It was found that the inhabitants in Cangshan County, Shandong Province usually take fresh garlic as daily food, e.g. in Shenshan People's Commune each person takes about 20 grams of fresh garlic every day. The mortality from gastric cancer for the inhabitants in Cangshan was found to be significantly lower than that in Qixia County where the inhabitants rarely take garlic. It was also found that the nitrite concentration in gastric juice of the inhabitants in Cangshan was significantly lower than that in Qixia. The reduction rate (%) of nitrite concentration in gastric juice after the introduction of 10 grams of fresh garlic in the form of homogenate was significantly larger than that of control test (p

This paper reported that the nitrite concentration, pH value, total living bacteria and the percentage of nitrate-reducing bacterium strains in the gastric juice of the residents in Cangshan county who usually take garlic were significantly less than those in Qixia county who rarely take garlic. It was also shown that garlic homogenate, ethyl ethanethiosulfonate (an active principle of garlic) all could inhibit the growth of nitrate-reducing bacteria and their production of nitrite in vitro. This may be considered as a protective factor against gastric cancer.

Objective To know water quality of different sectors of Yangtse River after the Three Gorges reservoir kept 135 m water level. Methods Eight locations in six cities sectors(Fengdu,Wushan) of Yangtse River were selected as the monitor point and water samples were collected according to the related national standard (GB12997,1991). 96 samples were collected in May and August, 16 parameters (pH, DO, BOD5, CODCr, Ar,OH, TCN,As, Hg, Cr6+, oil, Pb, Cd, NH3,N, TP, TN, CODMn) of every sample were detected based on the methods documented in the related national standards and compared the results with the results of past years. Results 135 m water level had no significant influence on the water quality of different sectors of Yangtse River(II, III grade). Water quality had no significant change before and after 135 m water level emerged the primary contaminations which effect water quality were total nitrogen and total phosphors. Conclusion No significant change of water quality of Yangtse River has been seen after the Three Gorges reservoir kept 135 m water level.

Geographic distribution of Polyporus umbellatus was predicted by using distribution records. Based on 42 distribution records from 12 provinces and bioclimatic data (1950-2000), georaphic distribution of P. umbellatus was modeled using Maxent. The results showed thatthe Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis method was used to assess the accuracy of MAXENT model and the area under ROC curve (AUC) value of MAXENT was 0. 960 which suggested that the result of assessment was dependable. The geographic distribution pattern of were divided into three distribution block based on distribution values of 0.5-0.8: small area of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning and Hebei province, the board area of Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan, the southeast area of Tibet and the most area of Shanxi and Shannxi, the southeast board area of Shannxi, Gansu and Ningxia. Jackknife Test showed that average precipitation in warm seasons had the greatest contribution to the distribution gain of P. umbellatus, followed by mean temperature of driest quarter and annual mean temperature. The object suggests the potential distribution areasof P. umbellatus which is useful for the habitat conservation and introduction of P. umbellatus.
China ; Ecosystem ; Entropy ; Polyporus ; growth & development

This study was conducted to investigate the physicochemical properties of Polyporus umbellatus sclerotial exudate. Morphological characteristics of the sclerotia and its exudate were observed during different stages of sclerotial formation. The pH of the exudate was detected at different time during cultivation. A phenol-sulfuric acid method was employed to determine the polysaccharide content of P. umbellatus sclerotial exudate during cultivating time. Additionally, the protein content was measured by means of BCA protein assay. Furthermore, CAT content was detected using ultraviolet absorption method. That the protein content of the exudate and CAT specific activity rose gradually during the passage of the cultivating time indicated a high level of oxidative stress during P. umbellatus sclerotial exudate formation. The results showed that the pH of the exudate increased gradually and then dropped down during sclerotial formation. That the pH of the exudate maintained the acidity state during the cultivation indirectly indicated that acidic environment would help sclerotial formation. The exudate produced gradually and was absorbed by the sclerotia itself.
Culture Media ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Fungal Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Fungi ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Oxidative Stress ; Polyporus ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; metabolism

Antibodies, Antiphospholipid ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome ; diagnosis ; immunology ; therapy ; Child ; Humans

Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Hiccup ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of pravastatin on serum levels of interleukin-6(IL-6) and tu- mor necrosis faetor-α(TNF-α) in patients with acute coronary syndromes(ACS). Methods50 patients with ACSwere randomly divided into pravastatin group( n = 25) and routine therapy group( n = 25). Serum TNF-α and IL-6levels were measured before and four weeks after the two treatment options respectively. ResultsThe level of TNF- α and IL-6 were higher than routine therapy group before therapy(P < 0.01 ). The level of TNF-α and IL-6 weredecreased significantly after pravastatin therapy,and higher thancontrols(P < 0.05). The levels of TNF-α and IL-6changed only slightly after the routine therapy(P > 0.05). ConclusionThe level of TNF-α and IL-6 becominghigher in ACS patients may be related to the pathogenesis of ACS. Pravastatin can reduce serum level of TNF-α and IL-6 contributing to treatment of ACS.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in many epithelial cancers,and is commonly caused by EGFR gene amplification and gene mutations. The most frequently occurring variant,the type III mutation (EGFRvIII) ,is characterized by an inframe deletion of exons 2-7 of the coding sequence. It is expressed only in tumors and not found in normal tissues, and therefore represents an attractive therapeutic target. The tumor therapy methods targeted for EGFRvIII include immu-notherapy, ribozyme, RNA interference, etc.