Objective The antioxidative activities of extracts from Undaria pinnatifida in vitrowere tested. Methods Using the assay system of peroxide value (POV), diphenyl picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), the antioxidative activities of various extracts were studied and comparedwith VE and VC. Results Different extracts from Undaria pinnatifida showed antioxidativeactivities, and petroleum ether extract showed the highest free radical scavenging efficiency.Conclusion petroleum ether extract has stronger antioxidative effect than others.

Objective Bioactive components were extracted from Sargassum fusiforme by using different solvents and their activities were detected in vitro in order to screen potential free radical scavenger.Methods Using the assay system of DPPH,superoxide radical,and in comparison with vitamin C,tea polyphenols and a series of extracts of sea tangle,laver.Results Different solvents had different extraction rates,and extracts by different solvents had different free radical scavenging activities.Conclusion 0.5%Na2CO3 solution had the highest extraction rate and extracts by this solution had the best scavenging ability as well.At the same time,the results obtained by DPPH detection method were more stable than those by the others.

Objective To investigate the antitumor effect of Haishengsu injection extracted from marine shellfish. Methods Transplant tumor models of sarcoma 180 (S 180), Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC), and hepatoma (Heps) in mice were established. Different doses of Haishengsu injection were given to the mice and the tumor inhibition rates of Haishengsu injection, life span of the mice were calculated. Results The tumor inhibition rates of haishengsu injection (490～1000mg?kg -1?d -1,iv) were 41.10%～49.08% in mice with S 180 and 36.29%～49.19% in mice with hepatoma,respectively. The same doses of Haishengsu injection prolonged the life spans of EAC-bearing mice by 22.93%～69.98%. Conclusion The haishengsu injection has the antitumor effects on the tumor-bearing mice without evident side effects.

Objective To study the radioprotective effect of polypeptide from Chlamys farreri (PCF) on ultraviolet B(UVB)-irradiated murine thmocytes in vitro. Methods The murine thymocytes were exposed to UVB radiation. MTT method was used to detect the cell viability. The activities of intracellular glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxided dismutase(SOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the effect of PCF on UVB-induced apoptosis were investigated by flow cytometry. Results PCF could greatly enhance the viability of murine thymocyte and markedly promote the activities of GSH-Px, SOD and CAT, while the amount of ROS was decreased. PCF could inhibit UVB-induced thymocyte apoptosis. Conclusion PCF has significant radioprotective effects on UVB-irradiated murine thymocytes in vitro.

Objective To investigate the antioxidative effect of polypeptide from Chlamys farreri (PCF) on HaCaT cells damaged by ultraviolet B (UVB). Methods HaCaT cells model established by UVB irradiation were randomly divided into seven groups. After pretreatment with different concentrations of PCF for 1 h, the cells were irradiated by UVB at a dose of 30mJ/cm~ 2, and followed further incubatiou for 18 h. Enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) were determined by biochemical methods. Total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also determined. Results PCF could enhance the activities of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT; increased T-AOC and inhibited MDA formation. Conclusion These results indicated that PCF exhibited protective effects on HaCaT cells irradiated by UVB owing to its antioxidative action.

OBJECTIVETo identify valid measures for preventing outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) among protected healthcare workers in isolation units.

METHODSArchitectural factors, admitted SARS cases and infection of healthcare workers in different isolation wards between January 30 and March 30, 2003 were analyzed.

RESULTSFour types of isolation wards were analyzed, including the ward where the thirty-first bed was located on the twelfth floor, the laminar flow ward in the Intensive Care Unit where the tenth bed was located on the fifteenth floor, the ward where the twenty-seventh bed was located on the thirteenth floor of the Lingnan Building, and thirty wards on the fourteenth to eighteenth floors of the Zhongshan Building. The ratios (m(2)/m(3)) of the area of the ventilation windows to the volume of the rooms were 0, 0, 1:95 and 1:40, respectively. Numbers of SARS cases in the wards mentioned above were 1, 1, 1 and 96, respectively. Total times of hospitalization were 43, 168, 110 and 1272 hours, respectively. The infection rates of the healthcare workers in the areas mentioned above were 73.2%, 32.1%, 27.5% and 1.7%, respectively. The difference in the infection rates was of statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONSIsolating SARS cases in wards with good ventilation could reduce the viral load of the ward and might be the key to preventing outbreaks of SARS among healthcare workers along with strict personal protection measures in isolation units.

Adult ; Disease Outbreaks ; prevention & control ; Facility Design and Construction ; Female ; Hospital Units ; Humans ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Isolation ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; prevention & control ; Ventilation

OBJECTIVETo describe a hospital outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and summarize its clinical features and therapeutic approaches.

METHODSThe outbreak started with a SARS patient from the community, and a total of 96 people (76 women and 20 men, mean age (29.5 +/- 10.3) years, 93.8% of whom were health care workers) who had exposure to this source patient became infected in a short time. Clinical data in this cohort were collected prospectively as they were identified.

RESULTS(1) The incubation period ranged from 1 to 20 (mean: 5.9 +/- 3.5) days. The duration of hospitalization was (17.2 +/- 8.0) days. (2) The initial temperature was (38.3 +/- 0.6) degrees C, while the highest was (39.2 +/- 0.6) degrees C (P < 0.001), with fever duration of (9.0 +/- 4.2) days. (3) Other most common symptoms included fatigue (93.8%), cough (85.4%), mild sputum production (66.7%), chills (55.2%), headache (39.6%), general malaise (35.4%) and myalgia (21.9%). (4) The radiographic changes were predominantly bilateral in the middle or lower lung zones. The number of affected lung fields was 1.2 +/- 0.8 on presentation, which increased to 2.9 +/- 1.4 after admission (P < 0.001). The interval from the beginning of fever to the onset of abnormal chest radiographs was (3.5 +/- 2.3) days, which increased in size, extent, and severity to the maximum (6.7 +/- 3.5) days later. The time before the lung opacities were basically absorbed was (14.9 +/- 7.8) days. (5) Leukopenia was observed in 67.7% of this cohort. The time between the onset of fever and leukopenia was (4.4 +/- 2.3) days, with the lowest white blood cell count of (2.80 +/- 0.72) x 10(9)/L. (6) The lowest arterial oxygen saturation was (94.8 +/- 3.1)% with supplementary oxygen. (7) Antibiotical therapies included tetracyclines (91.0%), aminoglycosides (83.3%), quinolones (79.2%); 18.8% of the patients received a combination of tetracyclines and aminoglycosides, while 11.5% received a combination of tetracyclines and quinolones, and 63.5% received a combination of tetracyclines, aminoglycosides and quinolones. Vancomycin was used in 13.5% of the patients. (8) 68.8% of the patients were treated with methylprednisolones for a mean interval of (4.9 +/- 2.4) days. The initial dose was (67.3 +/- 28.2) mg/d and the maximal dose was (82.4 +/- 30.5) mg/d. (9) Human gamma-globulin, interferon-alpha, antiviral drugs (oral ribavirin or oseltamivir) were used respectively in 68.6%, 46.9% and 92.7% of the patients. (10) Ninety-five patients (99.0%) had a complete clinical recovery, and only 1 patient (1.0%) died.

CONCLUSIONSSARS appears to be quickly infectious and potentially lethal among health care workers, characterized by acute onset and rapid progression, and mostly bilateral lung involvement on chest radiographs. Proper administration of glucocorticosteroids seems to be of some benefits. Antibiotics, human gamma-globulin, interferon-alpha, and antiviral drugs, although empirically, might be useful to shorten the clinical course.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross Infection ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Disease Outbreaks ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; therapy