Objective To establish a new method for determination of resorcinol in waste water. Methods The chemical luminescent reaction of KMnO4 and resorcinol in acid solution was studied by flow injection analysis. The related factors affecting chemical luminescent intensity were explored. The method for determination of resorcinol was established by flow injection analysis with chemical luminescence detection. Results The detection limit and linear range were 0.06?g/ml and 0.2-80 ?g/ml respectively. The relative standard deviation of 1.3% was obtained by 11 parallel determinations of 4.0?g/ml resorcinol. Conclusion This method was satisfactorily applied to determination of resorcinol in waste water.

An effective quality control system is the key to ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). However, the current quality standard research lacks top-level design and systematic design, mostly based on specific technologies or evaluation methods. To resolve the challenges and questions of quality control of TCMs, a brand-new quality standard system, named "iVarious", was proposed. The system comprises eight elements in a modular format. Meaning of every element was specifically illustrated via corresponding research instances. Furthermore, frankincense study was taken as an example for demonstrating standards and research process, based on the "iVarious" system. This system highlighted a holistic strategy for effectiveness, security, integrity and systematization of quality and safety control standards of TCMs. The establishment of "iVarious" integrates multi-disciplinary technologies and progressive methods, basis elements and key points of standard construction. The system provides a novel idea and technological demonstration for regulation establishment of TCMs quality standards.

An effective quality control system is the key to ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). However, the current quality standard research lacks top-level design and systematic design, mostly based on specific technologies or evaluation methods. To resolve the challenges and questions of quality control of TCMs, a brand-new quality standard system, named "iVarious", was proposed. The system comprises eight elements in a modular format. Meaning of every element was specifically illustrated via corresponding research instances. Furthermore, frankincense study was taken as an example for demonstrating standards and research process, based on the "iVarious" system. This system highlighted a holistic strategy for effectiveness, security, integrity and systematization of quality and safety control standards of TCMs. The establishment of "iVarious" integrates multi-disciplinary technologies and progressive methods, basis elements and key points of standard construction. The system provides a novel idea and technological demonstration for regulation establishment of TCMs quality standards.

Objective To construct erythromycin-overproducing mutants by tandemly expressing S-adenosylmethionine synthetase gene metK, Vitreoscilla hemoglobin gene vhbS and pleiotropic regulatory gene adpA in Saccharopolyspora eryth-raea.Methods Through PEG-mediated protoplast transformation , the integrative plasmid carrying metK, vhbS and adpA was respectively introduced into erythromycin-producing wild-type strain S.erythraea A226 and industrial strain WB .The engineered strains were generated by apramycin resistance screening and PCR identification .The erythromycin production was compared in original strains and their mutants by the inhibition test of Bacillus subtilis and HPLC analysis .Results and Conclusion Four A226-derived mutants A226-P1-P4 and three WB-derived mutants WB-P1-P3 were independently obtained.Compared with wild-type strain A226, the relative erythromycin titer of the four engineered strains A 226-P1-P4 was increased from 8%to 25%by scoring the growth-inhibition zones .Further HPLC analysis showed that the four mutants had increased erythromycin A yield by 64%-94%.Likewise, the relative erythromycin titer and erythromycin A yield of the three engineered strains WB-P1-P3 were enhanced by 6%-10%and 31%-62%, respectively, in comparison with the original strain WB.The results show the universality of enhancing erythromycin productionvia tandem expression of metK, vhbS and adpA in S.erythraea.

UNLABELLEDOBJECTIVE To observe the clinical efficacy by Qingying Huoxue Decoction (QHD) combined ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in treating patients with early and mid-term primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). METHODS Totally 78 patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group, 39 in each group. All patients received basic treatment and took UDCA (at the daily dose of 13-15 mg/kg). Patients in the treatment group took QHD, one dose per day. The treatment course for all was 6 weeks. Clinical efficacy, gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GGT), alkaline phospatase (ALP), TBIL, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) were observed before and after treatment. RESULTS Totally 21 (53. 8%) patients obtained complete response in the treatment group, with statistical difference when compared with that of the control group (11 cases, 30. 8%). Levels of GGT, ALP, ALT, AST, and TBIL decreased in the two groups after treatment (P < 0.01). Levels of ALP, GGT, and TBIL were obviously lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSQHD combined UDCA in treating early and mid-term PBC patients was superior to the effect of using UDCA alone. It also could improve patients' liver function.

Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; drug therapy ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid ; therapeutic use ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; metabolism

Not Abstract.

Objective To observe apelin and its receptor (APJ) expressions in human osteoblasts and evaluate the effect of apelin on osteoblasts.Methods The expressions of apelin and APJ in human osteoblasts were tested by RT-PCR and Western blot.After human osteoblasts were treated with apelin,cell proliferation was measured by [~3H] thymidine incorporation and cell counting.Cell function was measured by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity,the secreted osteocalcin level and typeⅠcollagen production .The activation of signaling cascades was tested by Western blot.Small-interfering RNA (siRNA) to blockade APJ was applied to observe effects of apelin on cell proliferation and the activation of signaling cascades.Results Both apelin and APJ were expressed in human osteoblasts.Apelin increased the proliferation and did not show the influences on ALP activity, osteocalcin secretion and type I collagen production in human osteoblasts.Apelin induced activation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) downstream effector (Akt),but not mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) such as c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK),p38 and ERK1/2 in human osteoblasts.Suppression of APJ with siRNA or LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) abolished the apelin-induced cell proliferation and the activation of Akt.Conclusion Human osteoblasts express apelin and APJ.Apelin stimulates the proliferation of human osteoblast via APJ/PI3K/Akt pathway,but has no effect on osteoblast differentiation.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Caesalpinia minax.

METHODThe chemical constituent was isolated by various chromatographic metheds and its structure was elucidated by the analysis of spectral data and physiochemical properties.

RESULTOne diterpenoid compound was isolated from the 95% ethanolic extract of C. minax, and identified as 12alpha -methoxyl-14beta-hydroxy-lalpha, 6alpha, 7beta-triacetoxycass-13 (15)-en-16, 12-olide.

CONCLUSIONNeocaesalpin L1 was a new compound and named as neocaesalpin L1.

Caesalpinia ; chemistry ; Diterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

BACKGROUNDPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha is one of the subtypes of PPARs. It regulates metabolism of lipid and lipoprotein, as well as glucose homeostasis. In addition, PPARalpha influences cellular proliferation, inflammation, differentiation and apoptosis, which plays a vital role in cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role and mechanisms of PPARa activation in relation to acute myocardial damage induced by isoproterenol in rats.

METHODSThirty male Wister rats were randomly divided into control group, isoproterenol (Iso) injured group and fenofibrate (FF) treatment group. Acute myocardial damage caused by isoproterenol intraperitoneal injection induced ischemia was established. We determined the levels of creatine kinase (CK) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum as well as the concentrations of free fatty acids (FFA) in serum and myocardium. The mRNA expressions of PPARa, muscular type carnitine palmitransferase (M-CPT-I) and medium chain lipid acetyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase (MCAD) were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the levels of serum CK and LDH were significantly increased after FF and Iso treatments. Moreover, the concentrations of FFA in both serum and myocardium were obviously increased in the Iso group and FF group, while the mRNA expressions of PPARalpha, M-CPT-I and MCAD declined, respectively (P < 0.01). When compared with the Iso group, significant decreases in serum CK and LDH were observed in the FF group. The concentrations of FFA both in serum and myocardial tissue were markedly decreased in the FF group, while the expressions of PPARalpha, M-CPT-I and MCAD mRNA were increased (vs. Iso, P < or = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe utilization of FFA was reduced in isoproterenol induced acute myocardial damage. PPARalpha activation by its activator fenofibrate may play a key role in energy metabolism in acute myocardial damage induced by isoproterenol in rats.

Animals ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Energy Metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; metabolism ; Fenofibrate ; pharmacology ; Heart ; drug effects ; Isoproterenol ; toxicity ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Male ; PPAR alpha ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To evaluate the effect of PTH gene polymorphisms on bone mineral density (BMD) at multiple skeletal sites in normal females.Methods PTH gene phenotype was determined by PCR-RFLP of restriction enzyme Bst BⅠin 596 females aged (46.3?13.7) years (20-80 years),and PCR products with or without enzymolytic site were considered as genotype B or genotype b respectively.BMDs of the anteropesterior spine (AP) and supine lateral spine (Lat) of lumbar vertebrae (L_1-L_4),femoral neck (FN),total hip (T-hip), Ward's triangle (Ward),Trochanter (Troch),forearm [radius+ulna ultradistal (RUUD) and total area of radius + ulna (RUT) ] were measured by DEXA (QDR4500A).Results (1) Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was evident for PTH polymorphisms.The frequencies of genotype were BB 0.784,Bb 0.208,bb 0.008 and frequencies of alleles B,b were 0.888 and 0.112 respectively in 596 normal females.Frequencies of BB,Bb,bb genotypes were 0.781,0.210,and 0.009 respectively in 347 postmenopausal women and their frequencies of alleles B,b were 0.886,0.114.No significant difference was found between post- and premenopausal women in genotype frequen- cy.(2) Comparing their BMDs of AP,Lat,FN,T-hip,Ward,Troch,RUUD and RUT,there was no significant difference between BB and Bb genotypes of pre- and postmenopansal women groups.(3) Logistic regression analysis failed to show any statistical difference between normal and osteoporosis women with regard to PTH phenotype.Conclusion PTH gene polymorphism has little effect on BMD in normal females.