A comparable study were carried out by determination of trace elements on five marine-derived shell traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) (Ostreae Concha, Haliotidis Concha, Margaritifera Concha, Meretricis Concha, and Arcae Concha), which were recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010 version). Seven trace elements in 51 batches of this type of shell TCM were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), combined with principal component analysis (PCA) methods. The content of element Se, which exhibited significant differences among different drugs, could be used as a key element to distinguish this type of drugs. Meanwhile, the contents of elements Co, Cu, Mo, and Ba in Haliotidis Concha, Co and As in Margaritifera Concha, Mo and As in Meretricis Concha, Mo, As, and Ba in Arcae Concha, and Zn in Meretricis Concha were relatively stable. In the PCA plot, Arcae Concha and Meretricis Concha could be efficiently distinguished from Ostreae Concha together with Haliotidis Concha, and Margaritifera Concha. The results also showed a correlation with their medicinal function. In conclusion, trace elements in marine-derived shell TCM could not be neglected for their quality control.
Animal Shells ; chemistry ; Animals ; Aquatic Organisms ; chemistry ; Bivalvia ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Trace Elements ; analysis

Literatures on knee osteoarthritis treated by acupuncture both in China and abroad published in the mainstay periodicals in recent 10 years were selected, and analyses were done in the following aspects: (1) Randomization, (2) Control group, (3) Sample size, (4) Intervention measurements, (5) Intervention periods, (6) Evaluation on therapeutic effects, (7) Follow-up assessment, (8) Adverse effects, (9) Ratio of the lost case. The result indicates that differences can still be found on the trial designation in China and abroad. The domestic research design should be more comprehensively and strictly.
Acupuncture Therapy ; adverse effects ; China ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Humans ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; therapy

Objective To know the quality of iodized salt and the current situation of the salt coverage in Tibet,and to provide scientific basis for proposing proper prevention and control measures to Iodine dificiency disorders(IDD). Methods In 2008, according to the "Sampling Methods of the Main Products in the Salt Industry",one batch fifteen salt samples were collected in iodized salt processing factory in Tibet. Five townships were chosen in each county based on 5 different directions of east, south, west, north and center. If the monitoring county has less than five townships, then all of the townships were sampled. In each township, four villages were selected withrandom sampling and importance sampling. In each township, 15 households were selected for salt collection. Results A batch of 15 salt samples in a salt processing plant were tested, and all of them were qualified with salt iodine(34.6±1.58) mg/kg. A total of 21 107 edible salt samples were tested, and 11 203 of them were qualified iodized salt. These results meant that the provincial iodized salt coverage rate was 53.08%. Shannan iodized salt coverage rate was 94.31% (3395/3600) which was the highest in Tibet. Those of Nagqu, Changdu, Ngari were lower, they were 29.84% (897/3006), 24.94% (823/3300) and 17.08% (205/1200), respectively. Conclusions The quality of iodized salt in Tibet is up to the national standard, but the coverage rate of iodized salt is very low.We suggest that the strategy should be carried out according to the national overall program strategy and supplement iodized oil capsule for special groups.

Objective To investigate the water quality and running status of the dringking water improving project in Xuchang,Pingdingshan and Nanyang,thus to provide basis for scientifically evaluating social effects.Methods Stratified sampling was used in the levels of counties and townships and villages,with the number of checked counties greater than or eaquel to half of the projected counties(13/24),the checked townships more than 40 percent of the projected townships(42/102),the checked villages greater than or eaquel to 30% of the projected villages(56/186).We listened their statement,reviewed the documents,examined carefully the water projects before we made the appraisal.Results More than 95%(129/136)of the projects had water quality reports,among which 90%(122/136)were provided by county level centers for disease prevention and control,75% (102/136) of water samples were collected by centers for disease prevention and control,80%(109/136)ofcounties organized an acceptance check-up group,92%(125/136)projects well preserved water source.Conclusions The dringking water improvement projeets in countryside are basically normal in terms of construction and management,the water supplied is qualified,so the expected goal is achieved.However,duties of each department are not explicit and the communication is inadequate,so collaboration should be reinforced.

This paper is to report the study of resveratrol-induced apoptosis and its mechanisms in MCF-7 cells. MTT assay was performed to assess the cytotoxicity of resveratrol on MCF-7 cells. Hoechst 33258 staining was used to observe cellular morphologic changes in apoptosis. Apoptosis was measured by flow cytometric analysis and the protein expression was examined by Western blotting analysis. The results indicated that resveratrol could inhibit MCF-7 cell growth in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Remarkable morphologic changes in the cells after 60 micromol L(-1) resveratrol treatment, including cell nuclear shrinkage, DNA condensation and apoptotic bodies, were observed by Hoechst 33258 staining. Resveratrol could induce apoptosis and activate p38 and p53 in a time dependent manner in MCF-7 cells. In addition, the cell growth inhibitory ratio and the apoptotic ratio of resveratrol-treated group decreased markedly by the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 or p53 inhibitor pifithrin-alpha. Further experiments confirmed that resveratrol-induced p53 activation was reduced by SB203580 whereas the activation of p38 was not affected by pifithrin-alpha. In conclusion, resveratrol induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells could be through activating p38-p53 signal pathway.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Benzothiazoles ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; MCF-7 Cells ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; Stilbenes ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Toluene ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic value of serum CEACAM1 in patients with pancreatic cancer.

METHODSFifty patients with pancreatic cancer and 50 with chronic pancreatitis were examine for serum levels of CEACAM1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The cut-off values and area under curve (AUC) of CEACAM1 was obtained by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The diagnostic efficiency of the tumor markers for pancreatic cancer was assessed by the fourfold table.

RESULTSThe serum level and positivity rate of CEACAM1 in pancreatic cancer patients were higher than those in chronic pancreatitis patients (P<0.05). Based on the ROC curve, the cut-off values and AUC of CEACAM1 were 13.835 ng/ml and 0.780, respectively (P<0.05). In pancreatic cancer patients, the diagnostic sensitivities of the tumor markers decreased in the order of CEACAM1 < CA242 < CA19-9 (P<0.05), and the specificity in the order of CA242 < CA19-9 < CEACAM1 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONCEACAM1 shows a higher diagnostic sensitivity than CA19-9 and CA242 for pancreatic cancer, but due to its low specificity this marker alone is not sufficient for diagnostic purposes.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD ; blood ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; ROC Curve

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical manifestation of 155 patients with hepatolenticular degeneration (HLD) complicated with epilepsy and the therapeutic effect of integrative Chinese and Western medicine treatment on them.

METHODSClinical manifestation of patients and its relationship with abnormalities in cranial CT and/or MRI were observed. Patients were treated by combined treatment of copper repellent with sodium dimercaptosulfonate 20 mg/kg per day by intravenous dripping, and modified Gandou Decoction (GDD) by oral intake and antiepileptics as well, after treatment for 8-10 courses, the clinical effect, copper levels in urine and serum were compared between groups.

RESULTSIn the 155 HLD patients, 96 were complicated with petit mal and 59 with grand mal. In the CT and/or MRI conducted in 72 patients, all showed abnormal images, besides such frequently met images as bilateral symmetrical basal ganglia focal lesion in 65 case-episode (90.3%) and brain atrophy of various degrees in 61 case-episode (84.7%), the massive lesions in cerebral white matter as principal, with the cortex involved, were also found in 54 patients (74%), which were mostly bilateral and symmetric or located in 2 adjecent lobes of brain, the sites of damage, in sequence of occurrence, were frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe and callosal gyrus. Brain atrophy was found in all the remained patients without above-mentioned lesions. Abnormal EEG was shown in 29 patients (40.2%), which mainly manifested as theta wave of moderate to high potential and/or short paroxysmal spike-slow or sharp-slow complex wave evoked. The urinary copper level in patients after treatment was 34.5 +/- 21.6 micromol/24 hrs, significantly higher than that before treatment, 4.49 +/- 1.93 micromol/24 hrs (P < 0.01). And the serum copper level in patients also lowered significantly (P< 0.01). Epileptic seizure was controlled completely along with the gradually improving of extrapyramidal symptoms.

CONCLUSIONPartial seizure was the most common type of seizure of HLD patient complicated with epilepsy, the next is systemic seizure. Cerebral damage lesion and obvious brain atrophy could be the main etiological factors of HLD complicated with epilepsy, combined copper repellent therapy of integrative Chinese and Western medicine, and antiepileptics produced good clinical effect on the patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anticonvulsants ; therapeutic use ; Chelating Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Epilepsy ; complications ; drug therapy ; Female ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Unithiol ; therapeutic use

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Osteoarthritis ; epidemiology ; Tibet ; epidemiology

AIMTo perpare and identify irisquinone hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex (irisquinone-HP-beta-CD), as well as to study the inclusion mechanism and molecule stoichiometry between irisquinone and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin.

METHODSIrisquinone-HP-beta-CD was prepared by freeze-drying technique. The ratio of host and guest was also studied in inclusion process by mol gradient and continuing variational methods. At the same time, the inclusion complex was identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

RESULTSIt was demonstrated that the solubility of irisquinone was enhanced markedly by inclusion with HP-beta-CD when stoichiometry was 2:1 of host and guest at 25 degrees C, 35 degrees C and 45 degrees C.

CONCLUSIONThe solubility and stability of irisquinone could be increased by preparing the inclusion complex with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin.

2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin ; Benzoquinones ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drug Stability ; Freeze Drying ; Solubility ; X-Ray Diffraction ; beta-Cyclodextrins ; administration & dosage ; chemistry

Objective To detect the resistance index and esterase activity of each generation of DDVP-resistant Culex mosquitoes and analyze the relationship between insecticide resistance and esterase. Methods WHO bioassay and micro-plate measurement were used for the detection. Results The resistance index increased to 12.17 after 43 generations' insecticide selection compared to 1.00 as sensitive isolate. The nonspecific esterase(NSE) activity of the mosquitoes became strengthened with the extension of the generations, and the individual frequency of those with OD values no less than 0.9 increased gradually, consistent basically to the bioassay. The AChE average inhibition rate decreased with the extended generation and increased resistance, and the individual frequency of those with inhibition rate less than 30% became strengthened with the extension of generations, showing a positive correlation. Conclusion The activity of NSE and AChE shows a correlation with DDVP resistance.