The contamination of extrinsic harmful contaminants including mycotoxins, heavy metals and pesticides, etc, brings serious risks to traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), further to human health. Due to their unique photoluminescence, chemiluminescence, electrochemical and electrochemiluminescence properties, semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) nanoparticles are widely used to immobilize bioprobes and biosensors, etc. In this review, the luminescence characteristics and specific ligands of QDs probles which are used to determine contaminants were summed up. Then, the applications of QDs-coated novel probes in the determination of mycotoxins, heavy metals and pesticides were discussed in detail. In addition, the contamination levels and characteristics of extrinsic harmful residues in TCMs were investigated. Further, the maximum levels of those contaminants in TCMs were compared with those set by various countries. Finally, the future development trends and problems of QDs-coated probes in the determination of those extrinsic residues in TCMs were prospected.
Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Nanotechnology ; instrumentation ; methods ; Quantum Dots ; Safety ; Time Factors

Objective:To investigate the surgical indication and effect of surgical treatment for giant cavernous hemangioma of the liver(LHG).Methods:The clinical data,including selection of operations,management for severe operative bleeding and postoperative supplementary treatment,of 15 patients with giant LHG treated by surgical measures from 2003 in our hospital were summarized and assessed.Results:Nine cases accepted decollement of LHG,and the recovery courses were all right,6 cases accepted embolization of hepatic artery,in which 2 cases accepted operation afterward.Conclusions:Decollement or embolization of hepatic artery were effective in the treatment of giant cavernous hemangioma.

OBJECTIVE: To study the action mechanism of kunzao tiaozhi capsule in the treatment of fatty liver with hyperlipidemia.METHODS: A total of 59 rats were randomly divided into normal control group(n=10),model group(n=11),positive control group(n=10) and kunzao tiaozhi capsule group(at high,medium and low doses,n=9,9,10).Rat model with fatty livers was established in all the groups except the normal control group by feeding high-fat forage and 30% alcohol,and the corresponding solvents or medicine were given during the modeling,10 weeks later,the S-phase cell percentages(SPF) of the liver cells in rats and proliferation index(PI) were determined by flow cytometry methods.RESULTS: As compared with the normal control group,PI and SPF values in the modeled rats increased significantly(P

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of microwave tissue coagulation assisted laparoscopic hepatectomy for the treatment of hepatic tumors.Methods 29 patients underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy using microwave liver tissue coagulation from December 2011 to June 2014 in the General Air Force Hospital.All patients underwent intraoperative ultrasound guided microwave coagulation assisted laparoscopic local hepatectomy.Intraoperative blood loss,operation time,postoperative hospital stay and complications were observed.Results All the operations were successfully performed without conversion to open surgery.There were 18 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),2 cases of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma,2 cases of hepatic metastases from the rectal carcinoma,5 cases of hepatic hemangioma,1 case of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia and 1 case of hepatic cystadenoma.Drainage tubes were placed in 3 patients and removed 5-7 d after the operation.The operation time was 150 (125-210) miu,the median amount of intraoperative bleeding was 120 (30-250) ml,the postoperative hospital stay was 7 (5-10) d.All patients recovered well after the operation and no complications such as intraabdominal bleeding and bile leakage were observed.The cutting edges of liver cancer of these 22 cases were negative.The postoperative follow-up time of these 22 cases were 3-36 months and no tumor recurrence and metastasis were observed.Conclusions Laparoscopic liver resection using intraoperative ultrasound guided microwave hepatic tissue coagulation can effectively control the bleeding,improve the safety of laparoscopic liver resection,which makes it a safe and effective minimally invasive technique.

The present paper outlined pesticide registration status for traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) and summarized the characteristics of pesticide contamination in different regions of some widely used TCMs by retrieving last 10 years' literatures. At present, the problems of pesticide residues for TCM include less pesticide registrations, widespread high-residue organochlorine pesticides contamination, pesticide abuse, irregular GAP bases and imperfect pesticide limit standards, etc. According to the current situation, we should adopt some control measures to strengthen the quality control of TCMs so as to ensure the safety of TCMs and related products.
Animals ; China ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Pesticide Residues ; analysis ; Registries

Objective To evaluate the value of serum creatinine(Scr),creatinine clearance (Ccr),MDRD equation 7(MDRD 7),~(99)Tc~m-DTPA renal dynamic imaging(gGFR)and cystatin C in screening changed glomerular filtration function in type 2 diabetic patients.Methods The ~(99)Tc~m-Diethylene Triamine Pentaacetic Acid(~(99)Tc~m-DTPA)plasma clearance(rGFR)obtained with the dual plasma sampling method was used as a reference with which Scr,Ccr,MDRD 7,gGFR and Cystatin C were compared.Results Sixty of type 2 diabetic patients were selected,including 35 male and 25 female.The average age was(62.4?11.7)years and the average diabetic history was(10.66?9.35)years.Scr,Ccr, MDRD 7,gGFR were all correlated significantly with rGFR.Correlation coefficients were 0.675 for Ccr, -0.588 for Cystatin C,-0.500 for Scr,O.428 for MDRD 7,0.367 for gGFR(P values all

Objective To explore the expression of HCK gene during the cardiomyocyte differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells and analyze the role of HCK gene in maintenance of pluripotency of embryonic stem cells.Methods Mouse embryonic stem cells were cultured,then induced to differentiate into cardiomyocytes.Total RNAs were isolated from mouse embryonic stem cells in the differentiation days:0 day(D0),the second day(D2),the fourth day(D4),the sixth day(D6),the eighth day(D8),respectively.The levels of HCK mRNAs were assessed by the method of semi-quantitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).In the meanwhile,Total proteins were also isolated from mouse embryonic stem cells in the differentiation D0,D2,D4,D6,D8,and the levels of HCK proteins were evaluated by Western-blot.Results HCK mRNAs could be detected in the mouse embryonic stem cells in D0 and D2,however,they were undetectable from D4 to D8.The expression of HCK mRNAs was rapidly down-regulated during cardiomyocyte differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells.Expression of HCK proteins,which coincided with HCK mRNAs,down-regulated during differentiation and couldn't be detected in D4.Conclusions With the cardiomyocyte differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells,the expression of HCK in the levels of mRNA and proteins are sharply down-regulated;HCK may play an important role in maintaining the pluripotency of embryonic stem cell.

