The biomarkers can facilitate the evaluation of the factors modulating susceptibility to carcinogens among human populations. As an indicator of DNA damage, carcinogen-DNA adducts represent a critical step on the carcinogenic pathway. Genetic differences in detoxification capabilities and the DNA repair efficiency may modulate PAH-induced DNA damage and carcinogenesis. Experimental animal studies have demonstrated that the fetus and infant are more susceptible to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) induced carcinogenesis than adults. Recent years, more and more studies have shown that the prenatal exposure to PAHs not only associated with the increasing risk of cancer, but also related to adverse birth outcomes. This paper reviewed the differential susceptibility to PAHs between the paired maternal and newborn and discussed the relationship between the DNA adducts levels and the gene polymorphisms.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound-medium frequency electrotherapy has better pain-relieving effect,whether it involves enkephalin and the like neurotransmitter is still not very clear, it is necessary to carry out qualitative and quantitative analysis of the pain response in rats received ultrasound-medium frequency electrotherapy.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pain-relieving effect of ultrasound-medium frequency electrotherapy and its influence on the enkephalin content in rats, aiming to probe its underlying mechanism and relationship with neurotransmitter enkephalin.DESIGN: Randomly controlled study taking experimental animals as subjects.SETTING: Department of Physiotherapy, First Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University, Institute of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical CollegeMATERIALS: This experiment was carried out at the Institute of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College between June 2002 and March 2003. Forty healthy male Wistar rats were adopted and randomized into four groups,namely methionine enkephalin detection experimental group and control group,as well as leucine enkephalin detection experimental group and control group with 10 rats in each group ,amongst which methionine enkephalin experimental group and leucine enkephalin experimental group were generally designed as experimental group ,with the other two group as control group.METHODS: ①Rats ín the experímental group were subjected to ultrasound-medium frequency electrotherapy with frequency of 0.8 MHz in manner of geminal pulse,the modulatìng frequency was 100 Hz and ultrasound intensity of 0.9 W/cm2;the carrier frequency of medium frequency electricity was 4 kHz with modulating frequency of 100 Hz in manner of continuous wave,the electric current of medium frequency was 2 mA and acting time of 10 min. rats in control group received the same dealing,but the higher voltage of ultrasound-medium frequency electrotheprauetic instrument was not used, thereby no energy output was available. tail flick test(TFr) was used to test rat algesthesia,and stopwatch was used to record the time for tail flick(s) that was taken as the value of pain threshold. ②The threshold of pain was tested at 10 minutes instantly after ultrasoundmedium frequency electric stimulation,and then pituitary (removing the posterior pituitary lobe) and hypothalamus were obtained to detect the content of methionine enkephalin and leucine enkephalin by using radioimmuno assay.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The changes of the pain threshold after treatment,the content of methionine enkephalin and leucine enkephalin.RESULTS: Totally 40 rats were enrolled in the experiment and entered in the results analysis. ① The changing rate of pain threshold in two experimental group were 265.79% and 272.90% respectively,the difference was of no statistical significance (P ＞ 0.05). ②After ultrasoundmedium frequency electrotherapy,the content of methionine enkephalin and leucine enkephalin in pituitary and hypothalamus were obviously higher than before treatment [ The changing rate of methionine enkephalin and leucine enkephalin in adenohypophysis was 300.48 ±36.21)% and(204.61±68.65)% , respectively, compared to (239.80±59.98)%and(205.53±51.62)% in hypothalamus, P ＜ 0.05]. ③Linear regression analysis revealed that the variance of the pain threshold was positively correlated with the content of methionine enkephalin in adenohypophysis(r=0.91 ,P ＜ 0.01), suggesting the increment of methionine enkephalin in adenohypophysis was closely connected with the increment of pain threshold,and the level of methionine enkephalin in adenohypophysis would be higher than that in control group by 117.02% when the value of pain threshold increased by100%.CONCLUSION: One of the important mechanisms for the pain-relieving effect of ultrasound-medium frequency electrotherapy might be the increase of methionine enkephalin in adenohypophysis.

