

Functional properties of dietary quercetin in cardiovascular health and disease

AbstractThe increasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases has resulted in an escalating need for natural dietary supplements with cardioprotective properties. This review provides a thorough analysis of laboratory and clinical studies conducted on dietary quercetin, a widely available flavonoid, and its influence on the management of cardiovascular health and disease. The references cited in this review were obtained from reputable databases, including SciFinder, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov, with a specific focus on the period spanning from 1999 to 2023 pertaining to this subject matter. Notably, a bibliometric approach was used to analyze the bibliometric attribute trends of the research on quercetin associated with vascular health for the first time. Numerous investigations conducted on animal and human subjects at different phases of cardiac illness have consistently shown that the administration of quercetin substances improves cardiac function, suggesting the potential efficacy of quercetin in the management of heart disease. Evidently, the consumption of quercetin through dietary sources holds promise in conferring significant cardiovascular benefits through physiological mechanisms and biochemical signaling pathways, thus positioning it as a promising dietary contender for the prevention of cardiovascular disorders. Renewable food resources, including lovage leaves, elderberry, and radish leaves, which are abundant in quercetin, exhibit significant potential for the development and production of novel healthcare products with the objective of preventing cardiovascular disorders. This review is anticipated to provide valuable insights for the advancement of cardioprotective functional foods in the foreseeable future.

Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharides (CPP) intervention alleviates sterigmatocystin (STC)-induced liver injury and gut microbiota dysbiosis

Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharides (CPP), the main active ingredient of Codonopsis pilosula, has gained significant attention as a liver-protective agent. Previous studies have demonstrated that CPP could alleviate gut microbiota dysbiosis in colitis or obese mice. However, the effects of CPP on mycotoxin-induced liver injury and gut microbiota dysbiosis are still poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of CPP on sterigmatocystin (STC)-induced liver injury, as well as its regulatory effects on gut microbiota. Our results revealed that CPP intervention significantly alleviated STC-induced liver injury, as evidenced by decreased liver index, reduced liver histopathological changes, and modulation of related molecular markers. Additionally, we found that CPP could alleviate liver injury by reducing liver inflammation and oxidative stress, inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis, and regulating lipid metabolism. Notably, we also observed that CPP could alleviate STC-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis by modulating the diversity and richness of gut microbiota, suggesting that gut microbiota modulation may also serve as a mechanism for CPP-mediated remission of liver injury. In summary, our study not only provided a new theoretical basis for understanding the hepatotoxicity of STC and the protective effects of CPP against STC-induced liver injury, but also provided new perspectives for the application of CPP in the fields of food, healthcare products, and medicine.

A Review on various aspects of Regulatory Affairs

In order to guarantee the efficacy, safety, and calibre of medications, medical equipment, and other healthcare supplies, Regulatory Affairs is essential. Anticipating future trends and difficulties in Regulatory Affairs is crucial as the healthcare sector changes due to technological breakthroughs, globalization, and new regulatory paradigms. This abstract examines the consequences of developing fields for regulatory frameworks, including gene treatments, digital health, artificial intelligence, and personalized medicine. It also covers the increased significance of real-world evidence, patient-centric approaches, and international harmonization in regulatory decision-making. In addition, it looks at the difficulties presented by supply chain interruptions, cybersecurity risks, and regulatory divergence in a world that is changing quickly. Stakeholders may effectively navigate the complicated regulatory landscape of the future by embracing innovation, collaboration, and adaptive regulatory methods facilitate the timely delivery of safe and effective healthcare products to patients worldwide.

The effect of community diagnostic centres on volume and waiting time for diagnostic procedures in the UK

Many health care systems are looking to implement policies to improve productivity and accessibility of health care. In this paper we use data from the English National Health Service to evaluate the effect of introducing new “Community Diagnostic Centres” in 2021 which aim to increase volume, reduce waiting times, and increase accessibility to diagnostic procedures. Our results show an increase in volume of diagnostic procedures associated with the introduction of CDCs at local NHS organisations. We find some evidence the increase is driven by an increase in MRI scans in particular, and this result is larger for CDCs located in more deprived local areas. We find no effect on waiting times which may indicate some demand response to increased availability of tests.

