Pestalotiopsis photiniae is one of the predominant pathogens of strawberry root rot disease. Based on preliminary research, it was proved that crude toxins were main pathogenic substances of the pathogen. For further investigation and utilization of toxins produced by this fungus, conditions of producing toxins were analyzed with the leaf disk method in this experiment. The result showed that pH values, cultural time, vibration, and tested temperatures obviously affected the production of toxins, except for light treatment. The most suitable culture conditions for the toxin production were pH 6.2, 25?C, darkness and stillness, for 5 d～7 d. Besides, it was discovered that crude toxins could significantly inhibit seed germination and elongation growth of roots or shoots for maize, rye and mung bean.

OBJECTIVETo observe the acute and chronic renal toxicity induced by Radix Aristolochiae Fangchi Extract (RAFE) in different doses in rats.

METHODThe conventional method of acute toxicity was used. RAFE at the dose of 25.0 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), 120.0 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) and 200.0 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) and aristolochic acid (AA, 10.0 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) were interruptedly administrated to rats for 13 week by gastric tube, and the sample of blood, urine and kidney were collected at 4 week, 8 week and 13 week respectively. The indexes of renal function were measured and the morphology of kidney was observed.

RESULTLD50 of RAFE was 36.8 g x kg(-1) (the crude drug) and the 95% confidence limit was 38.8 - 28.9 g x kg(-1). The changes of renal functions were azotemia, massive proteinuria and the increase of urinary NAGase (beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase) in the earlier period of administration with RAFE in rats. Pathological changes of renal tissue were as follows: acute renal tubular necrosis mainly in the boundary of cortex and medulla was observed in the earlier period, and with the elongation of administration, the pathological process of renal interstitial fibrosis observed in the middle and high groups of RAFE and AA group.

CONCLUSIONRAFE at middle and high doses administrated by interrupted gavage above 13 week can cause the injury of renal tubular functions in rats. NAGase can be used as one of observation targets in the earlier period of renal injury.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; urine ; Animals ; Aristolochia ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Aristolochic Acids ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Female ; Fibrosis ; chemically induced ; Kidney Tubules ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Proteinuria ; chemically induced ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Qingikailing and Shengmai injection alone or combined on the acute lung injury (AL) induced by oleic acid in rabbits.

METHODThe rabbits were randomly divided into 11 groups: oleic acid group; control group; treatment groups including low, middle and high dosage groups of Qingkailing and Shengmai injection alone and combined, respectively. ALI model was established by iv oleic acid (0.05 mL x kg(-1)) in these groups, and then iv above drugs respectively,while in control group, the same volume of normal saline was given. The respiratory amplitude and rate were observed, and blood samples were taken from cervical artery for blood-gas analysis before and at 30, 60, 120 min after oleic acid or normal saline administration. At the end of experiment, the concentration of LDH, CAT and MDA in the lung tissue were measured and pathologic changes of lung tissue were observed microscopically.

RESULTCompared with oleic acid group, the respiratory amplitude markedly enhanced (P < 0.05) in the low and high dose groups of Qingkailing and Shengmai injection. PaO2 increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the low dose group of combined Qingkailing and Shengmai injection, PaCO2 decreased markedly (P < 0.05) in the low dose groups of Qingkailing and Shengmai injection alone and combined. The level of MDA significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the each group of Qingkailing and Shengmai injection alone, the level of MDA significantly decreased (P < 0.05) and CAT increased (P < 0.05) in the low dose group of combined Qingkailing with Shengmai injection. The low dose group of combined Qingkailing and Shengmai injection can alleviate the pathological changes induced by oleic acid.

CONCLUSIONThe curative effect of the low dose group of combined Qingkailing with Shengmai injection for the ALI induced by oleic acid was better than Qingkailing and Shengmai injection alone at the same dosage.

Animals ; Carbon Dioxide ; blood ; Catalase ; blood ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Oleic Acid ; Oxygen ; blood ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Respiration ; drug effects ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; blood ; chemically induced ; pathology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Qingkailing and Methylprednisolone (MP) injection alone or combined on the acute lung injury (ALI) induced by oleic acid in rabbits.

METHODThe rabbits were randomly divided into 11 groups: oleic acid group; control group; treatment groups including low, middle and high dosage groups of Qingkailing and MP alone and combined, respectively. ALI model was established by i.v. oleic acid (0.05 mL x kg(-1)) in these groups, and then i.v. above drugs respectively, while in control group, the same volume of normal saline was given. The respiratory amplitude and rate were observed, and blood samples were taken from cervical artery for blood-gas analysis before and at 30, 60, 120 min after oleic acid or normal saline administration. At the end of experiment, the concentration of LDH, CAT and MDA in the lung tissue were measured and pathologic changes of lung tissue were observed microscopically.

RESULTCompared with oleic acid group, the respiratory amplitude markedly enhanced (P < 0.05) and respiratory rate lowered (P < 0.05) in the low, middle and high dose groups of Qingkailing and MP injection. On the 30 min of treatment, PaO2 increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the low and middle dose groups of combined Qingkailing and MP injection; PaCO2 decreased markedly (P < 0.05) on the 120 min of treatment in each treatment group. The level of LDH significantly increased (P < 0.05), CAT and MDA decreased (P < 0.05) in the middle and high groups of Qingkailing and MP injection. The low and middle dose groups of combined Qingkailing and MP injection can alleviate the pathological changes induced by oleic acid.

CONCLUSIONThe curative effect of the low dose group of combined Qingkailing and MP for the ALI induced by oleic acid was better than Qingkailing and MP alone, while the big dose groups of Qingkailing and MP alone better than the combination at the same dosage.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Blood Gas Analysis ; methods ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; therapeutic use ; Oleic Acid ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Respiratory Function Tests

OBJECTIVEFollowing the former report, we continue to observe the chronic renal tubular-interstitial injury induced by Radix Aristolochiae Fangchi Extract(RAFE) in rats in order to understand whether RAFE in different doses causes the renal tubular-interstitial injury or not.

METHODRAFE at the dose of 25.0 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), 120.0 mg kg(-1) x d(-1) and 200.0 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) and aristolochic acid (AA, 10.0 mg x kg(-1) d(-1)) was interruptedly administrated by gastric tube for 22 w and 4 w durg withdrawal. Blood, urine and kidney were taken out respectively in 17 w, 22 w and 26 w to measure the indexes of renal function. The morphology of kidney was observed, and Masson staining of kidney were made respectively to compare RAFE groups with AA group.

RESULTPathological changes of renal tissue forms were as follows: All RAFE groups and AA group could develop the pathological process of renal tubular injury-chronic renal interstitial fibrosis. The pathologic changes of RAFE were similar with AA.

CONCLUSIONRAFE at all doses administrated interruptedly by gastric tube above 13 w caused chronic renal tubulo-interstitium fibrosis. The renal injury in functions and tissue forms in rats were similar with AA closely. The results showed that AA was the main toxic composition of RAFE.

Animals ; Aristolochia ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Aristolochic Acids ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Female ; Fibrosis ; blood ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Kidney Tubules ; pathology ; Male ; Nephritis, Interstitial ; blood ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Proteinuria ; chemically induced ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of specific functional gene ACE (I/D) variants of the renin-angiotensin system with essential hypertension (EH) and interaction between ACE (I/D) gene and risk factors for EH in a genetically homogenous Mongolia rural population of China.

METHODSIndividuals (n=1099) were recruited from general population of Kezuohouqi Banner in Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region.

RESULTSThe association was found between ACE genotype DD plus ID and EH, with an interaction between ACE genotype DD plus ID and cigarette smoking in an additive model. Cigarette smoking index and ACE gene showed a low exposure-gene (LEG) effect on EH, with interaction indices from 7.10 to 1.16. Interaction between ACE genotype DD plus ID and alcohol drinking on EH appeared an additive model. Alcohol drinking index and ACE gene showed a low exposure-gene (LEG) effect on EH, with interaction indices from 1.66 to 1.09. BMI and ACE gene showed a low exposure-gene (LEG) effect on EH, with interaction indices from 6.15 to 2.49. Interactions between ACE genotype and WHR on EH showed a multiplicative model. In a short,there was an interaction between ACE gene and cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking and BMI on EH, especially in a low dose-exposure effect

CONCLUSIONIt is important for individuals who carry ACE D allele gene to prevent EH, and furthermore, to prevent and control coronary heart disease, in a view of population-based prevention.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Alcohol Drinking ; Anthropometry ; Blood Glucose ; China ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Hypertension ; enzymology ; etiology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mongolia ; ethnology ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; genetics ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Sex Factors ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; blood

Objective: To examine the influence of sacroiliac joint reduction quality on the clinical effect of bionic reduction and internal fixation for pelvic ring injury. Methods: From January 2014 to February 2019,the clinical data of 78 patients diagnosed with pelvic ring injury involving sacroiliac joints and treated with bionic reduction and internal fixation at Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University were retrospectively analyzed.There were 48 males and 30 females,aged (48.3±8.3)years (range:28 to 68 years).After bionic reduction and internal fixation,the patients were grouped according to the maximum displacement distance (d) of sacroiliac joint residual on the damaged side measured by CT examination. Patients with d≤5 mm were included in anatomical bionic reduction group,and patients with d>5 mm were included in non-anatomical bionic reduction group.In non-anatomical bionic reduction group,according to the direction of residual displacement,the patients were divided into separation displacement group and anterior-posterior displacement group. The X-ray examination was performed immediately and at the last follow-up after operation.If sacroiliac joint was relocated,or internal plant loosening,displacement,fracture and re-displacement of fracture,it was defined as internal fixation failure.Majeed pelvic fracture scoring system was used to evaluate the postoperative functional status of the two groups,and visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the postoperative pain.Comparison between groups was performed by completely random design ANOVA,χ² test,Fisher's exact test,Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H test. Results: According to the CT examination,28 cases were included in anatomical bionic reduction group,and 50 cases were included in non-anatomical bionic reduction group.In non-anatomical bionic reduction group,27 cases were divided into separation displacement group and 23 cases were in anterior-posterior displacement group.There was no significant difference in general data among anatomical bionic reduction group,separation displacement group and anterior-posterior displacement group (P>0.05). The follow-up time was (37.8±6.6) months (range:25 to 51 months). At the last follow up,the excellent and good rate of Majeed score in anatomical bionic reduction group was 96.4%(27/28),which was better than that in separation displacement group(74.1%(20/27)) and anterior-posterior displacement group (30.4%(7/23)),the difference was statistically significant (Z=-6.479,P<0.01;Z=-6.256,P<0.01); and the good rate of the separation displacement group was better than that of the anterior-posterior displacement group(Z=-3.607,P<0.01).The VAS of anatomical bionic reduction group (17 cases with 0 point, 11 cases with 1 to 3 points) were lower than that of the displacement group (6 cases with 0 point,16 cases with 1 to 3 points,5 cases with 4 to 6 points) and anterior-posterior displacement group (3 cases with 0 point,7 cases with 1 to 3 points,13 cases with 4 to 6 points),the difference was statistically significant (Z=-3.515,P<0.01;Z=-3.506,P<0.01),and there was no difference between separation displacement group and anterior-posterior displacement group.Total of 8 cases of internal fixation failure occurred,and the failure rate of anatomical bionic reduction group (0,0/28) was lower than that of the separation displacement group (11.1%,3/27) and anterior-posterior displacement group (21.7%,5/23) (P=0.111,P=0.014),and there was no difference between separation displacement group and anterior-posterior displacement group(P=0.444). Conclusions: In the bionic reduction and internal fixation of pelvic fracture involving sacroiliac joint injury,the functional status,pain and internal fixation failure rate of patients with anatomical bionic reduction of sacroiliac joint are significantly better than those in the non-anatomical bionic reduction.The functional recovery of patients with separation displacement is better than that of the patients with anterior and posterior displacement.
Bionics ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Bone/surgery* ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Sacroiliac Joint/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To summarize and elucidate the characteristics and evolvement of Chinese medicine (CM) patterns reflecting the physical and mental conditions of participants in the Mars 500 long-term closed environment. METHODS: The DS01-T Digital TCM Four-Diagnostic Instrument and CM Inquiring Diagnostic Questionnaire were used to collect information from 6 participants in the Mars 500 International Joint Research Project, through diagnostic methods of observation, palpation and inquiry according to CM theory. During the 520 days of the experiment, data collection was performed 37 times; a total of over 400 digital images of tongues and facial complexion and over 20,000 data were collected. These data were then analyzed by a team of experts in CM, statistics, and data mining. RESULTS: The CM pattern evolvement of participants in the long-term closed environment followed some common trends. Qi deficiency was the main CM pattern observed, with individual features depending on constitutional differences [manifested in varying degrees of accompanying patterns of Gan (Liver) qi stagnation, Pi (Spleen) deficiency, dampness encumbering, or yin deficiency]. CONCLUSION The research has verified the effectiveness of CM syndrome differentiation based on the four diagnostic methods, which should serve as a solid foundation for observation, monitoring, and intervention in regard to the health conditions of astronauts in long-term space flights in the future.

OBJECTIVETo comprehensively evaluate the health status of 6 volunteers from the Mars 500 Project through analyzing their pulse graphs and determining the changes in cardiovascular function, degree of fatigue and autonomic nervous function.

METHODSSix volunteers were recruited; all were male aged 26-38 years (average 31.83±4.96 years). Characteristic parameters reflflecting the status of cardiovascular functions were extracted, which included left ventricular contraction, vascular elasticity and peripheral resistance. The degree of fatigue was determined depending on the difference between the calendar age and biological age, which was calculated through the analysis of blood pressure value and characteristic parameters. Based on the values of pulse height variation and pulse time variation on a 30-s pulse graph, autonomic nervous function was evaluated. All parameters examined were marked on an equilateral polygon to form an irregular polygon of the actual fifigure, then health status was evaluated based on the coverage area of the actual fifigure.

RESULTSThe results demonstrated: (1) volunteers developed weakened pulse power, increased vascular tension and peripheral resistance, and slight decreased ventricular systolic function; (2) the degree of fatigue was basically mild or moderate; and (3) autonomic nervous function was excited but generally balanced.

CONCLUSIONSThese volunteers were in the state of sub-health. According to Chinese medicine theories, such symptoms are mainly caused by the weakening of healthy qi, Gan (Liver) failing in free coursing, and disharmony between Gan and Wei (Stomach), which manifests as a weak and string-like pulse.