The study about using water sources in diet in community was performed at 3 provinces of Mekong Delta in January 2002. The total number of investigated households were 1639, the samples were collected by investigating 30 groups method. The investigating about major water source using diet showed that on average, about 70% (35-92%) of households used river water, 17.6% (2.0-48%) used tap water and 10.8% (0-20.8%) used rain water. 40% of points used the river water to supply water with community, far latrine-fishpond from 10m, 26% was closed cattle-breeding cage (under 10m). The river water-processing method was alum accumulation, the pasteurization rate without chloramine was nearly 80% and about 20% of households used non-boiled drinking-water. The rate of households used boring well was very low (2-4%), 10% of households entered using processed river water because they were very poor
Water ; epidemiology ; diet ; Alum Compounds ; Chloramines

A quick hemostatic effect, as well as sclerosing and shrinkage of hemorrhoids, can be attained when internal hemorrhoids are treated by using injection therapy with aluminum potassium sulfate and tannic acid (ALTA), the outcomes of treatment may be similar to those of a hemorrhoidectomy. However, if the type of hemorrhoid or the method of injection is not appropriate for ALTA treatment, complications peculiar to ALTA or recurrence may develop. Accordingly, sufficient understanding of the treatment mechanism of ALTA injection and repeated training for injection are required for effective use of the ALTA treatment.
Alum Compounds ; Aluminum ; Hemorrhoidectomy ; Hemorrhoids ; Potassium ; Recurrence ; Tannins

The ability of aluminum potassium sulfate, locally known as "tawas" to induce pleurodesis in rabbits was determined by comparing its effects to talc. Both substances were transformed into a slurry and injected into the pleural cavity in the right hemithorax. The left pleural cavity served as control. After seven days, all five rabbits from each treatment group were sacrificed and the thoraces removed en bloc. Gross examination showed comparable adhesions. Microscopically, both groups showed marked thickening of the pleural connective tissue overlying the visceral and parietal pleura with persistent collections of alum or talc particles. There were no mortalities.

Animal ; Rabbits ; Talc ; Pleurodesis ; Aluminum Sulfate ; Pleural Cavity ; Pleura ; Alum Compounds ; Thorax ; Tissue Adhesions ; Bronchi ; Connective Tissue

Aluminum hydroxide (alum) is the most widely used adjuvant in human vaccines. Nevertheless, it is virtually unknown whether alum acts on B cells. In the present study, we explored the direct effect of alum on Ig expression by murine B cells in vitro. LPS-activated mouse spleen B cells were cultured with alum, and the level of isotype-specific Ig secretion, IgG1 secreting cell numbers, and Ig germ-line transcripts (GLT) were measured using ELISA, ELISPOT, and RT-PCR, respectively. Alum consistently enhanced total IgG1 production, numbers of IgG1 secreting cells, and GLTgamma1 expression. These results demonstrate that alum can directly cause IgG1 isotype switching leading to IgG1 production.
Alum Compounds ; Aluminum Hydroxide ; Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; Cell Count ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay ; Humans ; Hydroxides ; Immunoglobulin Class Switching ; Immunoglobulin G ; Mice ; Spleen ; Vaccines

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of concentration, volume and temperature of aluminium water on the change of chromatoghraphic data of processed Rhizoina Arisaematis.

METHODChromatographic fingerprints of processed Radix Pinellia pedatisecta were determined by HPLC, and multivariate analysis was made for data processing.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONNo change on the whole chromatoghraphic data was observed at different levels of concentrition and volume of aluminium water, while there was a great change at different levels of temperature.

Alum Compounds ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Hot Temperature ; Pinellia ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of alum, aluminum chloride and aluminum hydroxide on aluminum contents in serum and brain of mice with high performance capillary.

METHOD60 days after the mice were given daily alum, aluminum chloride and aluminum hydroxide with the same aluminum content of 14.25, 57 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), respectively, the aluminum content in serum and brain of mice were determined with high performance capillary chromatography.

RESULTThe average recoveries of serum aluminum determination was 96.5%-103%. The average recoveries of brain aluminum assay was 92.2%-105.3%. Except control group, serum aluminum increased obviously. Brain aluminum increased in all the large doses groups. 2 weeks after the mice were stopped being given these drugs, serum and brain aluminum recovered to normal level, except aluminum chloride large doses group.

CONCLUSIONThe metabolism and excretion mechanism of aluminum in mice depends on the chemical states of the aluminum compound.

Administration, Oral ; Alum Compounds ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Aluminum ; blood ; metabolism ; Aluminum Compounds ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Aluminum Hydroxide ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Chlorides ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; methods ; Male ; Mice

OBJECTIVETo test whether the raphides in Tian Nanxing (Pinellia pedatisecta Schott) caused irritation.

METHODScan Electron Microscope and Microscope Oberservation; Animal experimental study.

RESULTThrough the comparision of unprocessed Tian Nanxing to processed ones which included 36 h, 72 h, 120 h processed samples, the great modifications in the structure of raphides, especially for the ones with barbs in the processed samples was observed with time course study. A further animal experimental study went to show that the rate of change for raphides with barbs existed a dose-reponse relationship to irritation.

CONCLUSIONInvestigations of the causes of these reactions showed that raphides of calcium oxalate are, at least in part, responsible for the Tian Nanxing's irritation.

Acetic Acid ; Alum Compounds ; Animals ; Calcium Oxalate ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Conjunctival Diseases ; chemically induced ; Crystallization ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Edema ; chemically induced ; Hot Temperature ; Pinellia ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the pro-inflammatory toxicity of Pinellia pedatiecta, as well as the alum processing method on its pro-inflammatory effect.

METHODRaphide and agglutinin (PPA) proteins were isolated from fresh P. pedatiecta. The overall animal and cellular level models were applied to investigate the pro-inflammatory effect of raphide and PPA in P. pedatiecta, as well as the impact of the alum processing method on the pro-inflammatory effect, with inflammatory mediators as the index.

RESULTIntraperitoneal injection with P. pedatiecta raphide suspension could significantly increase the content of inflammatory mediators PGE2 and NO. After the alum processing method was adopted, fresh P. pedatiecta and raphide-induced PGE2 and NO release significantly reduced. The stimulation of mice macrophages with P. pedatiecta agglutinin protein could cause the content of dose-dependent inflammatory mediators TNF-alpha and IL-6. After the alum processing method was adopted, PGE2 content in P. pedatiecta agglutinin protein-induced mice peritoneal exudate notably decreased.

CONCLUSIONThe irritation and toxicity of P. pedatiecta were inflammatory responses in organisms. Its raphide and agglutinin proteins were toxic components, both could cause significant the release of inflammatory medium. The alum processing method could help significantly reduce the pro-inflammatory toxicity of P. pedatiecta.

Alum Compounds ; chemistry ; Animals ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Female ; Inflammation Mediators ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Interleukin-6 ; immunology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; immunology ; Male ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Pinellia ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; immunology

OBJECTIVEElucidating the detoxification mechanism of the raw Pinellia ternata processed by alum solution or alkaline solution (pH > 12).

METHODRaw Pinellia ternata was immersed in alum solution and alkaline solution according to Chinese pharmacopoeia. Observed the shape's changing of needle-like calcium oxalate crystals by scanning electro-microscopy. Determinating the contents of calcium oxalate crystals by applying oxidation reduction titration. Measured the irritations of raw P. ternata and various processing products on the model of rabbits'eyes.

RESULTAfter processed by 8% alum solution prescribed in Chinese pharmacopoeia or 10% sodium carbonate solution, the needle-like shape of raphides in raw Pinellia ternata were changing and the sting barb of raphides were rusted and dissolved, the contents of calcium oxalate crystal in raw Pinellia ternata were sharply declined from more than 1% to less than 0.5%. the decline of contents is relative to the irritation decline of P. ternata on rabbit's eyes. Less than 0.5% calcium oxalate crystals of P. ternata almost had no irritation.

CONCLUSIONAfter processed by 8% alum solution or sodium carbonate solution (pH > 12) , the irritation components in raw P. ternata could be rusted and dissolved, the needle point of raphides was broken, which led to the raphides'content declining and the irritation disappearing. The micro-structures, shapes and contents of calcium oxalate crystals in different medicine plants were not same. These properties of calcium oxalate crystal in India Madder Root and yam et al were very different from those in raw P. ternata.

Alum Compounds ; chemistry ; Animals ; Calcium Oxalate ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Carbonates ; chemistry ; Conjunctiva ; drug effects ; Crystallization ; Drug Interactions ; Eye Diseases ; chemically induced ; Pinellia ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Powders ; Rabbits ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of Montanide ISA-720 and Naloxone (NLX) in Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) vaccine formulation on cytokine and long-lasting antibody responses. METHODS: First, the HBsAg was formulated in Montanide ISA-720 adjuvant and Naloxone at 5 and 10 mg/kg. The experimental mice were immunized three times at a 2-week interval, and then IL-4, IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ cytokines; long-lasting IgG antibody responses 220 days after the last shot; and IgG1/IgG2a isotypes were assessed by ELISA. RESULTS: The HBsAg-Alum group exhibited the highest IL-4 cytokine response among the experimental groups, whereas NLX in HBsAg-MON720 vaccine formulation did not affect cytokine responses. In addition, NLX in Alum-based vaccine suppressed IL-4 cytokine response and increased the IL-2/IL-4 cytokine ratio. Moreover, HBsAg-MON720 was more potent than HBsAg-Alum in the induction of antibody responses, and NLX in Alum- and MON720-based vaccines induced long-lasting antibody responses. CONCLUSION NLX in Alum-based vaccine decreased IL-4 cytokine response, increased IL-2/IL-4 cytokine ratio, and improved long-lasting humoral immune responses in both vaccine formulations. Therefore, the adjuvant activity of NLX in the vaccine formulation depends on the type of adjuvant and the nature of the antigen in the vaccine formulation.
Adjuvants, Immunologic/pharmacology* ; Alum Compounds ; Animals ; Cytokines ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunoglobulin G ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mineral Oil ; Naloxone/pharmacology* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha