OBJECTIVETo provide basis for environmental factors of genuine crude Chinese angelica.

METHODOn-the-spot investigation and indoor chemical analysis were made to study the physicochemical properties of cultivated soil of Chinese angelica.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe physical properties and the organic matte and mineral nutrition of cultivated soil of Chinese angelica are best in Min County, Gansu Province. The ecological environment is the leading factor in forming genuine crude Chinese angelica.

Angelica sinensis ; growth & development ; Ecology ; Phosphorus ; analysis ; Potassium ; analysis ; Quality Control ; Soil ; analysis ; Zinc ; analysis

The atom absorption spectrometer is introduced to determine the cation concentrations such as potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium in the dialysis fluid. They are accurately determined by proper preparation and correct dilution ratio under the optimized measuring conditions. Compared with the current arbitrate methods (EDTA titration determination of calcium and magnesium), it supplements the methods of international and industrial standards for determination of cations.
Calcium ; analysis ; Cations ; analysis ; Dialysis Solutions ; analysis ; chemistry ; Magnesium ; analysis ; Potassium ; analysis ; Sodium ; analysis ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; methods

OBJECTIVEThe effect of the different fertilizing levels on yields and main active components of Pinellia ternata from Sichuan was studied under the cultivated condition, in order to provide theoretical basis for the standardized cultivation.

METHODUsing one of the wild populations of P. ternate from Sichuan as tested material, the experiment was performed with orthogonal designing methods L25 (5(3)). During growth and development period, agronomic traits such as number of sprouting, inflorescence and bulblets were counted. After harvesting, main chemical compositions, growth and proliferation rates were determined.

RESULTIn different fertilizing levels, the P. ternata from Sichuan showed the same growth rhythm, though there were significant difference (P < 0.05) among the average emergence rate,whereas extremely significant difference (P < 0.01) were detected among the average ratio of bolting, the average bulbils, individual growth rate, individual proliferation rate, beta-sitosterol and alkaloid content under different fertilizing levels. Nitrogenous fertilizer that affected the content of alkaloids and beta-sitosterol were extremely significant (P < 0.01), whereas phosphate and potassium fertilizer had no significant effect. The effect of fertilizer factor and inter effects on beta-sitosterol showed no significant effect, but have influence on other indexes.

CONCLUSIONThe optimum fertilizer composition was 315 kg x hm(-2) of nitrogen, 225 kg x hm(-2) of P2O5 and 270 kg x hm(-2) of K2O.

Alkaloids ; analysis ; Fertilizers ; Nitrogen Compounds ; analysis ; Phosphates ; analysis ; Phosphorus Compounds ; analysis ; Pinellia ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Potassium Compounds ; analysis ; Sitosterols ; analysis

A Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometric method was described for the determination of quartz, mica(sericite) and feldspar(potassium feldspar) in respirable dust in Taebaek area. The results were as follows; 1) The concentration of minerals were determined from the intensity of absorption peak of quartz at 799 cm-1, sericite at 539 cm-1, and potassium feldspar at 648 cm-1 respectively. 2) The precision(C. V. %) for the quartz determination was 7.70+/-2.68 % from 10 to 200 microgram of quartz. 3) The precision for the sericite determination was 16.34+/-6.82 % from 30 to 500 microgram of serictite. 4) The precision for the potassium feldspar determination was 5.28+/-1.74 % from 30 to 500 microgram of potassium feldspar. 5) The concentration of respirable dust in Taebaek area was 4.90+/-3.29 mg/m3(0.4-93.7%), percent quartz was 1.80+/-4.14% (0.01-20.56%), percent sericite was 11.37+/-6.43% (0.00-29.69%), percent potassium feldspar was 8.15 % (n=7, 3.41-19.70%). 6) The difference of respirable coal dust, quartz, and sericite concentration in drilling, coal cutting, hauling and separating was significant respectively (p<0.05).
Absorption ; Coal ; Dust* ; Fourier Analysis* ; Minerals ; Potassium ; Quartz* ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the capacity of laboratories participated in the proficiency testing (PT) of determination potassium in serum and improve the quality of testing, and put forward technical suggestions for unsatisfied laboratories. METHODS: According to the requirements of CNAS related documents, the homogeneity and stability of the real PT sample were evaluated by one-way ANOVA and t test, respectively. The values of real PT samples were assigned by reference method which was used in PT results assay. It is required that the deviation of value of real PT samples (code:2, 3, 5) between the measured value and the assigned value shall be within ±15.0%. The precision of values for all samples should not be greater than 3.0%. RESULTS: All the laboratories submitted valid data according to the requirements. Only one laboratory did not meet the requirements, and the satisfaction rate was 90.9%. CONCLUSIONS The ability of most of laboratories are accurate and reliable.
Drinking Water/analysis* ; Laboratories ; Laboratory Proficiency Testing ; Potassium

The output and agronomic characters of 3-year-old Panax notoginseng cultured under stereo structure (upper, middle and down layers) were investigated, and the annual change of N, P and K of its planting soil were also studied. Results showed that, compared with field cultured Panax notoginseng, growth vigour and output of stereo-cultivation were significantly lower. But the total production of the 3 layers was 1.6 times of field. The growth vigor and production of P. notoginseng was in the order of upper layer > middle layer > down layer. The content of ginsenoside in rhizome, root tuber and hair root of P. notoginseng was in the order of upper layer > field > middle layer > down layer. Organic matter content and pH of stereo-cultivation soil decreased with the prolonging of planting time, which with the same trend of yield. Organic matter content of stereo-cultivation soil was significantly higher than field, but the pH was significantly lower. Contents of total and available N, P and K in stereo-cultivation soil and field decreased with the prolonging of planting time. The content of N and P were in the order of upper layer > middle layer > yield > down layer, the content of K was in the order of upper layer > middle layer > down layer > yield. Compared with field, the proportion of N and P in the organ of underground (rhizome, root tuber and hair root) of upper layer were increased, while decreased in middle and down layers. Proportion of K in underground decreased significantly of the 3 layers. In conclusion, the agronomic characters and production of stereo-cultivation were significantly lower than that of yield. But the total production of the 3 layers were significantly higher than field of unit area. And the aim of improving land utilization efficiency was achieved. Nutritions in the soil of stereo-cultivation were enough to support the development of P. notoginseng, which was not the cause of weak growth and low production. The absorbing ability of P. notoginseng to N, P and K nutrients was decreased by stereo-cultivation mode. So, improve the growth vigour of P. notoginseng from the perspective of adjusting the stereo-cultivation mode so as to improve the nutrient absorption capacity is the future direction.
Food ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nitrogen ; analysis ; Panax notoginseng ; growth & development ; Phosphorus ; analysis ; Potassium ; analysis ; Soil ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE: To investigate KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNE1 and KCNE2 gene variants in the cases of sudden manhood death syndrome (SMDS). METHODS: One hundred and sixteen sporadic cases of SMDS and one hundred and twenty-five healthy controlled samples were enrolled. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples. Gene variants of KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNE1 and KCNE2 were screened by direct sequencing. RESULTS: A total of 14 mutations and 14 SNP were detected. Two non-synonymous mutations of them were newfound. There was no non-synonymous mutation found in the control group. CONCLUSION There are KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNE1 and KCNE2 gene variants found in Chinese SMDS cases. KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNE1 and KCNE2 gene mutation may correlate partly with the occurrence of some cases of the SMDS in China.
Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Death, Sudden/ethnology* ; ERG1 Potassium Channel ; Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels/genetics* ; Humans ; KCNQ1 Potassium Channel/genetics* ; Long QT Syndrome ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Potassium Channels ; Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To seek a precise method for estimating postmortem interval (PMI) in forensic medicine practice. METHODS: This study detected the concentration of 21 elements in the vitreous humor of rabbit within 96 hours after death and explored the relationship between their concentration and PMI using the method of ICP-MS. RESULT: It was shown that the concentration of 9 elements in vitreous humor of rabbit within different intervals after death were correlated to PMI available as a reference indicator to estimate PMI. CONCLUSION The changes in the concentration of certain elements in vitreous humor of vitreous humor are correlated with PMI and determination of such changes can be used to estimate the time of death.
Animals ; Calcium/analysis* ; Forensic Medicine ; Iron/analysis* ; Magnesium/analysis* ; Postmortem Changes ; Potassium/analysis* ; Rabbits ; Time Factors ; Vitreous Body/chemistry*

Estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) is one of the problems that need to be solved for forensic examination of the dead body. Accurate estimation of PMI has great values to criminal investigation and trial. The levels of chemical components in human vitreous humor are changed with time after death, which can help estimate the PMI. The levels of certain chemical components, such as potassium, magnesium, ammonia, urea, creatinine, uric acid, hypoxanthine, lactic acid and so on, in human vitreous humor will gradually increase with time after death, while others such as calcium, sodium, enzymes, glucose, vitamin C and so on will decrease. The updates and advances in those studies were reviewed in this article.
Calcium/analysis* ; Forensic Pathology ; Humans ; Magnesium/analysis* ; Postmortem Changes ; Potassium/analysis* ; Sodium/analysis* ; Time Factors ; Vitreous Body/chemistry*

We report physicochemical characteristics of various kinds of liquid milk commercially available in Pakistan in comparison with those of fresh natural milk from animals. Milk samples were collected from local markets at Peshawar, Pakistan, and analyzed for their physical features, including moisture, total solids, specific gravity, conductivity, viscosity and titratable acidity (lactic acid equivalent), and chemical components and macro-minerals, including total protein, casein, lactose, ash and minerals (Na, K and Mg). These items were compared with the physicochemical characteristics of the fresh natural milk samples from buffalo, cow and goat. The results were also compared with reported nutritional quality of milk from various countries and World Health Organization (WHO) standards. We found that all the physical features and chemical components of commercially available milk in Pakistan markets meet WHO's requirements, except for Na, K, Ca and Mg, which are below the standards.
Animals ; Buffaloes ; Calcium ; analysis ; Cattle ; Goats ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Metals ; analysis ; Milk ; chemistry ; Potassium ; analysis ; Sodium ; analysis ; Viscosity