BACKGROUND: Nickel-chromium ceramic alloy with well anti-causticity has been widely used in clinic; however, it should be paid much attention to the toxic and side effects of the released nickel and glucinium ions. Therefore, studies about modifying alloy component, enhancing physical and chemical performance, and improving biocompatibility are hot topics recently. OBJECTIVE: To measure the in vitro cytotoxicity of self-made nickel-chromium ceramic alloy comparing with nickel-chromium alloy and pure titanium metal. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A contrast observational experiment was performed at Central Laboratory of China Medical University from May to December 2006. MATERIALS: L-929 cells at logarithmic phase were used in this study. Self-made nickel-chromium ceramic alloy was provided by Metal Institute of Chinese Academy of Science, pure titanium was provided by Matsukaze Japan Co., Ltd., and nickel-chromium alloy was provided by Heraeus Kulzer Dental Co., Ltd. METHODS: L-929 cells were assigned into nickel-chromium ceramic alloy, pure titanium, nickel-chromium alloy, positive control, and negative control groups. The cells were cultured in 96-well culture plate. Every five wells were randomly selected from each group, and 12 wells were used for the duplication. Cell suspension (100 μL) at concentration of 1.0×108/L was added in each well. Leaching liquor (100 μL) was added in self-made nickel-chromium ceramic alloy, pure titanium alloy, and nickel-chromium alloy groups, respectively, lead leaching liquor (100 μL) was added in positive control group to make the final concentration at 50%, and RPMI 1640 culture solution (100 μL) was added in the negative control group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Absorbance was measured at day 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 using MTT colorimetric assay to calculate relative growth rate. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in absorbance between three metal groups and negative control group (P > 0.05), but there were significant differences in absorbance between three metal groups and positive control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Cell growth rate was > 100% and cytotoxicity was grade 0 in the pure titanium group; while, cell growth rate ranged from 86.36% to 99.49% and cytotoxicity was grade 1 in both self-made nickel-chromium ceramic alloy and nickel-chromium alloy groups. At day 3 after culture, cytotoxicity was grade 2 in the positive control group. CONCLUSION: Self-made nickel-chromium ceramic alloy has a little cytotoxicity and requires for the clinical application.

This study is to investigate the effect of the major chemical composition in rhizome of Pterocypsela elata, lactuside B, on expression of bcl-2, bax mRNA and their protein in rats' cerebral cortex after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. First, middle cerebral artery ischemia-reperfusion injury model was established, and each group was treated with the corresponding medicines. Animals were separately sacrificed at 24 h and 72 h. The brain infarct volumes were detected by TTC dye, bcl-2 and bax mRNA expression was checked by RT-PCR, and the proteins of bcl-2 and bax were explored by two-step immunohistochemistry in cerebral cortex of rats. Lactuside B can reduce brain infarct volume of cerebral cortex of rats, increase the expression of bcl-2 mRNA and decrease that of bax mRNA. Moreover, the ratio of bcl-2 to bax mRNA is higher in 12.5 and 25 mg kg(-1) dose group, respectively, which is significantly different from that of model group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Generally, either 12.5 or 25 mg kg(-1) dose group is better than positive control medicine nimodipine (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). In addition, the expression of bcl-2 and bax protein is consistent with their gene expression. Infarct volume and the ratio of bcl-2 to bax mRNA expression are significantly different (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) between 72 h and 24 h group. The results demonstrated that lactuside B could play a good role in resisting cerebral ischemia by upregulating the expression of bcl-2 mRNA and protein and downregulating that of bax mRNA and protein.

Objective To observe the influence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNFα) on skeletal muscle protein catabolism in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the effects of indomethacin (IND) on it. Methods Duplicated COPD model rats were divided into two groups: the malnutrition group and the normal nutrition group. The malnutrition group were further divided by randomized block design into four groups. Isotonic physiologic saline was administered to group A, the control and the normal nutrition group, and different doses of oral IND were administered to groups B, C, and D weight, concentrations of TNFα, contents of 3-methyl-histidine ( 3- M H ) and tyrosine (Tyr) in the diaphragm and extensor digitorum longus muscle homogenates were measured before and after the intervention. Results Before the intervention, the concentrations of TNFα in the serum of malnutrition groups were all significantly higher than those of normal nutrition group and the control group. After the intervention: (1) The concentrations of TNFα in the serum of the rats of group B, C and D were significantly lower than the group A, especially in group C. The levels of TNFα in serum and body weight of model group rats were negatively correlated ( r = -0. 846, P ＜0. 01 ), as well as the diaphragm and extensor digitorum longus muscle weights ( r = - 0. 778, P ＜ 0. 01; r = - 0. 772, P ＜ 0. 01 ). (2) The levels of 3-methyl-histidine in the diaphragm and extensor digitorum longus muscles of the intervention group C was lower than the COPD normal nutrition group, as well as the intervention groups B and D. The contents of tyrosine in the diaphragm and extensor digitorum longus muscles of the intervention group C was lower than that of the COPD normal nutrition group,as well as the groups B and D. The body weight growth value of the intervention group B were slightly higher than the group A, without significant difference( P ＞ 0. 05 ), while the group C was significantly higher than the group A ( P ＜ 0. 01 ). Conclusions TNFα is involved in the occurrence of COPD malnutrition and skeletal muscle amyotrophy. IND can reduce the TNFα levels in the serum and the catabolic rates of the skeletal muscle proteins in malnutrition rats with COPD, so as to improve partly the skeletal muscle atrophy.

Objective To observe the clinical curative effect of cinobufacini injection in the treatment of primary bronchopulmonary carcinoma.Methods 120 patients with primary bronchopulmonary carcinoma were randomly divided into the control group and treatment group,60 cases in each group.Patients of the control group were treated with the general,symptomatic and dialectical therapy.Patients of the treatment group were given general,symptomatic,dialectical treatment and cinobufacini injection.The curative effect was determined by the standard efficacy of tumor,the survival quality of the patients was judged by the Karnofsky score.The adverse reactions,median survival time and the survival rate were compared between the two groups.Results The effective rate of the control group was 40.0％,that of the treatment group was 56.7％,the difference was statistically significant (x2 =4.034,P ＜ 0.05).By the Karnofsky score,27 patients of the control group were stable,39 patients of the treatment group were stable,the difference was statistically significant(x2 =12.265,P ＜0.05).Median survival time of the control group was (168 ± 16) d,that of the treatment group was (178 ± 20)d,the difference was statistically significant(x2 =12.265,P ＜ 0.05).One year survival rates of the control group and the treatment group were 5.0％,10.0％,the difference was statistically significant.There was no statistically significant difference between two groups in adverse reactions (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Cinobufacini injection can improve the quality of life and prolong survival of patients with primary bronchopulmonary carcinoma.It is effective and safe in clinical application.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the prophylactic application of antibiotics during perioperative period in surgical department and provide the scientific basis for management and rational application of antibiotics.METHODS The rational use of antibiotics during perioperative period was evaluated based on antibiotics selection,usage,dosage,the first time of application,treatment course,and the percentage of antibiotic application for cleaning operation.RESULTS All of surgical operations were used antibiotics.As for the first time of application,the use rate of thirty minutes before operation was 4.1%,but nothing used before operation was 73.2%.The treatment period after operation within 3 days was 8.1%.Among all kinds of used antibiotics,the third generation of cephalosporin accounted for 49%,and quinolones for 25%.CONCLUSIONS There are still some problems about prophylactic application of antibiotics during perioperative period in surgical department in our hospital.It is necessary to standardize application of antibiotics during perioperative period.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mental health of freshmen of university.MethodsSymptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) was used to self evaluate 7763 freshmen of university in Ningbo.Results and ConclusionThe overall level of the mental health of this group was higher than that of the Chinese module, and the prevalence of psychological symptoms was 13.2%. The average level of mental health of female were inferior to male. The difference between the students from cities or towns and from the countryside were distinct. Students who were satisfied with their majority get noticeably higher average score than the ones who were not satisfied.

Drying is the critical link during pharmaceutical process of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is directly related to the quality of drugs. The key to technology upgrading of pharmaceutical equipment in Chinese materia medica enterprise is the development of new drying techniques, which concerns the modernization of TCM. The study provides new ideas for the drying technology and equipment by means of reviewing the research status of drying process for the traditional Chinese medicinal materials and preparations, and analyzing the traditional and modern drying methods and equipment, as well as their existing problems and corresponding measures for the drying processes and equipment. In addition, this paper expounds the development trend of traditional Chinese medicinal materials and preparations of drying process and equipment.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; instrumentation ; standards ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

The Chinese materia medica extract (CMME) is an important intermediate for the CMM preparation, and the drying process is a key link in the pharmaceutical process of CMM and has a direct impact on the quality of the drug. The development of new drying technology is the key point of the industry technology transformation and upgrading about traditional Chinese medicine manufacturing, and plays an important role in the process of modernization of CMM. In this paper through the literature research statistical analysis, the current research situation of the CMME common drying methods were reviewed, the characteristics and adapt scope of commonly used extract drying technology were analyzed and summarized, some of the problems which exist in the promotion of the CMME drying technology were discussed and the corresponding countermeasures were put forward. Then, the suitable drying technology for different CMMEs were summarized. Finally, the paper illustrates the drying CMME development trend in China. This paper provides a useful reference for the research and development applied to medicine extract efficient drying techniques, and provides new ideas for the optimization and upgrading of related equipment.

Astragalus adsurgens seed is one of the most common adulterants of Astragali Complanati Semen in the market, whose morphological characteristics are very similar with A. complanatus seeds (Astragali Complanati Semen). Many identification methods have been reported, such as morphological identification, fluorescence method, ultraviolet spectrophotometry, TLC, HPLC, protein electrophoresis and so on, but there's no much about microscopic identification. In the present study, the morphological characteristics and microscopic characteristics of these two seeds were investigated, which could provide scientific evidence for the identification and classification of Astragali Complanati Semen. Our results showed that these two seeds were slightly different in the color and the appearance, but significantly different in the microstructure of the seed coat and the hilum, and the distribution of fat droplets in the cotyledon cells. So these microscopic characteristics can be applied for the identification of Astragali Complanati Semen.
Astragalus Plant ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Color ; Discriminant Analysis ; Microscopy ; methods ; Quality Control ; Seeds ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry