OBJECTIVETo study the pollution status of Legionella species in hot spring vacation center and the related factors.

METHODSField surveys were performed in four big hot spring vacation centers of Changping district. Uniform questionnaires was used and colony count was made together with the isolation of Legionella species from hot spring water based on mip gene typing.

RESULTS47 isolates of Legionella pneumophila (Lp) from 87 samples showed 4 serotypes as Lp1, Lp6, Lp12, Lp5 with percent of 57.45%, 21.28%, 14.89%, 6.38% respectively. The hot spring centers controlled the temperature of recycled water between 34-47 degrees C by hot water heating and filtrating system. All the isolates were cultured from the hot water with temperature between 34-44 degrees C: 56.75% (21/37) in high temperature (40-47 degrees C) and 61.90% (26/42) in low temperature (34-39.9 degrees C). There were no statistically significant difference between the high and the low temperature samples (P > 0.05). In the four hot spring vacation centers, the pH value was under control at 6.4-7.3 and the ambient temperature was under control between 26-28 degrees C. The humidity was controlled between 56% -69% relative humidity, which were the best growing conditions for the Legionella species. Disinfectors as chlorine deviratives was used in the four hot spring vacation centers. Though the concentration of chlorine in the water was 0.3-0.5 mg/L, 14.29%-48.00% of the samples were still positive of having Legionella species.

CONCLUSIONThe pollution of Legionella species was considered to be quite serious in the four hot spring vacation centers and the predominant serotype was Lp1. The pH and temperature of the hot spring water, ambient temperature and humidity and the way of heating up the water were the best conditions for the growth of Legionella species in these centers. Because of the high temperature of the hot spring water, chlorine of the disinfector volatilized quickly, affecting the effect of disinfection. The result revealed that water temperature achieving 44 degrees C could have had the effect of prevention.

China ; Disinfection ; Environmental Monitoring ; Hot Springs ; microbiology ; Legionella ; growth & development ; isolation & purification ; Temperature ; Travel ; Water Microbiology

The effects of Gastrodia elata on preventing decrepitude and advancing memory are closely associated with its neuroprotective activity. Previous researches proved that G. elata, its active components and preparations played a neuroprotective role by affecting the excitotoxicity, nitric monoxide (NO) system, neuroglia, biomembrane, oxidative neurotoxicity, apoptosis et al. Recent researches also suggest that reducing energy metabolism impairment, anti-inflammatory and immune modulating function may be new research targets of neuroprotective mechanism of G. elata.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Excitatory Amino Acids ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Gastrodia ; chemistry ; Humans ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Tianzhi Keli (TZ) on acetylcholine (ACh) and catecholamine levels in striatum of rats with neuromitochondrial impairment, and try to find out the neuroprotective mechanism of TZ.

METHODThe microdialysis and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-post column Immobilized enzyme reactor (IMER)-electrochemical detection (ED) were used to establish a model of mitochondrial energy metabolism impairment which induced by perfusion with sodium azide (NaN3), and measure continuously the effects of TZ on extracellular ACh, choline (Ch) and catecholamine of model rats.

RESULTAfter perfusion with NaN3, ACh, noradrenalin (NE), adrenaline (E), dopamine (DA), 3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl-aletic (DOPAC), and homovanillic acid (HVA) levels were decreased obviously (P < 0.05-0.01), while Ch level was increased distinctly (P < 0.01). Transmitters levels were recovered individually after stop the perfusion with NaN3. TZ can postpone the decrease of ACh and advance the recover of Ch. The effect of TZ coupled with duxil on increasing ACh level is more obviously than effect of TZ or duxil. TZ is also showing a tendency to postpone the decrease of catecholamine and advance its recovery. TZ coupled with duxil can advance the recovery of DOPAC and adjust the metabolic abnormity positively.

CONCLUSIONTZ has effect on protecting impairment of choline neurosystem, which induced by damage of mitochondrion and abnormity of energy metabolism; coupled with duxil have synergistic action. TZ also has tendency to protect the impairment of epinephrine and dopamine neurosystem.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid ; metabolism ; Acetylcholine ; metabolism ; Animals ; Catecholamines ; metabolism ; Corpus Striatum ; metabolism ; Dopamine ; metabolism ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Space ; metabolism ; Gastrodia ; chemistry ; Male ; Microdialysis ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Norepinephrine ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium Azide ; Uncaria ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Tianma Gouteng recipe (TGR) on interfering left ventricular (LV) and aortic hypertrophy and tissue angiotensin II (Ang II) in rats with renovascular hypertension.

