Objective To explore the method for simultaneous determination of arsenic and mercury in drinking water. Methods Atomic fluorescence spectrometry was applied for simultaneous determination of arsenic and mercury in drinking water. The best working conditions of the determination, such as the height of flame of atomizer, current of hollow cathode lamp, reducer, acidity and required amount of NaBH 4 were defined in this assay. Results The determination range of arsenic, the correlation coefficient and detection limit for arsenic were 0～40 ng/ml,0 999 5 and 0 10 ng/ml respectively, and were 0～80 ng/ml, 0 999 3 and 0 02 ng/ml for mercury respectively. The precisions and recovery rates of the simultaneous determination of arsenic and mercury in drinking water were 0 94%～5 61% and 94%～110%. Conclusion This method with advantages such as simple, rapid, sensitive, high accuracy and less interference, was suitable for simultaneous determination of arsenic and mercury in drinking water.

Objective To compare the difference in cardiac injuries between asphyxia and ventricular fibrillation modes in different periods after cardiac arrest (CA).Methods The model was established in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Lab,Sun Yat-sen University.A total of 35 male SD rats were used to produce the asphyxia or ventricular fibrillation (VF) cardiac arrest models randomly.Both of the two modes were induced 8 minutes cardiac arrest.The myocardial HE stains,mitochondrial respiratory control ratio (RCR),and echocardiography were observed at 4 h,24 h and 72 h after ROSC (restoration of spontaneous circulation).The results were expressed as (-x ± s),t test was performed to compare between two groups,and one way analysis of variance was used to compare multiple groups.P ＜ 0.05 was considered as significant difference.Results HE stains showed damages were more serious in the VF mode than in asphyxia mode at 4 h,and both of them had a disorderly-arranged myocardium at 72 h.RCR in VF mode became worse at 4 h,and RCR resumed at 24 h in both modes without significant difference compared with the sham operated rats.The echocardiography showed VF mode had a lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) than asphyxia mode at 4 h (29.68％ vs.42.16％,P =0.03),and there was no difference in LVEF between VF mode and the sham operated rats at 24 h,however no difference in LVEF between the asphyxia and sham operated rats at 72 h.Both of them had a thicker left ventricular anterior wall than the sham operated rats at 72 h (2.41 mm vs.1.72 mm,P=0.013; 2.61 mmvs.1.72 mm,P=0.007),and there was no significant difference between them.Conclusions The ventricular fibrillation mode has a more severe injuries in early period,but it recovers sooner than asphyxia one.Both of two groups get compensatory left ventricular hypertrophy in later period of ROSC.

Colloidal lanthanum as a marker exists in extracellular space and does not crossthe intact plasma membrane in normal condition.Consequently,it may be used todemonstrate the change of plasma membrane permeability at cellular level.Theabdominal aorta was constricted in 33 rats for 10 days,so as to establish a modelof myocardial hypertrophy.The outer and inner layers of left ventricle wall of theheart were removed and fixed immediately in 2% glutaraldehyde and 0.1 M cacody-late buffer(pH 7.4)containing 1% La(NO_3)_3 for 3 hours.In normal control tissuethe lanthanum tracer was confined to the extracellular space,basement membraneand intercalated disc.In inner layer of left ventricular wall of the experimental group,the lanthanum was deposited on the outer membrane of the mitochondria.In somemyocytes of the outer layer of left ventricular wall,their structure appearedmorphologically normal,but intracellular lanthanum appeared.Thus lanthanum canbe used as a sensitive indicator of membrane permeability in early stage of themyocardial hypertrophy.

Objective: To explore the effects of Cordyceps extract in regulating the imbalance of Th1/Th2 ratio and inhibiting the inflammatory reaction, and to find the theoretical basis of Cordyceps extract for treating asthma in remission stage. Methods: A total of 20 peripheral venous blood samples (3 mL) were collected from 20 asthmatic children during remission stage, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were separated by Ficoll method. PBMCs were separated into three groups (blank group, low-dose group and high-dose group). The PBMCs were incubated in vitro for 48 hours in the absence (blank group) or presence (low-dose group and high-dose group) of Cordyceps extract at different concentrations (10, 20 mug/mL). The expressions of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10, T-box expressed in T cells (T-bet), GATA-binding protein-3 (GATA-3) and forkhead/winged-helix transcription factor-3 (Foxp3) mRNAs in PBMCs were measured by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and the contents of IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 in supernatants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The expressions of IFN-gamma mRNA showed no significant differences among the three groups. The expressions of the IL-4 mRNA in the high-dose group and the low-dose group were lower than that in the blank group (P=0.014, P=0.011). The expression of IL-10 mRNA in the high-dose group was higher than that in the blank group (P=0.034). And the differences of the IFN-gamma mRNA/IL-4 mRNA ratio presented no statistic significance among the three groups. The level of IL-4 content in the high-dose group was lower than that in the blank group (P=0.018), but the level of IL-10 content, and ratio of IFN-gamma/IL-4 in the high-dose group were higher than those in the blank group (P=0.011, P=0.045). The differences of the IFN-gamma presented no statistic significance among the three groups. The T-bet/GATA-3 ratio and Foxp3 mRNA expression in the high-dose group were higher than those in the blank group (P=0.001, P=0.015). There was significant difference in expression of GATA-3 mRNA between the high-dose group and the blank group (P=0.028), and between the low-dose group and the blank group (P=0.019). The expression differences of T-bet mRNA were insignificant between any two groups. Conclusion: Cordyceps extract can inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of Th2 cells and reduce the expression of related cytokines by down-regulating the expression of GATA-3 mRNA and up-regulating the expression of Foxp3 mRNA in PBMCs. Meanwhile, it can alleviate the chronic allergic inflammation by increasing the content of IL-10.

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRHa) on improvement of predicted adult height (PAH) in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) initiating treatment at age of eight years or over and analyze its related factors.Methods Forty-nine girls with ICPP aged eight years and over were treated with GnRHa for ( 17.4 ±5.6) months initiating at age of (9.3 ± 0.6) years during 2005 and 2008.They were followed-up every three to six months to evaluate its effects on growth velocity (GV), height standard deviation score for chronological age (HtSDS-CA), height SDS for bone age (HtSDS-BA), PAH, and so on, as well as their related factors.Results PAH increased after GnRHa treatment, from ( 157.7 ± 4.5) cm six months after treatment to ( 159.2 ±4.4) cm 12 months after treatment, and to ( 160.8 ±5.0) cm by the end of treatment from ( 155.5 ±5.1 ) cm at its initiation (P ＜0.01 ).There was significant difference in PAH by the end of treatment and target height (TH) [( 157.6 ±3.4) cm].HtSDS-BA increased since six months after GnRHa treatment, from ( -0.64 ±0.68) six months to ( -0.52 ±0.70) 12 months after it and ( -0.36 ±0.68)by the its end, all significantly different from ( - 0.94 ± 0.68 ) that at the initiation of treatment ( P ＜0.01 ).There was no significant difference in HtSDS-CA before and after treatment.GV decreased from the initiation (6.3 ± 1.3) cm/yr to (4.8 ± 1.5) cm/yr by the end of treatment ( P ＜ 0.01 ).No significant association between PAH and age of the initiation of treatment and between PAH and age by the end of treatment were found (P ＞ 0.05 ).But, PAH reversely correlated with bone age, and positively correlated with HtSDS-CA, HtSDS-BA, GV, TH and length of treatment ( P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions GnRHa can remarkably improves PAH in girl with ICPP.PAH mainly correlates with HtSDS-BA, TH and GV at the initiation and the end of treatment.

[ABSTRACT]AIM:Toexploretheroleofkisspeptin/GPR54signalingpathwayinthepathogenesisofprecocious puberty based on female precocious puberty rat model induced by the single dose of danazol .METHODS:Female SD rats aged 3 d were randomly divided into normal group , vehicle group and model group .On the 5th day, the model rats were given a single subcutaneous injection of danazol with ethanol and ethylene glycol mixture .All rats were executed on 15 d, 25 d, 30 d, 35 d and 40 d, and the samples were collected to observe the sexual organ development .The levels of E2 , FSH and LH in peripheral blood were measured by ELISA .The Kiss-1 mRNA expression of Kiss-1, GPR54 and GnRH in hypothalamus was detected by real-time PCR.The kisspeptin expression in rat hypothalamus was observed by immunofluo-rescence .RESULTS:The time for puberty onset and sexual maturation in the model rats was significantly earlier than that in normal group and vehicle group .On days 25 and 30, the levels of peripheral sex hormones and uterine coefficients in model group were significantly higher than those in normal group and vehicle group .On days 25 and 30, the ovarian mor-phological development in the model rats was significantly earlier than that in normal group .On day 25, the mRNA expres-sion of hypothalamic Kiss-1 and GnRH, and kisspeptin expression of hypothalamic arcuate nucleus in the model rats signifi -cantly increased compared with normal group and vehicle group .On day 30, kisspeptin expression of hypothalamic arcuate nucleus in the model rats decreased compared with normal group and vehicle group .On day 35, the mRNA expression of Kiss-1 and GnRH in the model rats decreased compared with normal group and vehicle group .The mRNA expression of GPR54 had no obvious difference among all groups .CONCLUSION:The Kiss-1 mRNA and kisspeptin expression in the model rats with precocious puberty is significantly increased in the hypothalamus during onset of puberty , suggesting that kisspeptin is an initiating factor for precocious puberty .Kisspeptin/GPR54 signaling pathway may play an important role in the occurrence of precocious puberty .

Objective:To explore the mechanism of Trametes Robinioplila on regulating the imbalance of Th1 and Th2 ratio in gene and protein level,and to find the theoretical basis of the fungus for treating asthma in remission stage.Methods:The PBMC from asthmatic children were divided into three groups(blank group,middle-dose group,large-dose group),and then treated respectively with Trametes Robinioplila(0g/L,3g/L,6g/L) and culture medium for 48 hours respectively.The expression of IL-4 and IFN-? mRNA in cellular precipitation were measured,and the expression of IL-4 and IFN-? in supernatant were measured too.Results:After PBMC cultured with Trametes Robinioplila for 48 hours,the expressions of IL-4 mRNA,IFN-?,IFN-?/IL-4 mRNA ratios and IFN-?/IL-4 ratios were significantly different(P0.05) between large-dose group and middle-dose group.Conclusion:Trametes Robinioplila markedly increased the expression of IFN-? and decreased the expression of IL-4 mRNA,then regulated the imbalance of IFN-?/IL-4 and Thl/Th2 ratios in asthmatic children in remission stage.

Objective To investigate the effects of Tangshen Formula on liver oxidative stress in diabetic rats, and their mechanisms thereof.Methods Rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was estab?lished by intraperitoneally injecting small dose of chain urea with cephalosporins (STZ) and feeding high fat fodder . The model rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, Tangshen Formula group and metformin group.The se?rum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHO), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase(CAT), vitamin E(VE), nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in liver were compared between four groups. Changes of pathological morphology were ob?served under light microscopy. Results There were significantly decrease in serum levels of ALT, AST, TG, CHO, LDL-C in Tangshen Formula group and metformin group compared with those of model group. There were significantly higher levels of SOD, CAT and VE, and lower levels of NO and NOS of liver homogenate in Tangshen Formula group than those of model group. There were higher levels of SOD and CAT, and lower levels of NO and NOS in liver homogenate in metformin group than those of model group. HE staining showed that liver fatty degeneration was significantly reduced in metformin group and Tangshen Formula group compared with that of model group. Conclusion The fatty liver in type 2 diabetic rats is signifi?cantly improved by Tangshen Formula treatment, which is probably associated with the regulation of the response level to oxi?dative stress in liver.

