OBJECTIVETo study the constituents with the pain-relieving activity from the stem rind of Daphne giraldii.

METHODThe partition of the ethanol extract and chromatographic separation of the fractions were carried out by the monitoring of anelgesic pharmacological activity. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by MS and NMR.

RESULTFour compounds were isolated from the pain-relieving fraction. Three of them were identified as diterpenes, gniditrin (1), gnidicin (2) and daphnetoxin (3). Compound 4 was determined as Z-octadecyl caffeate.

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1, 2 and 4 were isolated from the plant for the first time.

Analgesics ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Caffeic Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Daphne ; chemistry ; Diterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Objective To explore the relationship between social participation and needs for rehabilitation of the disabled in Guangdong Province and to make a proposal for developing the rehabilitation strategies. Meth-ods The data of the Second National Sample Survey of Disabled Persons in Guangdong Province was used in this study. Ranked data analysis was made with the sub-items of the social participation assessment and the main needs of the disabled individuals. Results Significantly statistical differences were revealed with regard to the constitu-ent ratio of needs for rehabilitation services among people with different degrees of difficulties in social participation caused by hearing and visual impairments as well as physical and mental disabilities. No significant difference was found in terms of the constituent ratio of rehabilitation needs among those with difficulties in speech and those with psychiatric diseases. The major rehabilitation needs focused on medical service, assistive apparatus support and functional trainings. Conclusions The rehabilitation needs were different among different categories of disabled persons. Rehabilitation services should be provided accordingly.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Female ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of continuous high-volume hemofiltration (CHVHF) on interleukin 1 receptor-associated kinase-4 (IRAK-4) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

METHODSForty-one patients with SAP were randomly divided into two groups to receive treatment with CHVHF plus conventional therapy (21 patients) and conventional therapy only (20 patients). Venous blood samples were taken before and 12, 24, and 72 h after the treatment for evaluation of APACHE II scores. The mRNA and protein levels of IRAK-4 in the monocytes were determined by real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively, and serum TNF-alpha levels was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSAmong the 21 patients receiving CHVHF, 18 survived and 3 died, and in the conventional therapy group, death occurred in 5 cases. In the surviving patients of CHVHF group, the APACHE II scores, IRAK-4 mRNA and protein levels and TNF-alpha levels were all significantly lowered after the treatment, and these indices were also significantly lower than those in the conventional group after treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONCHVHF is effective in reducing monocyte IRAK-4 levels and serum TNF-alpha level in SPA patients, and thus alleviates the symptoms and improves the prognosis of SAP, possibly by reducing the level of the activators that induce monocyte activation via the Toll-like receptor.

Adult ; Blotting, Western ; Female ; Hemodiafiltration ; methods ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinases ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing ; blood ; pathology ; therapy ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Objective To etiologically diagnose and analyze a patient with suspected cases of brucellosis,and to provide a experimental basis for the confirmation of the first case of human brucellosis in Guizhou province.Methods Conventional and molecular techniques [genus specific Brucella surface protein 31 PCR (BCSP31-PCR)and Brucella suis species-specific PCR (AMOS-PCR)] were used to identify suspicious bacteria strains isolated from the suspected patient of brucellosis.Results The results showed that the Brucella suspicious colonies were identified as Brucella melitensis biotype 3 using conventional tests and were further identified as Brucella spp.by genus specific Brucella surface protein 31 PCR (BCSP31-PCR) and classified as Brucella melitensis with Brucella abortus,Brucella melitensis,Brucella ovis,Brucella suis species-specific PCR(AMOS-PCR).Conclusions Laboratory diagnostic results show that the bacteria strain isolated from the suspected patient of brucellosis is Brucella melitensis biotype 3.It is the first case of human brucellosis in Guizhou province.

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes of cycle and apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and antioxidant capacity of the serum and testis in male rats with diabetes mellitus.

METHODSThirty male rats were divided into two groups, 10 for normal control and 20 for the diabetes group. The rats were injected intraperitoneally with streptozocin (TZ) to develop diabetes, and 12 weeks later, their survival rate and testis weight were recorded. The percentage of G0/G, S and G2/M phases and apoptosis in spermatogenic cells were measured with flow cytometry (FCM). Malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and NO synthase (NOS) activities in the serum and testis were measured with thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs), nitric acid reoxidized enzyme, xanthine oxidative enzyme, 5,5 Dithiobis (2,2 nitrobenzoate) (TNB) and visible light photometer methods, respectively.

RESULTSTwelve weeks after the male rats got diabetes, their survival rate, body weight and testis weight were significantly lower (p < 0.05), and the percentages of G0/G1 phases and apoptotic spermatogenic cells were obviously higher (P < 0.05) than the normal control. At the same time, the percentage of S and G2/M phases spermatogenic cells decreased. So the spermatogenic cells were arrested in G0/G1 phase. In the diabetic rat serum and testis, especially in the testis, MDA levels were distinctly higher and SOD activities were significantly lower than those in the control. Serum GSH-Px activities of the diabetic rats were significantly lower (p < 0.05), while testis GSH-Px activities were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.01). NO contents in the serum and testis of the diabetic rats (P < 0.01) increased significantly, particularly the former, while NOS activities in the serum decreased significantly as compared with the control (P < 0.5).

CONCLUSIONThe increase in testis and serum MDA levels and NO contents and the decrease in the antioxidant enzyme activity of the diabetic rats may be relevant to spermatogenic disorder caused by the increase of G0/G1 phases arrest and spermatogenic cells apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Testis ; cytology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine the risk factors involved in the typhoon episodes and to put forward and evaluate the intervention measures.

METHODSWe defined a confirmed injury case as: 'a person with fall,scalpel and stab, collision, drowning, injuries and trauma due to flying debris and building collapse, asphyxiation due to entrapment in collapsed buildings by typhoon from 0 am,August 12 to 6 pm, August 14 2004' and a death case as: 'a person with fall, scalpel and stab, collision, drowning, injuries and trauma due to flying debris and building collapse, asphyxiation due to entrapment in collapsed buildings by typhoon from 0 am, August 12 to 12 am, August 18 2004'. We investigated all hospitalized injured cases in ten hospitals and telephoned to those who were not hospitalized and the cases of death. We did case-control study with 1 pair versus 2 cases. 74 cases were selected in ten hospitals. The controls were neighbors of the controls matched by occupation, sex, village, and within 5 years of age without injury in this typhoon. We asked the cases and the controls on their alertness regarding typhoon and what actions taken when typhoon arrived.

RESULTSThere were 392 injury cases in all ten hospitals and 50 death cases. The attack rate of injury was 27.3 per 100 000. The fatal rate was 11.3% with the death rate 3.1 per 100 000. We investigated 209 injury cases and 31 death cases. The number of cases who were injured from 1 to 6 hours before typhoon landing accounted for 64.6% (155) of all cases. The peak of epidemic curve was 4 hours before the landing of typhoon. Data on the analysis of 74 cases and 148 controls revealed that 42% (31) of the cases were outside their homes before and during typhoon compared to 15% (22) of the controls (OR = 3.9, 95% CI: 1.9-7.7). Compared with 20% (30) control persons (OR = 17,95% CI: 4.2-68). 28% (21) cases did not receive the alert of typhoon before it arrived compared with 18% (27) control persons (OR = 3.3, 95% CI:1.3-8.6). 53% (39) of the cases did not pay attention to the alert of typhoon before typhoon arrived.

CONCLUSIONStaying outdoor, not receiving or did not take seriously about the alert of typhoon seemed to be the risk factors of injury by the typhoon episode, suggesting that the government should increase the emergency preparedness and to raise the awareness on risks associated with typhoon.

Cause of Death ; China ; epidemiology ; Cyclonic Storms ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; Wounds and Injuries ; epidemiology ; mortality

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of the corm of the planted Cremastra appendiculata.

METHODThe compounds were isolated by column chromatography with silica gel and Sephadex LH-20, and their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods including 2D NMR techniques.

RESULTSix compounds were isolated, and identified as isohircinol (I), flavanthrinin (II), p-hydroxyphenylethyl alcohol (III), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethyl alcohol (IV), daucosterol (V), beta-sitosterol (VI).

CONCLUSIONThese compounds were not previously isolated from this plant, and isohircinol (I) was obtained from natural source for the first time.

Orchidaceae ; chemistry ; Phenylethyl Alcohol ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents from the tuber of the planted Cremastra appendiculata.

METHODThe compounds were isolated by column chromatography over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and RP-HPLC, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.

RESULTEight compounds were isolated, and identified as cirrhopetalanthrin (I), 7-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenanthrene-2-O-beta-D-glucoside (II), 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methoxyphenyl-1-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (III), tyrosol 8-O-beta-D-gluco-pyranoside (IV), vanilloloside (V), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (VI), sucrose (VII), adenosine (VIII).

CONCLUSIONThese compounds are isolated from this plant for the first time. All compounds were evaluated against human colon cancer (HCT-8), human hepatoma (Bel7402), human stomach cancer(BGC-823), human lung adenocarcinoma (A549), human breast cancer (MCF-7), and human ovarian cancer (A2780) cell lines, and cirrhopetalanthrin (I) showed non-selective moderate cytotoxicity with IC50 values of 8.4-13.3 micromol x L(-1), and other compounds were inactive.

Adenosine ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Benzaldehydes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Orchidaceae ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sucrose ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

Objective To analyze the cadmium level of main food,and to preliminarily assess the risk of dietary cadmium exposure among residents in Yantai.Methods A total of 925 samples of 10 kinds of food groups were collected from 14 counties (or districts)of Yantai.Cadmium contents in food were determined according to GB/T 5009.15—2003,and then the provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTMI)and the margins of safety(MOS)of cadmium were calculated by combining the concentration of cadmium in foods with food consumption data.Results The concentration of cadmium in 10 kinds of food groups was 26.47 μg/kg.The concentration of cadmium in sea foods was 92.48 μg/kg,and that was the highest among the 10 kinds of food groups.The concentration of cadmium in pluck,flour and vegetables were 47.35,33.25, 18.87 μg/kg respectively.Monthly dietary cadmium exposure quantity of flour,sea food,vegetable and rice was 295.70 μg,38.11 μg,32.09 μg and 10.87 μg,respectively.Flour as a most important contributor,contributed 76.09% of the total dietary cadmium exposure.Conclusion The average dietary cadmium exposure from the main food did not exceed the PTMI and the MOS was more than 1,so the level of dietary cadmium exposure is safe.However,based on the largest consumption of flour in Yantai and the high contribution rate of flour of dietary cadmium exposure,more attention should be paid to the possible cadmium contaminated wheat.