METHODThe animal model of renovascular hypertension was used in this experiment. Hypertensive rats were randomly allocated into model group, Enalapril group and TGR group, and the drugs were used for 6 weeks continuously. During this period, the blood pressure of rats was measured every two weeks. After rats were sacrificed, the wet weight, tissue Ang II level of LV and aorta, and the cardiac index were measured.

RESULTOne week after renovascular stenosis, the systolic blood pressure (SPS) of model group was increased by 37.4 mmHg, and 7 weeks after stenosis, the LV and aortic hypertrophy was obvious increased, meanwhile, tissue Ang II of LV and aorta was raised markedly (P < 0.01). Contrasting with the model group, blood pressure was reduced and the morphological index was improved in Enalapril group respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); the wet weight of LV and aorta were reduced, the morphological index was improved, the rise of Ang II in tissue was suppressed, in TGR group significantly.

CONCLUSIONTGR can attenuate myocardial and aorta hypertrophy induced by renovascular hypertension, and suppress the rise of Ang II in tissue significantly. This suggests that TGR has the effects on interfering LV and aortic hypertrophy by an independent-antihypertensive way.

Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; pharmacology ; Aorta ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Enalapril ; pharmacology ; Gastrodia ; chemistry ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; complications ; physiopathology ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Uncaria ; chemistry

To explore the method of explants directly induced bud and establish the tissue culture system of mutiple shoot by means of direct organogenesis, core bud and daughter bulbs (the top of bud stem expanded to form daughter bulb) of T. edulis were used as explants and treated with thidiazuron (TDZ) and 1-naphthlcetic acid (NAA). The results showed that the optimal medium for bud inducted form core bud and daughter bulb were MS + TDZ 2.0 mg x L(-1) + NAA 4.0 mg x L(-1) and MS +TDZ 2.0 mg x L(-1) + NAA 2.0 mg x L(-1) respectively, both of them had a bud induction rate of 72.92%, 79.22%. The optimal medium for cluster buds multiplication was MS + TDZ 0.2 mg x L(-1) + NAA 0.2 mg x L(-1), and proliferation coefficient was 2.23. After proliferation, cluster buds rooting occurred on MS medium with IBA 1.0 mg x L(-1) and the rooting rate was 52.6%, three to five seedlings in each plant. Using core bud and daughter bulb of T. edulis, the optimum medium for adventitious bud directly inducted from daughter bulb, core bud and cluster bud multiplication were screened out and the tissue culture system of multiple shoot by means of direct organogenesis was established.
Naphthaleneacetic Acids ; pharmacology ; Phenylurea Compounds ; pharmacology ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plant Shoots ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Plant Stems ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Seedlings ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Thiadiazoles ; pharmacology ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; Tulipa ; drug effects ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) levels in the urban air and the scores of Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment (NBNA) between Taiyuan and Changzhi cities and to explore the effects of PAHs in the urban air during pregnancy on neonatal behavioral neurological development.

METHODSHigh-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with subsequent fluorescence detection was used to determine the PAHs levels in the cooperational hospitals in Changzhi and Taiyuan cities and the urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels of the 297 pregnant women living Changzhi and Taiyuan cities during Nov. 2009 to May 2010. NBNA was used to determine the development of neonatal neural behavior. The differences of PAHs levels in the urban air, the pregnant women urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels and NBNA scores between Taiyuan and Changzhi were compared.

RESULTSThere are significant differences of levels of pyrene, benz [a] anthracene, Chrysene, benz [a] pyrene, dibenz [a, h] anthracene in the urban air between Taiyuan and Changzhi (P < 0.10). The median of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels in pregnant women of Taiyuan was 1.140 microg/mmolCr, (P25 was 0.457 microg/mmolCr, P75 was 2.678 microg/mmolCr), the median of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels in pregnant women of Changzhi was 0.761 microg/mmolCr, (P25 was 0.133 microg/mmolCr, P75 was 2.095 microg/mmolCr). There are significant differences of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels in pregnant women between Taiyuan and Changzhi (t = -3.140, P = 0.002). There are significant differences of the NBNA scores, capacity scores, passive muscle tension scores, active muscle tension scores and general assessment scores between Taiyuan and Changzhi (P < 0.10). There was correlation between NBNA scores and urinary 1-hydroxypyrene level in pregnant women.

CONCLUSIONThe PAHs in the urban air during pregnancy may adversely affect the neonatal neurobehavioral development.

Air Pollutants ; adverse effects ; analysis ; urine ; Breast Feeding ; Child Development ; drug effects ; China ; Cities ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Maternal Exposure ; adverse effects ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; adverse effects ; analysis ; urine ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo observe the blood lowering effect of telmisartan and amlodipine taking on the morning or at bedtime in hypertensive patients.

METHODSA total of 108 individuals with hypertension (grade 2 or above) were randomized to receive telmisartan and amlodipine in one of the following four therapeutic schemes: Group A (26 cases): both medications taken on the morning; Group B (28 cases): both medication taken at bedtime; Group C (27 cases): telmisartan on the morning and amlodipine at bedtime; or Group D (27 cases): amlodipine on the morning and telmisartan at bedtime. ABPM was performed before and after 8 weeks treatment.

RESULTSBP was significantly reduced in 4 groups and the value of 24 hours SBP/DBP decline for each group after treatment was 29.94/16.32, 31.37/18.35, 29.49/17.30 and 25.80/15.51 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) respectively (P < 0.05 vs. baseline). SI (smooth index) of 24 hours SBP/DBP was 1.79/1.34, 2.07/1.54, 1.70/1.43 and 1.55/1.32 respectively (P > 0.05). The night-time BP decline and the distributive difference of dipper, non-dipper, extreme dipper and reverse dipper pattern were similar among groups at both baseline and after various treatment regimens (all P > 0.05) . Morning blood pressure surge (MBPS) after treatment in group B declined more significantly than other groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTelmisartan/amlodipine administered either on the morning or at bedtime can effectively reduce blood pressure. The efficacy of BP lowering is independent of the drug taking time. There is a trend both in better BP lowering and less BP variability when two medications are administered at bedtime.

Adult ; Aged ; Amlodipine ; administration & dosage ; Antihypertensive Agents ; administration & dosage ; Benzimidazoles ; administration & dosage ; Benzoates ; administration & dosage ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged

Adolescent ; Catecholamines ; secretion ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism

The gdrA, gdrB gene coding glycerol dehydratase reactivase factor were amplified by using the genomic DNA of Klebsiella pneumoniae as the template. The gdrA and gdrB were inserted in pMD-18T to yield the recombinant cloning vector pMD-gdrAB. After the DNA sequence was determined, the gdrAB gene was subcloned into expression vector pET-28a(+) to yield the recombinant expression vector pET-28gdrAB. Under screening pressure by ampicillin and kanamycin simultaneously, the activity of glycerol dehydratase reactivase was characterized by coexpression of pET-32gldABC, which carry the gldABC gene encoding glycerol dehydratase, and pET-28gdrAB in E. coli BL21(DE3).
Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Hydro-Lyases ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Tianma Gouteng Fang (TGF) on the transmitter amino acids in the hippocampus extracellular liquids in freely moving rats subjected to incomplete brain ischemia.

METHODHippocampus extracellular liquids was collected continuously by the microdialysis sampling technology in freely moving rats during pre-ischemia, incomplete ischemia and reperfusion periods induced by the occlusion and loose of both common carotid arteries. Each dialysate sample was assayed for GABA, Tau, Glu, Cys and Arg with HPLC-electrochemical detector.

RESULTTGF increased the concentrations of GABA and Tau in the extracellular liquids of rat hippocampus. Compared with the model group, the concentration of Glu in the middle and large dosage groups of TGF, during the 120 min of ischemia, reduced by 38.64% and 31.35%, Tau increased by 13.99% and 12.86%, GABA advanced 25.89% and 33.99%, Cys decreased by 40.93% and 42.08%, Arg raised to 116.95% and 108.96%, respectively. After 120 min of reperfusion, the concentration of Glu decreased by 14.55% and 11.48%, Tau increased by 16.13% and 14.03%, GABA increased by 24.41% and 26.22%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONTGF can increase the concentration of inhibitory amino acids in hippocampus extracellular liquids of rats and inhibit the excessive release of excitatory amino acids and raise the concentration of the inhibitory amino acids and Arg during the ischemia-reperfusion periods. Therefore, TGF can play the neuroprotective role.

Animals ; Arginine ; metabolism ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; metabolism ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Excitatory Amino Acids ; metabolism ; Extracellular Space ; metabolism ; Gastrodia ; chemistry ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; etiology ; metabolism ; Taurine ; metabolism ; Uncaria ; chemistry ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism