BACKGROUND: Bone mineral content(BMC) can be determined by many methods, which are different in detecting position, clinical significance and differentiation between normal group and people with osteoporosis.OBJECTIVE: To establish a normal BMC standard by observing lumbar BMC with quantitative computerized tomography(QCT) measurement in Shenzhen women, so as to provide basis for clinical prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in the region.DESIGN: Randomized controlled, observational and comparative study taking normal women as subjects.SETTING: Medical imaging department of a hospital at district level.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 120 women aged 30 to 69 years, who received physical examination in the Central Hospital of Longgang district in Shenzhen from September 2000 to March 2002, were enrolled in this study. They were divided into four groups: 30 - 39 age group, 40 - 49 age group, 50 - 59 age group and 60 - 69 age group with 30 in each.METHODS: Trabecular and cortical BMC of lumber bodies(L1-3) were measured with QCT software so as to establish a standard of normal BMC in Shenzhen women and compare it with that of other regions.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The mean BMC in Shenzhen women, and comparison with that of other regions at home and abroad.RESULTS: The results of QCT showed linear correlation between BMC and bone ash weight, which could be expressed by the following linear regression equation: ash weight =0. 92432 × BMC + 39. 0633. Lumbar BMC loss increased with age in Shenzhen perimenopausal women. The annual loss of spongy bone and compact bones was 1.38% and 0. 84%, respectively. BMC of women aged 50 to 59 years was[ (135.31 ± 18.36) mg/cm3], obviously higher than that of women in Changchun city, Beijing city and the United States [(120.21 ±37.40), (116.7 ±26.6), and(119.5 ±27.1) mg/cm3]( t = 2. 002, 3. 383, 3. 636, P ＜ 0.05 - 0. 01 ) . Moreover, BMC of women aged 30 to 39 years was also obviously higher than that of corresponding American women( t = 3.119, P ＜ 0.01 ). No significant difference was found in BMC among women of the other age groups in these regions( P ＞ 0. 05).CONCLUSION: This is the first time in our country to establish a standard of normal BMC in perimenopausal women with QCT measurement, which provides basis for early prevention and treatment of osteoporosis as well as evaluation of prognosis and fracture risk.

The association of selective vagotomy and antrectomy for the treatment of duodenal ulcer is considered as the best procedure to prevent ulcer recurrenceut it brings about too many operative sequelae.The authors of this paper used highly selective vagotomy in association with antrum mocosa resection to treat duodenal ulcer and the effects on gastric acid level and serum level of gastrin were compared with those after selective vagotomy and antrectomy.It was found that the reduction of gastric acid and the changes of serum gastrin were similar after the 2 operative procedures.It is believed that the association of highly selective vagotomy and antrum mocosa resection is the better operative treatment for duodenal ulcer than the association of selective vagotomy and antrectomy since the former can both reduce the number of postoperative sequelae and preserve the functions of the pylorus and the antrum.

Column chromatography on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, semi-preparative HPLC were used to separate and purify the compounds from the petroleum ether and ethanol extract of Chinese eaglewood. Nine compounds were isolated. On the basis of their spectroscopic data, their structures were identified as dehydroabietic acid (1), methyl dehydroabietate (2), methyl 7-oxodehydroabietate (3), 7alpha, 15-dihydroxydehydroabietic acid (4), 7alpha-hydroxypodocarpen-8(14)-en-13-on-18-oic acid (5), pimaric acid (6), pimarol (7), 18-norpimara-8 (14), and 15-dien-4alpha-ol (8), 18-norisopimara-8 (14), 15-dien-4beta-ol (9). All of the compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time, and compounds 5, 8 and 9 are norditerpenoids.
Diterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Thymelaeaceae ; chemistry

The column chromatography on silica gel, semi-preparative HPLC were used to separate and purify the compounds from the petroleum ether and ethanol extract of Aquilaria sinensis. Nine compounds were isolated. On the basis of their spectroscopic data, the structures were identified as 3, 3, 7-trimethyltricycloundecan-8-one (1), longifolene (2), norlongilactone (3), caryophyllenol-II (4), humulene diepoxide A (5), kobusone (6), (-)-bornyl ferulate (7), (24R) -24-ethylcholesta-4, 22-dien-3-one (8), (24R)-24-3-ono-4-en-sitosterone (9). Compounds 2-9 were isolated from this plant for the first time. compounds 1-6 are sesquiterpenes, compound 7 is a monoterpene derivative, compound 8 and 9 are steroids.
Chromatography ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Monoterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sesquiterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Thymelaeaceae ; chemistry

Objective To compare the effects of gastric gavage and intramuscular injection of prednisone on the bone mineral density, skeletal biomechanical properties and bone metabolism in rats.Methods A total of 45 SPF rats were randomly divided into three groups:normal group, intragastric administration group, and intramuscular injection group.The normal group, as a control group, was administrated with normal saline 2 mL per day, both the intragastric administration group and i.m.injec-tion group received prednisone 0.5 mg/(kg.d) for 12 weeks.All rats were examined for bone mineral density (BMD) and the level of serum β-CTX and PINP.The femoral cortical biomechanical properties ( elastic load, maximal load, rupturing load) were measured by three point bending test.Results After 12 weeks, compared with the normal group, BMD and elastic load, maximal load, and rupturing load of the femur were significantly decreased.Compared with the intragastric gavage group, BMD was significantly decreased, while the elastic load, maximal load, and rupturing load of the femur were not significantly changed in the i.m.injection group (P＜0.05 for all).Compared with the normal group, the level of serum β-CTX was significantly raised (P＜0.05) and the level of serum PINP was significantly decreased (P＜0.05).Compared with the intragastric gavage group, the level of serumβ-CTX was also significantly raised (P＜0.05), the level of serum PINP was significantly decreased (P＜0.05), the bone trabecula and hemopoietic tissue were obviously decreased, while the adipose tissue increased obviously. Conclusions Both intragastric gavage and intramuscular injection of prednisone affect the level of BMD, skeletal biomechanical properties and bone metabolism.However, i.m.injection of prednisone decreases the BMD and bone strength more significantly, leading to a higher bone turnover with increased bone resorption, and leads to osteoporosis earlier.Our results may suggest that oral administration of prednisone is more safe in clinical treatment.

As the most commonly used antipyretic and analgesic drug,paracetamol(PA)coexists with neuro-transmitter dopamine(DA)in real biological samples.Their simultaneous determination is extremely important for human health,but they also interfere with each other.In order to improve the conductivity,adsorption affinity,sensitivity,and selectivity of TiO2-based electrochemical sensor,N-doped carbon@-TiO2 double-shelled hollow sphere(H-C/N@TiO2)is designed and synthesized by simple alcoholic and hydrothermal method,using polystyrene sphere(PS)as a template.Meanwhile,TiO2 hollow spheres(H-TiO2)or N-doped carbon hollow spheres(H-C/N)are also prepared by the same method.H-C/N@TiO2 has good conductivity,charge separation,and the highly enhanced and stable current responses for the detection of PA and DA.The detection limit and linear range are 50.0 nmol/L and 0.3-50 μmol/L for PA,40.0 nmol/L and 0.3-50 μmol/L for DA,respectively,which are better than those of carbon-based sen-sors.Moreover,this electrochemical sensor,with high selectivity,strong anti-interference,high reli-ability,and long time durability,can be used for the simultaneous detection of PA and DA in human blood serum and saliva.The high electrochemical performance of H-C/N@TiO2 is attributed to the multi-functional combination of different layers,because of good conductivity,absorption and electrons transfer ability from in-situ N-doped carbon and electrocatalytic activity from TiO2.

The column chromatography on silica gel, sephadex LH-20 preparative HPLC were used to separate and purify the compounds from the stems of Dendrobium candidum. Twenty compounds were isolated and identified as 3,4'-dihydroxy-5-methoxybibenzyl(1), dihydroresveratrol(2), dendromoniliside E(3), denbinobin(4),2,4,7-trihydroxy-9, 10-dihydrophenanthrene(5), aduncin(6), (-)-loliolide(7), adenosine(8), uridine(9), guanosine(10), sucrose(11), 5-hydroxymethyl-furaldehyde(12), n-octacostyl ferulate(13), defuscin(14), n-triacontyl cis-p-coumarate(15), daucosterol(16), beta-sitosterol(17), hexadecanoic acid(18), hentriacontane(19), and heptadecanoic acid(20). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and physicochemical properties. All of the compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Dendrobium ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Objective To explore the expression pattern of Micall2a gene during the early development of zebrafish embryos and the effect of this gene on zebrafish vascular development.MethodsWhole embryo in situ hybridization was used to detect Micall2a expression levels at different stages of early embryo development of Tg (fli:GFP) transgenic (labeled with green fluorescent protein) and wild type zebrafish (AB). Micall2a gene expression was downregulated by microinjection of a morpholine antisense oligonucleotide, and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to detect mRNA expression of the gene at different developmental stages of zebrafish embryos. Laser confocal microscopy was used to observe and analyze vascular phenotypic changes in zebrafish after the downregulation of Micall2a. ResultsMicall2a was expressed in the brain, heart, and vascular system of zebrafish embryos at the 24th, 36th, and 48th hours post fertilization. The mRNA level of Micall2a increased after microinjection of morpholine antisense oligonucleotides, inhibiting vascular development in zebrafish embryos, resulting in internode angiogenesis defects in zebrafish. ConclusionDownregulation of Micall2a expression inhibits the development of blood vessels in zebrafish.