Objective:To investigate the symptoms and symptom clusters of elderly stroke patients in the acute phase, analyze the factors influencing the symptom clusters and to provide a basis for the implementation of targeted symptom management in elderly stroke patients.Methods:Convenience sampling method was used to select 257 acute-phase elderly stroke patients who attended Fenyang Hospital in Shanxi Province from October 2022 to January 2023, and a cross-sectional survey was conducted by the General Information Questionnaire, Memory Symptom Evaluation Inventory, Modified Barthel Index Scale (MBI), and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and the symptom clusters were extracted by means of exploratory factor analysis, and the factors influencing symptom clusters were explored by means of binary logistic regression analysis.Results:Of the 257 patients, 138 were male and 119 were female, aged 60 to 90 (70.34 ± 6.94) years old. Factor analysis yielded four symptom clusters, which were named oral-intestinal symptom cluster, negative emotional symptom cluster, fatigue symptom cluster, and perceptual symptom cluster according to the symptom characteristics; regression analysis showed that: stroke site and NIHSS scores were the influencing factors of the oral-intestinal symptom cluster (all P<0.05); per capita monthly family income, number of episodes and MBI scores were the influencing factors of the negative emotional symptom cluster (all P<0.05); number of chronic diseases, type of stroke, and gender were the influencing factors of the fatigue emotional symptom cluster (all P<0.05); and literacy and stroke site were influencing factors of the perception symptom cluster (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Elderly stroke patients in the acute phase of the existence of more symptoms, symptoms interact with each other to form symptom clusters, health care personnel should be symptom clusters as a unit, the implementation of interventions for their influencing factors, effective symptom management, in order to improve the quality of life of patients.

Objective:To investigate the effect of Notch on periprosthetic fracture (PPF) of the femoral prosthesis after primary total knee arthroplasty.Methods:A total of 34 patients diagnosed with femoral PPF at Xi'an Honghui Hospital were retrospectively collected from January 2013 to December 2020. There were 4 males and 30 females with a mean age of 69.2±7.2 years (range, 55-84 years). A total of 102 patients without PPF were matched by gender and age as the control group in a ratio of 1∶3. There were 12 males and 90 females with a mean age of 69.2±7.2 years (range, 55-84 years). The main observation indexes included patients' general information and factors such as coronal alignment, prosthesis design and Notch conditions. Then, subgroup analysis was performed with the depth and Tayside classification of Notch to analyze their effects on PPF.Results:The PPF and control groups were comparable in terms of baseline information such as gender, age, body mass index (BMI), and surgical side. There was no significant difference between the two groups in coronal alignment (χ 2=1.019, P=0.601) and prosthesis design (χ 2=1.545, P=0.214). There was no statistical difference in Notch between the PPF and control groups (χ 2=3.548, P=0.060). The mean length of Notch in the PPF group was 4.5±2.7 mm, compared with 4.9±2.8 mm in the control group, with no significant difference between the two groups ( t=0.732, P=0.465). Further subgroup analysis using a Notch depth of 3 mm as a cut-off and Tayside classification revealed a statistical difference between the two groups (χ 2=11.262, P=0.004; χ 2=14.601, P=0.003). Compared with patients without Notch, the risk of PPF was higher when the depth of Notch exceeded 3 mm, with an odds ratio ( OR) of 4.88 (95% CI: 1.76, 13.51). The incidence of PPF was higher when Notch depth reached Tayside grade 3 or 4. Compared with patients without Notch, the risk of PPF would be 6.99-fold (95% CI: 1.85, 26.32) higher when Notch depth reached grade 3. In female patients, there was a significant difference in Notch status between the PPF and control groups (χ 2=3.956, P=0.047), with a higher risk of PPF in female patients with Notch, OR 2.33 (95% CI: 1.01, 5.43). In patients who underwent right-sided TKA, the risk of PPF was higher in patients with Notch compared to those without Notch (χ 2=5.502, P=0.019), with an OR of 3.58 (95% CI: 1.19, 10.75). Conclusion:The Notch has no significant effect on the femoral PPF after primary total knee arthroplasty. However, the risk of PPF will increase significantly when the Notch depth exceeds 3 mm or is above Tayside grade 3.