During the process of growth, harvesting, transportation, processing and storage, Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) can be easily contaminated by fungi and their metabolites like mycotoxins, which not only express negative effects on the quality and safety of CHMs and their processed products, but also pose great threats to human health. Now, some chemical synthetic fungicides have been frequently used to control the growth of fungi and accumulation of mycotoxins in the preservation of CHMs. However, the concentration and type of chemical fungicides allowed for postharvest application are restricted due to the disadvantages of their high residual toxicity, long degradation period and pollution to the environment and so on. Therefore, it is critical to research and develop some highly effective, safe and non-toxic, natural, environment-friendly fungistatic agents from plants to prevent CHMs from being contaminated by fungi and mycotoxins. The paper reviews mycotoxins and their harmfulness, the effective compounds of fungistatic plants as well as the antifungal mechanism to provide scientific evidences for developing novel and effective fungistatic agents plants. Then, the application prospect of fungistatic agents from plants in the preservation of CHMs was discussed.
Animals ; Fungi ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Fungicides, Industrial ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Mycotoxins ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; prevention & control ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; microbiology ; Preservation, Biological ; methods

OBJECTIVEAmbroxol induces the synthesis of surfactant in lung alveolar type II cells. Some studies have shown its effectiveness for the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of two different ways of ambroxol administration, ie, intravenous injection and atomizing inhalation, for the prevention of RDS in preterm infants.

METHODSA total of 125 preterm infants born between 28-37 weeks of gestation were randomly assigned into three groups: Intravenous and Atomizing ambroxol treatment groups (n=40 each) or Control group (n=45). The Intravenous group was injected with 15 mg/kg of ambroxol through the umbilical vein immediately after birth and then received 30 mg/kg of ambroxol daily for 2 days by intravenous drip. The Atomizing group was administered with 30 mg/kg of ambroxol daily for 2 days by atomizing inhalation immediately after birth. The Control group received no ambroxol treatment. The incidences of RDS and complications as well as the blood gas results 6 hrs after birth were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSThe incidence of RDS was 7.5%, 5.0% and 24.4% in the Intravenous, Atomizing and Control groups respectively. There were no significant differences in the incidence of RDS between the two ambroxol treatment groups. However, the incidence of RDS in the two treatment groups were noticeably lower than in the Control group (P < 0.05). The blood gas results did not show significant differences between the two ambroxol treatment groups but both groups demonstrated improved blood gas results compared with the Control group at 6 hrs after birth (P < 0.05). The incidence of complications, such as pulmonary hemorrhage, respiratory failure, intraranial hemorrhage, in the two ambroxol treatment groups was reduced compared with the Control group (P < 0.05), but there were no differences between the two ambroxol groups.

CONCLUSIONSEarly administration of either intravenous or atomizing ambroxol can produce a positive efficacy for the prevention of RDS in preterm infants. The two different ways of administration seem to result in a similar efficacy in the prevention of RDS.

Administration, Inhalation ; Ambroxol ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; metabolism ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn ; prevention & control

Animals ; Hepatitis B virus ; isolation & purification ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Microscopy, Immunoelectron ; Serum ; virology

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.

creatinine concentration. Conclusion Bisphosphonates can decrease serum total calcium levels in hypercalcemia crisis caused by PHPT effectivelywith mild adverse events.

OBJECTIVETo detect the mutations of rpoB gene in Mycobacterium tuberculosis by pyrosequencing and to evaluate the values on detection of rifampin resistance in clinical isolates.

METHODSUsing the new technology of pyrosequencing, the mutations in the rifampin resistance determining region (RRDR) of rpoB gene were analyzed. The results were compared with those obtained from methods of the absolute concentration and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).

RESULTSAmong the 150 Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates, 84 were susceptible and 66 resistant to RIF. 54 of the 66 resistant isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. Ser531Leu and His526Asp or Tyr, including twelve different genotypes and six codons, were the most common mutations. In the drug susceptibility testing, the accordance rates of the pyrosequencing and the absolute concentration method as well as MIC were 92.7% and 97.8% respectively.

CONCLUSIONNot only is the pyrosequencing technology a fast, sensitive and high throughput method in detecting rifampin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but also a useful tool in the research of rifampin resistance mechanism.

Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; genetics ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mutation ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Phosphoric Acids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rifampin ; pharmacology

BACKGROUNDThe aim of this research was to explore quality of life (QOL) and acceptance of disability and social support of colostomy patients as well as the relationship between these factors.

METHODSA descriptive, correlational study was conducted using four scales: the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Colorectal Cancer-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-CR38) scales, the Acceptance of Disability Scale (ADS), and the Social Relational Quality Scale (SRQS). A convenience sample of 111 colostomy patients from four hospitals in Guangzhou who underwent colostomy operation at least one month prior to the study and who visited the stoma clinic or association from August 2011 to February 2012 was evaluated for inclusion in the study. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 17.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

RESULTSThe patients' general health status was better than the reference level recommended by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, and the overall ADS score was average. The SRQS score was similar to that found in a Hong Kong study. The general health status and dimensions of QOL were significantly correlated with ADS and all of its dimensions (P < 0.05). The general health status and dimensions of QOL were also significantly correlated with SRQS and all of its dimensions (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSQOL, acceptance of disability, and social relational quality of colostomy patients were closely related. Our results emphasize that patients should work to form rational values and close bonds with families and friends to achieve a better QOL.

Aged ; Colostomy ; adverse effects ; psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Social Support ; Surveys and Questionnaires

We present an unusual case of an unstable pelvic fracture during pregnancy period, who suffered fetal death and splenic rupture simultaneously which developed massive delayed hemorrhage in abdomen. When considering potential causes of fetal death, direct trauma to the uterus, placenta, or fetus was not associated with a higher fetal mortality rate, compared with maternal hemorrhage. A cesarean section and splenectomy could rescue the maternal life from the hemorrhage situation. Successful treatment of these rare cases is possible with careful pre-, peri-, and post-operative evaluation of the mother and fetus by a multidisciplinary team.
Cesarean Section ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Fractures, Bone ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Pelvic Bones ; injuries ; Pregnancy

This study is aimed to investigate the effects of high intracellular Mg²⁺ on L-type calcium channel in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. The cardiomyocytes were acutely isolated with enzyme digestion method. By adopting inside-out configuration of patch clamp technique, single channel currents of the L-type calcium channel were recorded under different intracellular Mg²⁺ concentrations ([Mg²⁺]i). In control group, which was treated with 0.9 mmol/L Mg²⁺, the relative activity of calcium channel was (176.5 ± 34.1)% (n = 7). When [Mg²⁺]i was increased from 0.9 to 8.1 mmol/L (high Mg²⁺ group), the relative activities of calcium channel decreased to (64.8 ± 18.1)% (n = 6, P < 0.05). Moreover, under 8.1 mmol/L Mg²⁺, the mean open time of calcium channel was shortened to about 25% of that under control condition (P < 0.05), but the mean close time of calcium channel was not altered. These results suggest that high intracellular Mg²⁺ may inhibit the activities of L-type calcium channel, which is mainly due to the shortening of the mean open time of single L-type calcium channel.
Animals ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; physiology ; Guinea Pigs ; Magnesium ; physiology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Xeroderma Pigmentosum ; genetics