Objective To evaluate the influence of gaseous combustion products of the natural gas (NG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and coal on the indoor air quality. Methods The three kinds of domestic fuels were burned in the designed experimental rooms and the concentrations of SO2, NO2, CO and formaldehyde in the indoor air were determined according to the standard methods at the same time, the emission characteristics of SO2, NO2, CO in these fuels were analyzed also. Results The emission level of CO was the highest in the four combustion products of all three fuels. According to the average daily usage in general families in China, the emission of CO in the coal combustion was much higher than that in combustion of NG and LPG. The unit emission of CO of the coal for house use could reach 30 136 mg/kg, much higher than LPG(8 725 mg/kg)and NG(2 755 mg/kg). The unit emissions of NO2 of LPG combustion (42.69 mg/kg) was higher than the coal and NG (20.01 mg/kg, 11.87 mg/kg), so in the unventilated rooms it could still make the indoor air quality exceed Chinese indoor air quality standard limits. Conclusion Burn of NG or LPG in the kitchen could also cause indoor air pollution.

AIM: To investigate the ethanolic and aqueous extracts from Sancao prescription (Spica prunellae, Oldenlandia diffuse (willd) Roxb, Herba agrimoniae) on the proliferation of human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549). METHODS: 95% ,60% and 30% ethanolic extract and aqueous extract were prepared from Sancao pre-scription. The MTT assay was used to determine the inhibitory action against the proliferation of A549. RESULTS: IC_(50) of 60% ethanolic extract over A549 was one of the lowest in extracts. Combination of 60% and 90% ethanolic extract showed the synergistic antitumour activity. CONCLUSION: Ethanolic extract of Sancao prescription has and effect on human hung adenocarcinoma(A549).

OBJECTIVE:To establish the method for the simultaneous determination of anticancer activity components of flavonoids from Hedyotis diffusa,i.e. quercetin,kaempferol. METHODS:HPLC was applied to determine the contents and performed on Alltima C18(250 mm?4.6 mm,5 ?m) column. Mobile phase consisted of methanol(A)-0.5% glacial acetic acid,(gradient elution). The detection wavelength was aet at 350 nm. RESULTS:The linear range of quercetin was 0.006 2～0.244 0 ?g(r=0.999 8)and that of kaempferol 0.007 8～0.310 6 ?g(r=0.999 9). The average recovery of quercetin was 101.84%(RSD=1.79%,n=6) and that of kaempferol 99.04%(RSD=2.90%,n=6). CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple,accurate and reproducible for the quality control of H. diffusa.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Ecliptae Herba extract on cigarette smoke extract-induced cytotoxicity.

METHODThe effect of Ecliptae Herba extract on CSE-induced NHBE cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay. GSH content was determined by DTNB colorimetry. GST activity was measured by CDNB colorimetric assay. NQO1 activity was detected by NADPH and DCIP. The protein expression was determined by Western blot assay.

RESULTEcliptae Herba extract reduced CSE's inhibitory effect on NHBE cells, recover the decrease in intracellular GSH caused by CSE and reduce the CSE-induced activity of GST and NQO1 and NQO1 protein expression.

CONCLUSIONEcliptae Herba extract can reduce CSE-induced injury on NHBE cells, which may be related to phase II detoxification enzymes.

Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Eclipta ; chemistry ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Smoke ; analysis ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Tobacco ; chemistry

BACKGROUND:There is no effective drug for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), because of a lack of the animal model imitating the complete pathogenesis of human IPF. Therefore, it is critical to establish an ideal animal IPF model used for investigating the underlying pathogenesis and developing a kind of effective drug. OBJECTIVE:To establish an animal model that can mimic more characters of human IPF. METHODS:Seventy male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into two groups, fol owed by subjected to the intraperitoneal injection of bleomycin (35 mg/kg) on days 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, and 25, twice (group A) or once (group B) a week. Mice were sacrificed at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks after the eighth injection, and the lung tissues were moved used for hematoxylin-eosin, Masson and immunohistochemical stainings. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There were various degrees of alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis in the two groups at different time points after the last injection. The scores of alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis in the group A began to gradual y increase from the 2nd week and reached the highest level at the 6th-8th weeks until the 10th week. In contrast, the scores of alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis in the group B peaked at the 2nd week, then fluctuately decreased, and were significantly lower than those in the group A at the 6th week (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed that type I col agen deposition was mainly distributed in the subpleural region, peri-vascular region and alveolar septa, which was consistent with Masson staining findings. The expression levels of transforming growth factorβ1 (TGF-β1) andα-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the regions developing alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis were significantly increased. In the group A, the expression levels of type I col agen, TGF-β1,α-SMA, and the hydroxyproline content in the lung tissues reached the peak level at 6-8 weeks. However, in the group B, al above indicators reached the highest level at the 2nd week, but gradual y decreased thereafter. At the 4th week, the expression Levels of TGF-β1 andα-SMA in the group B were significantly lower than those in the group A (P<0.05). At the 6th week, the hydroxyproline and type I col agen levels in the group B were significantly lower than those in the group A (P<0.05). In conclusion, the mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis induced by intraperitoneal injection of 35 mg/kg bleomycin twice weekly can be used to mimic the repetitive wound healing process, pathological morphology and cytokine changes of human IPF, which is prone to administration, with better stability and repeatability. This model is of great significance for the study on IPF. Subject headings:Disease Models, Animal;Pulmonary Fibrosis;Bleomycin

Objective To investigate the relationship between the tube voltage and radiation dose as well as image quality in adult upper airway digital radiography (DR).Methods We used CDRAD2.0 contrast details phantom and PMMA to simulate adult upper airway. With different tube voltages,the phantom was exposed using automatic exposure control system (AEC).The entrance surface dose( ESD),dose area product(DAP) and mAs in every exposures were recorded.The image quality factors(IQF) of all images were calculated. Results With tube voltage increasing,ESD,DAP,mAs decreased and IQF value enhanced.There were statistically significance ( F =45.15,26.41,29.26,56.53,P ＜ 0.05 ).ESD,DAP,mAs significantly increased with tube voltage less than 75 kV,began to decrease when tube voltage more than 75 kV,tended to be on the balance in 75 -80 kV.At the same time,the fluctuation of IQF value was no statistical difference in 50 - 75 kV of tube voltage,but was statistical significance in 75 -90 kV( F =11.35,P ＜0.05 ).So,the image quality of adult upper airway with different tube voltage had no significant difference.Conclusions The appropriate tube voltage was 75 kV to 80 kV in the upper airway DR.The IQF value can be provided as the clinical evaluation index of image quality.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of the gated blood pool imaging phase analysis method in the evaluation of left ventricular mechanical synchronization in patients with chronic heart failure. Methods A total of 169 patients with chronic heart failure were enrolled in our study , using gated blood pool imaging phase analysis method to obtain left ventricular phase angle width ( PHB) and left ventricular phase angle standard deviation ( PSD) as evaluating left ventricular mechanical synchrony index; using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) measurement of the standard deviation of systolic peak time(Ts-SD) of each segment by using the current prevailing 12 non-apical segments analysis method as evaluating left ventricular mechanical synchrony index, and parameters derived from both methods were compared. Results LVPHB was highly correlated with Ts-SD (r = 0. 83 ,P = 0. 000 ) . LVPSD was modestly correlated with Ts-SD ( r - 0. 69, P = 0. 000) . The ejection fraction measured by echocardiography was (42.93 ± 14. 89) % ,which was significantly higher than that measured by ERNA (39. 76 ± 17. 89)% (P <0. 01). Conclusions The evaluation of left ventricular mechanical synchrony in patients with chronic heart failure by the gated blood pool imaging can provide similar information with TDI, which can simultaneously measure two ventricular functions and get more accurate measurement of ejection fraction. Cardiac resynchronization therapy patients can be identified by combining two kinds of approaches, and cardiac resynchronization therapy responders could be improved as well. More patients with heart failure can benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy therapy.

Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of a customized guide plate which is designed by digital medical technology and manufactured by 3D printing in clinical percutaneous needling at the hip joint.Methods Enrolled in this study were 9 patients with hip disorder who required hip joint needling during the period from April 2015 to August 2015.They were 7 males and 2 females,21 to 53 years of age (average,42 years).Laterality:5 left sides and 4 right sides.Conditions:4 cases of traumatic arthritis and 5 cases of osteoarthritis.All of them underwent lamellar CT scans whose data were imported into the software of Mimics 10.01 for 3D reconstruction.Then the software of 3-matic was used to design a customized guide plate on the reconstructed models.Finally,3D printing was used to manufacture the guide plate.The needle angle,direction and depth were adjusted in vitro and the operation was simulated before actual needling in clinic.After percutaneous hip joint needling was performed in the 9 patients separately,the accuracy of needling was checked using C-arm fluoroscopy.Results The percutaneous hip joint needling was performed successfully in the 9 patients in whom the customized guide plate was used.The results were consistent with what had been designed on the reconstructed models.The operation time in the 9 patients averaged 417.7 s (range,from 387 s to 590 s).Little intraoperative bleeding was observed at the site of needling,fluoroscopy was applied only once for check.No neurovascular injury or other operation-related complications occurred.Conclusion For patients who need repeated percutaneous needling at the hip joint,the customized guide plate designed by us can improve accuracy and ensure safety and efficacy of needling.

BACKGROUND:It is particularly important to establish an ideal animal model of pulmonary fibrosis to investigate the underlying pathogenesis and screen effective drugs to prevent and control pulmonary fibrosis. OBJECTIVE: To establish a modified scheme of establishing mouse models that can reflect pulmonary fibrosis formation in humans. METHODS: Fifty-six male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into two groups: A (a single large-dose injection) and B (multiple smal-dose injections). Mice in group A were subjected to a single intravenous injection of bleomycin 200 mg/kgviathe tail vein; and mice in group B received intravenous injections of bleomycin 50 mg/kg via the tail vein per week, totaly for 6 weeks. 

Aim To investigate the preventive effect of Polygonum Multiflorum (PM)on the deteriorated mi-cro-structure and biomechanical properties induced by prednisone.Methods Ninety 6-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into nine groups,which were control,prednisone,CAL,30%ethanol eluent of the PM(H,M,L),PM(H,M,L). Prednisone was gavaged to rat for 21 weeks as model group of osteoporosis.Meanwhile,tested herbal ab-stract were orally administrated to the modeled rats in-duced by prednisone.At the end of the experiment, the right femur was collected for micro-CT scanning, three-dimensional reconstruction and biomechanical test.Results Compared with the control group,mod-el group showed destruction of bone microarchitecture, BV /TV fell 28.6%(P <0.05),bone biomechanical parameters decreases,and stiffness fell 29.7%(P <0.01 ). Compared with the model group, positive group had significantly improved effect on bone micro-architecture,and biomechanical parameters,BV /TV increased 46.7%(P <0.01 ),and stiffness increased 25.9%(P <0.01 ).30% ethanol eluent of the PM (M,L)dose may improve bone microstructure by in-creasing BV /TV 46.7% (P <0.01 ),40.0% (P <0.05)respectively,PM(H)may improve the biome-chanical parameters by increasing stiffness 24.7%(P<0.05),and 30% ethanol eluent of the PM(H)and PMhigh-dose may improve the biomechanical parame-ters,but not as positive group.Conclusions Predni-sone reduces biomechanical properties of rat femur and deteriorates femoral microstructure.30% ethanol eluent of the PM(M,L)and PM(H)plays a preventive role in the changes of micro-structural and biomechanical properties by prednisone,and increases BMD,whereas other groups have no significant preventive effect.