Mangalam Organics Limited: making camphor grow innovatively

Learning outcomes The case study will provide an opportunity for students to identify the challenges a business-to-business (B2B) organization in a commodity product category faces in a growing environment. The students will learn to analyze and evaluate different strategies for growth and profitability. The students will be equipped to make decisions based on financial and nonfinancial data and the trade-offs therein. The case study will enable students to understand the application of the concept of operating leverage in different business conditions. Case overview/synopsis The leadership team at Mangalam Organics Limited (MOL) was worried about the company’s future in December 2021. The chief strategy officer (CSO), Akshay Dujodwala; the chairman, Kamal Dujodwala and the managing director, Pankaj Dujodwala had watched MOL go through many ups and downs. MOL manufactured camphor powder and supplied it to tableters [1], who would convert it into tablets, essentially used for Puja [2] purposes in India. Camphor was a white, waxy terpenoid with a strong aroma. It was mainly a commodity business with no pricing power when MOL supplied it in bulk to tableters. They had ventured into the business-to-customer (B2C) [3] space with their consumer brand “Mangalam” camphor tablets, positioned for religious uses in homes. However, this formed a very small percentage of their turnover. With thin margins and a low growth rate, it was difficult for MOL to sustain and grow, especially in the B2B [4] business. To make matters worse, their manufacturing unit caught fire in 2015, causing a major blow to their business. Under the leadership of their CSO, Akshay, they implemented strategies that helped the company bring down costs and wastage. Akshay helped MOL diversify further into the B2C market through their brands, “CamPure” for home care products and “Cam+” for health-care products. Huge expenditures on marketing and advertising were incurred to promote these brands. The COVID-19 pandemic watched the world go through a terrible phase with lockdown and rising health issues (both physical and mental). Camphor found an interesting place in immunity and religious purposes due to its aromatherapy properties and evoking feelings of relaxation. The newfound use helped MOL achieve an unexpectedly higher turnover. But Akshay knew that camphor, by itself, was fickle in providing profitability. To sustain growth post-COVID-19, MOL would urgently need to look for growth options. After giving it a lot of thought, he was faced with three options – he could either focus on CamPure as a B2C option, or concentrate completely on camphor powder and aroma as an existing B2B option or take the third option to go in for a first of its kind exclusive stores for all types of puja items called Pooja Sangam. While all these options had their own pros and cons, he had to now decide which was the best financially viable option for MOL as a way forward. Complexity academic level The case study is designed at the postgraduate level in an Master of Business Administration and executive education programs. Given the nature of the issues in the case study, it can be included in courses such as business strategy and strategic marketing. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 8: Marketing.

Survey of Scottish Dermatological Society members on the new Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency isotretinoin recommendations.

Recent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) isotretinoin legislation includes significant changes that will affect clinical practice for dermatologists across the UK. We obtained opinions from members of the Scottish Dermatological Society on these recommendations. The survey yielded an adequate number of responses with significant results and free-text comments of interest to practising UK dermatologists. Overall responses from SDS members highlighted many concerns with the MHRA guidance and its impact on patient care. The results of this survey question the credibility of the MHRA. We propose the creation of an objective working group, with no conflicts of interest.

Steam Explosion-Assisted Extraction of Ergosterol and Polysaccharides from Flammulina velutipes (Golden Needle Mushroom) Root Waste.

In this work, steam explosion (SE) was applied to prompt the rapid extraction of ergosterol and polysaccharides from Flammulina velutipes root (FVR) waste. Ultrasound-assisted saponification extraction (UASE) followed by water extraction was used to prepare ergosterol and polysaccharides. The results indicated that SE destroyed the complicated structure of FVR and increased its internal porosity and surface roughness. SE caused the thermal degradation of FVR's structural components and increased the polysaccharide content 0.97-fold. As a result, the extraction yield and efficiency of ergosterol and polysaccharides were improved. The theoretical maximum extraction concentration (C∞) and diffusion coefficient (D) were increased by 34.10% and 78.04% (ergosterol) and 27.69% and 48.67% (polysaccharides), respectively. The extraction yields obtained within 20-30 min of extraction time exceeded those of untreated samples extracted after several hours. For polysaccharides, SE led to a significant reduction in the average molecular weight, increased the percentage of uronic acids and decreased the neutral sugar percentage. The monosaccharide composition was changed by SE, with an increase in the molar ratio of glucose of 64.06% and some reductions in those of other monosaccharides. This work provides an effective method for the processing of fungi waste and adds to its economic value, supporting its high-value utilization in healthcare products.

