To establish an EDTA complexation extraction pretreatment combining with GFAAS method for the determination of residual aluminium ion in Huoxiang zhengqi pellets without digestive treatment, systematical investigation was made on sample preparation, and EDTA was used for the complexation extraction of residual aluminium ion in samples. The pH, concentration and volume of extraction solution, the temperature and time of microwave extraction, and graphite furnace temperature program were investigated. The results were compared with the microwave digestion. It was showed that, 0.1 g of sample weight was added in 20 mL 0.05 mol x L(-1) EDTA solution (pH 3.5), followed by heating at 150 degrees C for 10 min in the microwave extraction device. The determination of GFAAS was performed at optimized detection wavelength (257.4 nm) as well as graphite furnace temperature program, the detection limits and quantification limits were 2.37 μg x L(-1) and 7.89 μg x L(-1), respectively. The precision (RSD) was less than 2.3%. The average recovery was 96.9% -101%. The present method is easy, rapid and accurate for the determination of residual aluminium ion in Huoxiang zhengqi pellets.
Aluminum ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Edetic Acid ; chemistry ; Graphite ; chemistry ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; methods ; Temperature

Theacrine is one kind of natural purine alkaloids, which mainly exists in an unusual Chinese tea known as Kucha. It shows various biological activities, such as anti-depression, sedative and hypnotic effects and anti-inflammatory and analgesic activi-ties. The study on theacrine dates back to a few decades ago. According to the references published in recent years, the resource, preparation, characterization and pharmacological effects of theacrine were reviewed, and its application prospect was also explored.

Bacillus subtilis ZC-7 was obtained by implantation with N+ ions beam to B.subtilis AS1.398,and compared with the AS1.398 neutral protease,the enzyme activity of ZC-7 neutral protease was about 1 timeshigher in previous research.A neutral protease was purified from the culture of B.Subtilis ZC-7 by the procedures including amoninium sulfate precipitation,ultrafiltration,DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow chromatography and Sephadex G-75 chromatography.By multi-step purification,the ZC-7 neutral protease was purified to 78.5 folds and its yield was 27.7%,at last,the specific activity of ZC-7 neutral protease was up to 4.1?105U/mg.Analysed by SDS-PAGE,the purified protease has shown a molecular mass of about 42kDa.The Km for casein hydrolysis was 3.67?10-3?g/ml and the Vmax was 12.21?g/min.The optimum pH and temperature forhydrolysis of casein were 7.0 and 55℃,respectively.This protease was stable up to 40℃ within the pH range of 6.5 and 8.0.EDTA,isopropanol and alcohol nearly inhibited its activity while some ions such as Ca2+,Mg2+,Fe3+ can improve its activity.In addition,it could resist 1 mol/L H2O2.

The promoter and signal peptide sequence of sacB gene (sacR gene) has been amplified by PCR.An inducible expression and secretion vector pHP13SN has been constructed with this amplified sequence,which was ligated with the pro-peptide and mature peptide of neutral protease gene on the vector pHP13.Transforming Bacillus subtilis DB104 with the vector pHP13SN, and the recombinant strain DB104(pHP13SN) can be got.The neutral protease gene has been expressed by the inducement of sucrose and the regulation of sacR,and the production has been secreted with bioactivity.

Objective To explore the ameliorative effects of standardized tertiary rehabilitation(STR)on the quality of life(QOL)of stroke patients with hemiplegia.Methods Eighty-two stroke patients were randomly divided into two groups:a rehabilitation group(R group)and a control group.All patients were given routine inter- nal medicine treatment,but STR was also administered to the R group.The QOL of all of the patients was assessed with the brief scale of quality of life(QOL-BREF)at the beginning,and at the end of the Ist month,3rd month and 6th month after stroke.Results There were two deaths in the control group,but no deaths in the R group.At ever- y stage,the R group returned better scores for physiological health,psychological state,social and environment rela- tionships,the subjective QOL and health items,and in comprehensive self-evaluation.QOL scores,except for social relationships,were consistently,significantly higher in the R group.The R group's QOL scores improved obviously in the first 3 months after stroke,and then more slowly in the next 3 months.Conclusions STR markedly improved the QOL of stroke patients.Their QOL scores improved obviously soon after stroke,but slowly later on.

OBJECTIVESTo observe the influence of wen-yang herbs on the hemodynamics in liver fibrotic rats.

METHODSWistar rats with liver fibrosis, induced by carbon tetrachloride and alcohol, were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group was administered wen-yang herbs and the control group saline. At the end of the experiment, the hemodynamic markers of the liver and the mesentery, the liver function and hydroxyproline content of liver tissues between the two groups were compared. Blood volume of the livers and hydroxyproline content of liver tissues were also determined.

RESULTSBlood volume of the liver and mesentery (P < 0.01) and blood flow velocity of small vein of mesentery (P < 0.05) of the treatment group were distinctly higher than the control group. The hydroxyproline content (P < 0.01) of the treatment group was remarkably reduced and liver function was improved.

CONCLUSIONWen-yang herbs can activate microcirculation of the liver and mesentery, decrease the deposit of collagen in the liver and improve liver function.

Animals ; Blood Circulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo analyze the degrees on the epidemic foci of Angiostronglus cantonensis and to explore the measurement methods.

METHODSSnails (Pila gigas) were collected from the spots of Wenzhou, Cangnan, Yongjia, Yueqing in Zhejiang province and Minhou, Changle, Ningde in Fujian province. The snails were examined microscopically in order to calculate their infection rates and the average worm number in the positive snails, then taking the product of multiplication of both values as infestation index.

RESULTSThe infection rates of the epidemic foci were 10.59% (9/85), 60.74% (181/298), 34.96% (79/226), 32.90% (76/231), 57.50% (184/320), 40.00% (82/205), 17.65% (12/68) and the rates of infectivity were 6.57, 183.54, 121.73, 93.45, 276.36, 76.08, 12.65, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe epidemic foci were divided into five ranks (super, high, mid-range, low and non-epidemic foci) according to the value of infestation index which ranked from > 75, 30-75, 5-29, < 5 to 0.

Angiostrongylus ; pathogenicity ; Animals ; China ; Disease Outbreaks ; Snails ; parasitology ; Strongylida Infections ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effectiveness of postoperative electron beam irradiation therapy for keloid.

METHODSForty-eight patients with 65 keloid sites were treated by surgical removal and postoperative 25 Gy electron beam irradiation from 1994 to 2002 and followed for over eighteen months. Statistical analysis was performed and therapeutic outcome was evaluated.

RESULTSThe overall recurrence rate was 26%. Higher post-treatment recurrence rates were noted with keloid forming at infected sites and in patients with family history (47.8% and 53.3%) (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, patient age, sex, keloid size and location had no increased likehood of recurrence rate.

CONCLUSIONThe study shows that postoperative electron beam irradiation therapy is a kind of safe and effective method in inhibiting recurrence of keloid formation and eradicating it.

Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Electrons ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keloid ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Male ; Postoperative Care ; Recurrence ; Treatment Outcome

The effect of sowing date on grain protein, hordein fraction content and malting quality of two-rowed spring barley was investigated by using ten commercial cultivars with different grain protein content and the relationships among these traits were examined. The results showed that grain protein content and B hordein content increased as the sowing date postponed and were significantly affected by sowing date, while C and D hordein contents were less influenced by sowing date. There were significant differences in grain protein and hordein fraction content among the ten cultivars. The coefficient of variation of D hordein content was much larger than that of B and C hordein contents, suggesting its greater variation caused by different sowing dates. Beta-amylase activity and diastatic power were also significantly affected by sowing date, with malt extract being less affected. Significant differences in measured malt quality were found among the ten cultivars. Grain protein was significantly correlated with B hordein and malt extract positively and negatively, respectively. There was no significant correlation between beta-amylase activity or diastatic power and grain protein content. B hordein was negatively and significantly correlated with malt extract, but no significant correlations between C hordein, D hordein and malting quality traits.
Edible Grain ; chemistry ; Food Analysis ; Food Technology ; Glutens ; Hordeum ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Seeds ; growth & development ; metabolism

Background and Objective: Leukemia is a malignant tumor highly dependent on nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells(NF-κB),which is relevant for the occurrence,metastasis,proliferation,apoptosis,and drug resistance of tumor cells.Research has confirmed that the NF-κB family is one of the target genes in the Notch signaling pathway.This study investigated the effects of Celastrol on the apoptosis of U937 cells and the expression levels of Notch1 and NF-κB in these cells.Methods: U937cells were treated with various concentrations Celastrol(0.5-16.0)μmol/L for 12-60 h.MTT assay was performed to examine the effect of Celastrol on growth inhibition of U937 cells.Cell apoptosis was detected through both Annexin-Ⅴ FITC/PI double-labeled cytometry and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).Cell cycle regulation was studied by propidium iodide.Western blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)technologies were applied to assess the expression level of hERG in K562 cells and to assess the expression level of Notch1 in U937 cells.Subcellular distributions of NF-κB/p65 were detected through confocal microscopy.Results: Celastrol presented striking growth inhibition and apoptosis induction potency on U937 cells in vitro in a time-and dose-dependent manner.The IC50 value of Celastrol for 24 h was(6.21±0.24)μmol/L.Moreover,Celastrol induced apoptosis in U937 cells in a cell-cycle dependent manner,which means that Celastrol could arrest U937 cells in the G0/G1 phase.Through TEM,apoptotic bodies containing nuclear fragments were found in Celastrol-treated U937 cells.Overexpression of Notch1 was found in U937 cells,while Celastrol could downregulate it at both the protein and mRNA level in a dose-dependent manner,and expression of NF-κB decreased in nuclei and increased in the cytoplasm(P<0.05).Conclusions:Celastrol inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in U937 cells in a concentration-dependent manner.The possible mechanism might be involved in the regulation of a survival signaling pathway,such as Notch or Nκ-KB.