Objective To evaluate the expression and correlat ion of hTERT and p21(WAF1/CIP1) in colonic carcinoma. Methods A total of 45 cases of normal colonic carcinoma, 10 cases of colonic adenoma s and 10 cases of normal colonic tissues were studied using in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemical techniques. Results hTERT and p21 were found not only in colonic carcinoma (t he positive rate being 88.9% and 46.7%, respectively ), but also in colonic aden omas (the positive rate being 50.0% and 10.0%, respectively). The positive rate of hTERT expression increased significantly in advanced stage (C+D) of colonic c arcinoma ( P

Objective To study the prospective memory and the severity of the impairment of event- based prospective memory(EBPM)and time-based prospective memory(TBPM)in normally aging adults. Methods We set a neuropsychological battery to measure the education-matched 40 adults and 40 normally aging adults who were given EBPM and TBPM tasks.Results Compared with the young controls(EBPM, 6.25?1.60;TBPM,5.38?0.87),both EBPM(2.50?0.85)and TBPM(4.93?1.07)in the elderly had been impaired,especially EBPM(t = 13.117,P

This article introduces a novel scavenger for waste anesthetic gas which makes use of negative pressure in operating room. This setting can scavenge the exhaust gas absolutely without affection the normal work of anaesthesia.
Anesthetics ; Gas Scavengers ; Operating Rooms

OBJECTIVETo study the efficacy of Xiaoyao Powder (XYP) combined with interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) in treating HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and the effect on their quality of life (QOL).

METHODSTotally 193 patients with HBeAg-positive CHB confirmed by liver biopsy were randomly assigned to 2 groups, Group A (94 cases) and Group B (99 cases). IFN-alpha1b was subcutaneously injected to patients in Group A at the dose of 50 microg, thrice per week. Those in Group B additionally took XYP. The therapeutic course for all was 24 weeks. Clinical efficacy was observed by assessing ALT restoration rate, HBeAg negative rate, HBeAg conversion rate, HBV DNA negative rate, complete response rate, partial response rate, and symptoms integral. The evaluation of QOL was performed by using chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ) score. Adverse reaction occurrence rate was observed in the two groups.

RESULTSBetter effects were obtained in Group A on ALT restoration rate, HBeAg negative rate, HBV DNA negative rate, complete response rate, partial response rate, TCM symptoms integral, the total effective rate of TCM sysmptoms, CLDQ score, and adverse reaction rates, showing statistical difference when compared with Group B (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONXYP could elevate the efficacy of TCM symptoms of HBeAg-positive CHB patients and anti-viral effect, improve their QOL, and reduce adverse reaction of IFN-alpha.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome

AIM: To study the effect of extract from Pongamia pinnata roots on anti-inflammation and analgesia and acute toxicity. METHODS: The models of mice ear edema induced by xylene and Cotton pellet granuloma in rats to observe the anti-inflammation effect of PRE via oral administration. The effect of PRE on analgesia was tested by measuring the latent period licking hind foot with the hot plate method and counting body twisting induced by acetic acid in mice. The acute toxicity of PRE was measured by the method of Bliss. RESULTS: PRE could significantly inhibit the ear edema caused by xylene in mice, granuloma hyperplasia caused by cotton in rats. It could significantly prolong the pain threshold on hot-plate in mice, reduce the writhing times in mice. The LD50 of PRE was 6. 371 8 g/kg, its 95% confident limit was 5. 408 4-7. 723 2 g/kg. CONCLUSION: PRE has obvious effect on anti-inflammation and analgesia and the lower acute toxicity.

Objective To investigate and compare the action of curcuminoids on the causal pathogens of Candida albicans growth.Methods The effects of curcumin (CUR) and demethoxycurcumin (DMC) on C.albicans growth were first investigated and compared by microcalorimetry coupled with multiple analytical methods.The quantitative thermo-kinetic parameters obtained from these curves were analyzed to show difference of the actions.Results By analyzing the main parameters screened from principal component analysis together with 50％ inhibiting concentration values,it was demonstrated that both CUR and DMC showed good antifungal activities and CUR was stronger.It was further concluded from structure-activity relationship that the existence of methoxy group might enhance lipophilicity of the mother nucleus,which made it easier for the molecular to enter into the cell membrane of fungi to inhibit its growth.Conclusion This study provides a new method for screening new antifungal agents with high efficacy and low toxicity.Meanwhile,it contributes to the application of curcuminoids as food additive,colorant,and drug.Microcalorimetry is real-time,online,and dynamic,and it could be used to characterize the subtle difference among the effects of synthetic and natural products on the vital process of fungi.