Objective:To improve the genetic stability of HBV gene in transgenic mice.Methods:HBV transgenic mice were bred by backcross and double cross.The HBV gene expression and replication were studied with real-time PCR,ELISA and chemiluminescence.Results:The HBV transgenic mice have stably bred to 23rd generation.The serum HBsAg level is 4122.31?2044.74IU/ml;The rate of HBV transgenic mice whose serum HBV DNA reach 104~106copies/ml was 93.93%.The HBV replication and expression were improved markedly.There is no difference between male and female mice about serum HBsAg level.Conclusion:After breeding the HBV gene was expressed stably with high-level in transgenic mice.

Objective To analyze the behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with vascular dementia (VaD),investigate the relationship between behavioral and psychological symptoms and such correlative factors as cognitive disturbance,age,education level of the patients,and explore the internal relations among Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) items. Methods NPI and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were introduced to assess the behavioral and psychological symptoms in 120patients with VaD and 61 healthy elders (control group). Results The VaD patient group had significantly higher scores in 8 items,including delusion,hallucination,agitation,dysphoria,apathy,irritability,aberrant motor and appetite/eating changes in the NPI list,as compared with the control group (P＜0.05),with the points ranked from the highest by dysphoria,apathy and irritability.Among the 8 items in the NPI list, delusion, apathy and aberrant motor were significantly correlated with cognitive disturbance; and aberrant motor was correlated with age and education level.Besides that,NPI factor analysis showed that 3 behavioral sub-syndromes,psychosis,mood disorder and behavioral disturbance,exited. Conclusion Behavioral and psychological symptoms were common in VaD patients,and the frequency and severity of appearing of behavioral and psychological symptoms were correlated with cognitive disturbance,age,and education level of different degrees; in addition,each sub-syndrome may have common pathophysiologic mechanism.

OBJECTIVETo observe monocyte (Mo) development in wild type C57BL/6 mice and apoE gene knockout (apoE(-/-)) mice, and to evaluate the immuno-regulatory effect of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (HJD) on peripheral Mo development in apoE(-/-) mice.

METHODSFour, 8, 12, and 16 weeks old female C57BL/6 mice were set up as control groups of different ages, while 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks old female apoE(-/-) mice were set up as hyperlipidemia groups of different ages. Four-week old female C57BL/6 mice were recruited as a blank group. Four-week old female apoE(-/-) mice were randomly divided into the control group, the Western medicine group, and the Chinese medicine group by paired comparison, 5 in each group. Equivalent clinical dose was administered to mice according to body weight. Mice in the Western medicine group were administered with Atrovastatin at the daily dose of 10 mg/kg by gastrogavage, while those in the Chinese medicine group were administered with HJD at the daily dose of 5 g/kg by gastrogavage. Body weight was detected each week. After 4 weeks blood lipids levels (such as TG, TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C), and the proportions of Mo and Ly6c(hi) were detected.

RESULTSCompared with 4-week-old homogenic mice, the proportion of Mo decreased in 16-week-old C57BL/6 mice (P < 0.05). Levels of TC and TG, and the proportion of Ly6c(hi) subtype increased, but the proportion of Mo de- creased in 8-week-old apoE(-/-) mice (P <0. 05). Levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C increased in 12-week-old apoE(-/-) mice (P < 0.05). Levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C increased in 16-week-old apoE(-/-) mice (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with 8-week-old homogenic mice, the proportion of Mo decreased in 16-week-old C57BL/6 mice (P < 0.05); levels of TC and LDL-C increased in 12-week-old apoE(-/-) mice (P < 0.05); levels of TC and HDL-C increased in 16-week-old apoE(-/-) mice (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with C57BL/6 mice of the same age, TC and TG increased, HDL-C decreased (P < 0.01) in 4-and 8-week-old apoE(-/-) mice (P < 0.01); levels of TC, TG, LDL-C increased, and HDL-C level decreased in 12- and 16-week-old apoE(-/-) mice (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the proportion of Mo increased in 4-week-old apoE(-/-) mice (P < 0.05); proportions of Mo and Ly6c(hi) increased in 8-week-old apoE(-/-) mice (P < 0.05). Compared with the blank control group, levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C, proportions of Mo and Ly6c(hi) increased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), but HDL-C level decreased (P <0. 01) in the control group after intervention. Compared with the control group, body weight gained less in the Western medicine group and the Chinese medicine group (P < 0.05); the proportion of Ly6c(hi) subtype decreased in the Chinese medicine group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIn development process blood lipids levels in apoE(-/-) mice are not only associated with age. Blood lipids levels induced growth changes in natural immune system are also correlated with age. In early stage of lipids development HJD intervention could correct this special immune disorder in apoE(-/-) mice.

Animals ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Hyperlipidemias ; Lipids ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Monocytes ; physiology