The influence of refined konjac meal(RKM) on the absorption of dietary zinc, iron, and calcium in rats and human subjects was studied. RKM containing 75-80% glucomannan was prepared and refined from tubers of Amor-phophallus konjac K. KochMale and female SD rats aged 6 weeks were equally divided by randomized blocking into 5 groups of 10 (5M, 5F). The control group was fed on a basai diet, and the other four test groups were also fed on a basal diet but substituting 0.5%, 1%, 5%, or 10% of the RKM respectively for corn-starch. The feeding experiment lasted six weeks during which balance studies of the tested minerals were carried out at the end of every two weeks. At the end of the second week the absorption of zinc was significantly lower in the 5% and 10% RKM groups than that of the control group, but from the week on, the digestibility lowering effect of RKM disappered, perhaps on account of adaptation. As for iron or calcium, no digestibility lowering effect of RKM was observed during the whole experimental period. No reduction in serum levels of these three minerals was observed.Twelve young adult subjects (6M, 6F) participated in a 9-day feeding trial. For the first three days (control period), they were taken ordinary meals without RKM, but during the subsequent 6 days (test period), RKM was added to the ordinary meals in 3-gram increments every two days (i.e beginning with 3g per day for two days, then 6g per day for the consecutive two days and finally 9g per day for the last two days). Mineral analyses were conducted on the subjects' food and stool samples which were collected and weighed separately on the third and ninth day. Results obtaiud indicated that consuming a therapeutic dosage of RKM in association with meals did not influence the absorption of dietary zinc, iron or calcium.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Aspergillus fumigatus extract (AFE) on the expression of GM-CSF in human bronchial epithelial cells and its possible mechanism. Methods: Human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE-14o) were cultured in vitro and were exposed to different concentrations of AFE (0, 8, 16 and 20 mg/L) for different peroids (12, 24, 48, 72 h). Moreover, heat-treated AFE, serine protease inhibitors (aprotinin), protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR 2) agonist (SLIGLV-NH2) and PAR-2 antagonist (FSLLRY-NH2) were also used to treat 16HBE-14o cells. The production and release of GM-CSF in different supernatants was determined by ELISA. The expression of GM-CSF mRNA was measured by RT-PCR. Results: 16HBE-14o cells in the normal control group only had slight expression of GM CSF; the expression was significantly increased after AFE treatment(P<0.01); and the effect of AFE was in a time- and dose-dependent manner. PAR 2 agonist also promoted release of GM-CSF. Aprotinin and PAR-2 antagonist (FSLLRY-NH2) almost totally inhibited the effect of AFE on GM-CSF production by 16HBE-14o cells. Heat-treated AFE, which lost protease activities, exerted no effect on GM-CSF production. Conclusion: AFE, with its protease activity, can activate PAR 2, and subsequently causes GM-CSF synthesis and release by airway epithelial cells, which may contribute to the development and deterioration of asthma.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the ankle-brachial index (ABI)and the extent of coronary artery stenosis and the left ventricular function in elderly patients with coronary heart disease (CHD)with metabolism syndrome (MS). Methods A total of 140 patients with coronary artery disease was study subjects. In which, 66 cases complicated MS (MS group), 74 cases without MS (non MS group). ABI and the left ventricular function was examined in an patients. Results ABI was 0.90±0.32 in MS group, and 1.03±0.26 in non MS group, there was significant difference between two groups(P=0.015). Compared with non MS group, significant lower ratio of ABI in MS group [43.9%(29/66) vs 27.0%(20/74)] (P=0.038); whereas much more 3-vessel disease in ABI≤0.9 patients compared with those of ABI > 0.9 patients [86.3%(25/29) vs 37.8%(14/37) ], significant lower of the left ventricular function in ABI≤0.9 patients compared with those of ABI >0.9 patients (P<0.05). Conclusion There is more severe of coronary artery stenosis in ABI≤0.9 patients for CHD with MS, more attention should be payed to CHD patients combined with MS.

Dental Implantation ; methods ; Humans ; Time Factors

Aim Toexplorewhether1-methylhydan-toin(MH)could inhibit the basal secretion of growth hormone (GH ) and suppress the promoting effect of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH ) in rab-bits.Methods Thirty-sixrabbitswererandomlydi-vided into six experimental groups according to the kind of dosing drugs,namely normal saline group(A), MH group (B ),octreotide group (C ),GHRH group (D),GHRH +MH group(E),GHRH +octreotide group(F),with 6 rabbits in each group.Blood was sampled (1. 0 mL each time)from each rabbit before injecting drugs and 5,15,30,45,60 min after drug administration.Clotting spontaneously,rabbits blood samples were centrifugated for 20 minutes at approxi-mately 1000 ×g and the supernatant was collected. Serum GH concentrations were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kit(ELISA Kit).Mean-while,the behavior of rabbits in each group after injec-tingdrugswascloselyobserved.Results TheGH level of rabbits in group A at each time point had no significant differences(P>0. 05 ).Group B and group C rabbit GH levels were significantly lower than those of group A (P<0. 05 ),while GH levels in group D were obviously higher than those of group A (P <0. 05 ).Compared with group D,rabbit GH levels in group E and group F decreased markedly(P<0. 05 ). No obvious toxic and side effects had been observed within one week after the experimental rabbits were ad-ministered corresponding drugs by intravenous injec-tion.Conclusions 1-methylhydantoincouldinhibit the basal secretion of GH in rabbits.1-methylhydan-toin could suppress the promoting effect of GHRH in rabbits.

Objective To investigate the effect of photodynamic therapy with chlorin e6 (Ce6) and 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) on mouse model of malignant melanoma. Methods The mouse model of malignant melanoma was established by injecting 0.1 ml A-375 cells (about 2?10 6 cells) under the right hind leg of BALB/c-6 mice,and that the yellowish white node appears at injection site proves the successful model. Twenty-four of 27 successful mouse models were irradiated at the tumor site with semiconductor laser (wavelength 652 nm) with a total dose of 100 J/cm 2 . Before laser exposure,the mice were treated with 10% 5-ALA by topical compress for 2 h or 7.5 mg/kg Ce6 by intraperitoneal injection for 1 hour or 5-ALA topical application combined with intraperitoneal injection of Ce6 (n=6 in each group). Another six mice as control only underwent PDT. One week after PDT,the mice were killed,the tumor mass was peeled off and weighed,whether the metastasis occurred or not was detected,and the tumor,liver,spleen,lung,kidney were sent to histopathological examination. Results The tumor weight in 5-ALA group,Ce6 group,and the combined group had significant difference as compared with control group (P0.05). The dehydration and scab formation and necrosis could be seen in tumor sites at 1 week after PDT. The cell collapse and necrosis,subdermal thrombosis and cell outline clouding could be observed by histopathological examination. Metastasis of melanoma were found in 5-ALA group,Ce6 group,and the combined group. Conclusion PDT with Ce6 and 5-ALA could kill the malignant melanoma effectively in animal experiment but could not affect the metastasis of melanoma.

OBJECTIVE:To develop an HPLC method for the determination of Baicalin in Xiaoyan Qingre capsules.METHODS:The separation of sample was performed on Thermo ODS-2 Hypersil(150 mm?4.6 mm,5 ?m).The mobile phase was methanol-0.1% phosphoric acid(43∶57).The detection wavelength was 277 nm,and the temperature of column was 30 ℃.RESULTS:The linear range of Baicalin was 0.217 8～3.267 0 ?g(r=0.999 9).The average recovery was 100.73%(RSD=2.23%,n=6).CONCLUSION:The method is sensitive,accurate,reproducible,and suitable for the qual-ity control of Xiaoyan qingre capsule.

Objective:To investigate the modulating effects of anti-epidermal growth factor monoclonal antibody Cetux- imab(C225)on the ehemosensitivity and radiosensitivity in a Docetaxel-resistant human lung adenocarcinoma cell line SPC-A-1/doeetaxel.Methods:Radiosensitivity of SPC-A-1/docetaxel was determined by clone formation experiment and quantified by calculating the enhancement ratio(ER).The growth inhibition of SPC-A-1/docetaxel cell line caused by C225 or combination of C225 and Docetaxel in different orders was detected by MTT assay.The effect of C225 on cell cy- cle distribution and apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry.Results:C225 combined with radiation significantly de- creased the number of the cell clones than radiation alone;the D_0 values were 1.73 Gy for the former and 2.39 Gy for the latter,and the enhancement ratio was 1.38.C225 alone at concentration up to 1000?g/ml for 48h had neither cytotoxic nor eytostatie effect on SPC-A-1/docetaxel in vitro.C225 administration followed by Docetaxel significantly decreased the ICw of Docetaxel(85.2?g/ml vs 128.7?g/ml).Flow cytometry demonstrated that C225 exposure induced apoptosis of SPC-A-1/docetaxel cells in a time-dependent manner.The cell in the G_0/G_1 fraction increased from(43.80?4.46)% to (60.50?6.57)%(P

Objective: To construct reference standards for detection and quantification of Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) with SYBR Green I-based real-time PCR assay. Methods: Primers were designed based on the published sequence of the phoE gene of K. pneumoniae. The standard was prepared by cell culture, PCR and T-A clone methods, and was identified by colony PCR and DMA sequencing. Results: The standard curve showed a very good linear negative regression between threshold cycle (Ct) and Log starting quantity of copy number. The detection range was from 5.2 to 5.2 × 106 copies per reaction, and the detection limit was 6 copies per reaction. The coefficients of variance (CVs) of three parallel experiments were in the range of 0.05 %-0.91 %. Conclusion: The reference standards have high stability and reproducibility. They can be used in the quantitative detection of K. pneumoniae.

Objective: To construct reference standards for detection and quantification of Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) with SYBR Green I-based real-time PCR assay. Methods: Primers were designed based on the published sequence of the phoE gene of K. pneumoniae. The standard was prepared by cell culture, PCR and T-A clone methods, and was identified by colony PCR and DMA sequencing. Results: The standard curve showed a very good linear negative regression between threshold cycle (Ct) and Log starting quantity of copy number. The detection range was from 5.2 to 5.2 × 106 copies per reaction, and the detection limit was 6 copies per reaction. The coefficients of variance (CVs) of three parallel experiments were in the range of 0.05 %-0.91 %. Conclusion: The reference standards have high stability and reproducibility. They can be used in the quantitative detection of K. pneumoniae.