Our ancestor found that some of the Chinese herbal drugs were toxic during their clinical practice. They graded the toxicity of Chinese herbal drugs into three degrees and thought that the term "toxicity of the Chinese herbal drugs" could be used in a broad and a narrow sense. In modern times, toxic components of the Chinese herbal drugs and their toxic mechanisms, especially the toxicity on the kidney, were further revealed. The factors that affect the toxicity of the Chinese herbal drugs include the species, preparation, dose and environment. To prevent the toxicity of the Chinese herbal drugs, we must strengthen the management of the Chinese herbal drugs. On the other hand, doctors' recognition of the toxicity of Chinese herbal drugs should be enhanced. At the same time, patients should be told to decoct and take Chinese herbal drugs correctly.

Objective To establish a method of GS-MS for determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in human cerumen. Methods The PCBs in cerumen samples was separated by n-hexane extraction, liquid-liquid extraction separation and column chromatography purification, then was analyzed quantitatively by gas chromatography and affirmed qualitatively by mass spectroscopy. Results The detection limit, average recovery rate and precision of this method were 0.15 ?g/g fat, 92.1% and 3.0%-4.6% (n=12) respectively. The contents of PCBs in 90 cerumen samples collected in polluted and control areas were detected. The levels(0.00-18.42 ?g/g fat) of PCBs in cerumen collected in polluted area were significantly higher than that in the control area(P

Objective To explore the relationship between the concentration of t, t-2, 4-DDE in cooking oil fume(COF) and the cooking temperature. Methods The temperature control system of oil heating was developed, the activated carbon was used to collect gaseous pollutants. Six samples were prepared at 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240 and 270 ℃. The concentration of t, t-2, 4-DDE in COF was analyzed by GC-FID. Results The concentration of t, t-2, 4-DDE in COF was below the detection limit when the oil temperature was not higher than 120 ℃. Among the 150 ℃ and 270 ℃ groups, the concentration of t, t-2, 4-DDE showed a significant increase. Conclusion The concentration of t, t-2, 4-DDE in COF may obviously increase as the cooking temperature is not lower than 150℃.

Objective To study the effect of inhalation combined salmeterol plus fluticasone propionate in treatment of asthma in children between 4 ～ 5 years old.Methods Seventy-four children (age range,4 ～ 5 years) were enrolled for our study,they were randomly divided into 2 groups (one group inhaled combined salmeterol plus fluticasone,37 children;the other group inhaled fluticasone,37 children).Comparative studies of clinical efficacy,quantified symptom score,and regular follow-up observations were conducted at the interval of one week,one month,three months.Results In the first week and first month during the treatment,there were no difference between salmeterol plus fluticasone group and fluticasone group (P ＞ 0.05).In the third month during the treatment,the daytime ratings(0.16 ± 0.09 vs 0.32 ± 0.11,P ＜ 0.05) and night ratings(0.04 ± 0.01 vs 0.14 ±0.00,P ＜0.05) of salmeterol plus fluticasone group were significantly better than those of fluticasone group.After three months,more children in salmeterol plus fluticasone group were responsive to the decreased dose of the drug than those of fluticasone group (x2 =4.57,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion In the follow-up of exacerbatious,treatment with combined salmeterol and fluticasone propionate was as efficient as that of fluticasone in alleviating symptoms.During remission of asthma,combined salmeterol and fluticasone propionate was probably better than fluticasone for control of symptoms.

0.05).Right Group had lower incidence of pigeon chest compared with that of Median Group [0 vs.1.6%,?2=413.041,P=0.000].The scores of TACQOL questionnaire of Right Group were higher than that of Median Group in the domains "Physical Complaints" [(29.6?2.8) vs.(28.1?3.0),t=4.843,P=0.000],"Motor Functioning" [(31.2?1.1) vs.(30.5?1.6),t=5.139,P=0.000] and "Cognitive Functioning" [(29.9?3.2) vs.(26.9?4.2),t=7.902,P=0.000].Conclusions The repair surgery of ventricular septal defects through a shorter right lateral thoracotomy can provide superior early and late outcomes and better health-related quality of life for pediatric patients.

Objective To investigate the effect of heat treatment on the proliferation of, melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity in cultured normal human melanocytes. Methods Normal human foreskin tissue was obtained by sterile circumcision and melanocytes were harvested by using methods for epidermal cell culture. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was utilized as the primary mitogen to establish the culture system of normal human epidermal melanocytes. Masson-Fontana staining was proformed to identify melanocytes.Third-passage melanocytes were treated with hyperthermia at various temperatures (39 ℃, 41 ℃, 42 ℃, 43 ℃ and 45℃) for 1 hour a day for consecutive 3 days followed by the measurement of cell viability with MTT assay. The hyperthermia at optimized temperature was used to treat fourth-passage melanocytes for 1 hour a day for consecutive 3 days; subsequently, the tyrosinase activity were detected with L-Dopa as the substrate, and melanin content was determined in heat-treated and untreated (control) melanocytes. Results The hyperthermia at 42 ℃ exhibited the strongest promotive effect on the proliferation of melanocytes among these 5 hyperthermia conditions. After treatment with hyperthermia at 42 ℃ for 1 hour a day for consecutive 3 days, melanocytes showed an increment in tyrosinase activity by 36.4% and melanin synthesis by 78% compared with the untreated melanocytes (both P＜0.05). Conclusions Heat treatment can enhance the proliferation of cultured human melanocytes, promote their melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity.

Purpose To establish myocardial infarction model in rabbits and to evaluate cardiac function and pathological changes.Materials and Methods In 35 New Zealand white rabbits, the left anterior descending branch (LAD) of the coronary artery was ligated. The cardiac function was evaluated using echocardiography, and the blood serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level was examined preoperatively, on postoperative day 1, and in 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks for comparison. Pathological sections and HE staining were performed to observe pathological changes. Results The death rate was 28.6% (10/35). There was progressive increase in left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD) and left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) at 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks (P<0.05). There was progressive decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening fraction (LVFS) at 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks (P<0.05). The BNP level started increasing in 1 day, peaked in 1 week, then gradually decreased but remained higher than preoperative level in 8 weeks (P<0.01). Pathological section showed typical myocardial cell degeneration, necrosis, ifbrosis, calciifcation and scar formation. Conclusion This myocardial infarction model is satisfactory with signiifcant decrease of cardiac function and increase of BNP level.

Objective:To establish a BALB/c mouse model of Echinococcus granulosus allergy and investigate the role of lymphocyte subsets in Echinococcus granulosus-induced sensitization. Methods:Echinococcus granulosus was isolated from the liver of sheep naturally infected with Echinococcus granulosus and cultured for 40 d. BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally injected with 50 microcapsules and sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of 0.1 ml/10 g of larval Echinococcus granulosus capsule six months after infection. According to the symptom scores 1 h after sensitization, these mice were divided into two groups: non-sensitized group ( n=6) and sensitized group ( n=6). The mice ( n=6) in control group were injected with sterile saline. Blood sample was collected from the angular vein of each mouse. Flow cytometry was used to detect B cells, NK cells and CD3 +/CD4 +/CD8 + T cells. Cytometric bead array was used to measure IL-4, IL-6 and IL-13. Results:The percentage of B cells was significantly higher in the non-sensitized group than in the control group ( P<0.001), but no significant difference was observed between the sensitized group and the control group. Compared with the non-sensitized group, the percentage of B cells in the sensitized group decreased significantly ( P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the percentages of NK cells in the non-sensitized group and the sensitized group decreased significantly ( P<0.001 and P<0.01). Compared with the non-sensitized group, the percentage of NK cells in the sensitized group increased significantly ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the percentage of CD3 + and CD4 + T cells in the non-sensitized group decreased significantly ( P<0.05), while the percentage of CD8 + T cells increased significantly ( P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the percentage of CD3 + and CD4 + T cells in the sensitized group increased significantly ( P<0.05 and P<0.001), while no significant change in the percentage of CD8 + T cells was detected. Compared with the non-sensitized group, the percentage of CD3 + and CD4 + T cells in the sensitized group increased significantly ( P<0.05), while the percentage of CD8 + T cells decreased significantly ( P<0.01). The levels of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-13 were significantly higher in the non-sensitized group than in the control group ( P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the sensitized group showed increased IL-4 ( P>0.05), significantly increased IL-6 ( P<0.01) and decreased IL-13 ( P>0.05). The levels of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-13 in the sensitized group were significantly lower than those in the non-sensitized group ( P<0.001). Conclusions:The BALB/c mouse model of allergy induced by larval Echinococcus granulosus was successfully established. This study proved that the humoral immune response induced by Th2 cells played an important role in Echinococcus granulosus-induced sensitization, which provides an important scientific basis for establishing a prevention and treatment strategy for patients with anaphylactic shock caused by extravasation of Echinococcus granulosus fluid.

Objective To evaluate mini-dose pre-injection test in the use of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CEMRA), and to inspect the possibility of contrast medium peak-time prediction by age, body weight and heart rate.Methods The data from mini-dose pre-injection test of contrast medium before vertebral artery CEMRA were retrospectively reviewed in 55 patients. The linear correlation and regression of the data including age, body weight, heart rate, and the reaching-time, peak-value-time, duration and peak-value-signal of contrast medium was performed by using SPSS software.Results The age (n=55, =62 years old, M=59 years old), body weight (n=55, = 63 kg), heart rate (n=40, =73 beats per minute), peak-value-time (n=55,=17.5 seconds), peak signal intensity (n=55,=472), and duration of contrast (n=49,=10.35 seconds)were analyzed. No statistically significant correlation existed between peak-value-time of contrast medium and the age (r=0.231, t=1.728, P=0.090), body weight (r=0.118, t=0.865, P=0.392), and heart rate (r= -0.046, t=-0.284, P=0.776). The peak-value-time correlated negatively with peak signal intensity (r=-0.322, t=-2.56, P=0.016)and positively with duration of contrast (r=0.658, t=5.99, P=0.000). The peak signal intensity was negatively correlated with body weight(r=-0.356, t=-2.77, P=0.008). The linear regression analysis show b=-0.284, t=-2.285, P=0.026 between peak-value-signal and peak-value-time, b=-0.322, t=2.590, P=0.012 between peak-value-signal and body weight.Conclusion Mini-dose pre-injection test was more helpful to adjust the rate of contrast medium injection and determine the time delay during scanning. But the prediction of contrast peak-time based on age, body weight and heart rate was unreliable.