Supplemental Material for Health Care Utilization, Productivity Losses, and Burden of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Singapore: Findings From a National Survey

Supplemental Material for Health Care Utilization, Productivity Losses, and Burden of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Singapore: Findings From a National Survey

Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance of Cr/Ni/Mg/Al Layered Double Hydroxides against Methyl Orange in Aqueous Solution

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have received substantial research as manufacturing innovation and prospective photocatalysts for the degradation of organic contaminants due to large surface area, strong anionic exchange capacity, and tunable composition. In this study, we modified Mg/Al-LDHs with Ni and Cr to further enhance their performance in removing Methyl Orange (MO) an anionic dye widely used in textiles, cosmetics, and healthcare products. The modified Mg/Al-LDHs were synthesized using hydrothermal co-precipitation method and characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The breakdown rate of MO under solar light was used for evaluating the material's photocatalytic activity. The outcomes demonstrated that the Ni/Mg/Al/Cr (LDH-4) photocatalysts degraded MO more quickly than the undoped substance. The addition of Cr to the Ni/Mg/Al matrix caused the band gap to develop new energy levels, which increased the material's photocatalytic activity. The Ni/Mg/Al doped with Cr has demonstrated tremendous potential as a photocatalysts for the MO degradation.

Pharmacological Effects of Polygonati Rhizoma on "Tonifying the Kidney" and Its Development Status in the Field of Health Care

Polygonati Rhizoma has traditional effects of tonifying the kidney, with a wide clinical application. The record of Polygonati Rhizoma can be traced back to Miscellaneous Records of Famous Physicians, where Polygonati Rhizoma was catalogued "to mainly tonify and replenish qi, and long-time administration can make the body agile, prolong life and relieve hunger". In modern times, Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China 2020 also records its effect of tonifying the kidney. In this study, the records of the related functions of Polygonati Rhizoma mainly in three aspects, "prolonging life", "tonifying essence and marrow", and "strengthening muscles and bones", were first sorted out in ancient and modern classics. This study also collected relevant prescriptions, such as Polygonati Rhizoma pill, and Polygonati Rhizoma and Radix Rehmanniae pill, with kidney-tonifying effects from 8 medical books including Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library, Formulas from Benevolent Sages Compiled during the Taiping Era, Comprehensive Recording of Divine Assistance, etc. Through further retrieval of literature and analyses, it was confirmed that the pharmacological effects of Polygonati Rhizoma on "tonifying the kidney" contain improvement of arthritis and osteoporosis, anti-aging, immunoregulation, anti-fatigue, improvement of renal injury, improvement of reproductive function and anti-hypertension. The search and statistical analyses of special food information in State Administration for Market Regulation revealed that there are 409 kinds of health-care foods, with Polygonati Rhizoma as the main raw material, which have 15 kinds of health-care functions. Among them, "kidney-tonifying" health-care products that can enhance immunity, resist fatigue, elevate bone density or delay aging accounts over 80%. The last part of this study discussed and analyzed the pharmacological research progression of Polygonati Rhizoma on "tonifying the kidney" and its development status in the field of health care, so as to provide reference for in-depth development and application of Polygonati Rhizoma.

Broad-Spectrum Supramolecularly Reloadable Antimicrobial Coatings.

Antimicrobial surfaces limit the spread of infectious diseases. To date, there is no antimicrobial coating that has widespread use because of short-lived and limited spectrum efficacy, poor resistance to organic material, and/or cost. Here, we present a paint based on waterborne latex particles that is supramolecularly associated with quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs). The optimal supramolecular pairing was first determined by immobilizing selected ions on self-assembled monolayers exposing different groups. The QAC surface loading density was then increased by using polymer brushes. These concepts were adopted to develop inexpensive paints to be applied on many different surfaces. The paint could be employed for healthcare and food production applications. Its slow release of QAC allows for long-lasting antimicrobial action, even in the presence of organic material. Its efficacy lasts for more than 90 washes, and importantly, once lost, it can readily be restored by spraying an aqueous solution of the QAC. We mainly tested cetyltrimethylammonium as QAC as it is already used in consumer care products. Our antimicrobial paint is broad spectrum as it showed excellent antimicrobial efficiency against four bacteria and four viruses.