Rhynchosia volubilis Lour has been a major drug in a folk prescription for contraception in China, whereas its mechanism remains unknown. Its antifertility effects on male mice and antimicrobial activities on sexually transmitted infection (STI) pathogens were previously reported. This study was undertaken to develop the n-Butanol extract of Rhynchosia volubilis Lour (BERVL) as a spermicidal agent with STI prevention. The spermicidal activities of BERVL with different doses were assessed using selected high-motile sperms of normal human semen samples, and their inhibitory effects on Lactobacillus acidophilus were determined. The mechanism of the spermicidal activity was explored by aqueous Eosin Y and Hoechst 33342/PI staining. The results showed spermicidal activities and inhibitory effects of BERVL on Lactobacillus acidophilus were dose-dependent. Dose of 90 mg/mL BERVL terminated all progressive sperm motility within 2 min, and had slight inhibitory effect on Lactobacillus acidophilus, suggesting it was an effective and safe dose for contraception use. About 80% sperms exposed to BERVL displayed changes consistent with high permeability of head membrane. It is concluded that BERVL as spermicide has advantages over N-9 with strong ability to instantaneously kill human sperm and possesses light inhibitory effect on Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Objective To investigate the current situation of the prevention and contml of iodine deficiency disorders(IDD)in Hubei Province,SO as to provide a policy.making basis for controlling work of IDD. Methods Using the method of proportional population sampling(PPS),30 eounties were seiected in Hubei Province.In each selected county,1 primary school was chosen.In every primary school,40 pupil8 aged 8～10 years were selected to examine thyroid size,intelligent quotient(IQ),and salt iodine contents at their home.In the selected pupils,2 boys and 2 girls were chosen to determine their urinary iodine contents in each age grouD.Twenty pupils in the above school and 5 housewives ileal"to this school were tested in health education questionnaire. Results The median of salt iodine was 30.1 mg/kg,and the rate of comsuming qualified iodized salt was 96.2% (1154/1200).The rates ofchild goiter were 6.5%(78/1200)by palpation and 4.1%(49/1200)by B ultrasound.The median of urinary iodine Was 358.4μg/L and mean of the IQ was 105.3±14.4.The rate of qualified scores of both students and housewives Was 25.5%(153/600)、90.7%(136/150).Conclusions The current Bituation of iedine nutrition is good.The goal of eliminating IDD has been achieved in Hubei Province.

Objective To confirm the distribution of high arsenic drinking water and the situation of endemic arsenism in Hubei Province, to provide reference basis for prevention and control of endemic arsenic disease. Methods Using typical investigation and sample investigation in 2006 and 2007, the arsenic content of water was detected sampled from 19 counties(cities or communities). And those water samples which were close to or exceeded the stipulated standard were rechecked by the national standard method. Furthermore, the situation of endemic arsenism was investigated in the cities having high arsenic contents of water. Results In 2006,10 028 water samples of 446 villages in 6 counties (cities or communities) were tested, the wells of high arsenic (> 0.05 mg/L) were found in 5 counties (cities or communities) and the proportion of the well that exceeded stipulated standard was 5.29%(530/10 028); In 2007,19 086 water samples of 1282 villages in 17 counties(cities or communities) were tested, the wells of high arsenic were found in 11 counties(cities or communities), and the proportion of the well that exceeded stipulated standard was 1.74%(333/19 086). In these two years, 29 114 water samples were tested, in which 863 water samples were exceeding the stipulated standard. The 2.96% of total wells exceeded stipulated standard and mainly distributed in 179 villages of 12 counties(cities or communities). And the highest arsenic content of water sample was 2.012 mg/L. In the endemic arsenism area, 2 critical, 1 moderate and 1 mild arsenism patients had been found. Conclusions The water of high arsenic content are scattered in Hubei Province and the situation of endemic arsenism disease is mild. Improving water aiming at decreasing arsenic and establishing patient files should be carried out immediately.

Nuclear receptors (NRs) is a class of ligand-dependent transcription factor superfamily that regulate the transcription of target genes through endogenous or exogenous ligand activation.Nuclear receptors play an important role in the transcriptional regulation of drug metabolic enzymes and transporters.MicroRNA is a class of endogenous non -coding RNAs with regulatory functions.The control of microRNAs on the expression of nuclear receptors can affect the expression of drug metabolic enzymes and transporters,thus affecting the drug efficacy,adverse drug reactions and drug interactions.This paper systematically reviews the effects of microRNA on the regulation of drug metabolic enzymes and transporters mediated by several important nuclear receptors.

Objective To investigate the value of the Wells score and D-dimer assay in assisting pulmonary perfusion imaging (PPI) for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Methods One hundred twenty-one patients with suspected APE were studied from January, 2006 to December, 2008. All patients underwent the Wells score, the quantitative D-dimer assay, chest X-ray photography, and PPI. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of PPI with the assistance of Wells score and D-dimer assay were calculated. Results Fifty (41.3%) patients were diagnosed with APE. PPI combined with chest X-ray photography (Q/X scan) showed positive results in 49 patients. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the Q/X scan were 86.0% (43/50), 91.5% (65/71), 87.8% (43/49) and 90.3% (65/72), respectively. With assistance of Wells score >4 and D-dimer≥0. 5 mg/L, Q/X scan had a positive predictive value of 100.0% (29/29), for patients with Wells score ≤4 and D-dimer<0.5 mg/L, the negative predictive value for Q/X scan was 100.0% (41/41). Conclusion Combined with Wells score and D-dimer assay, PPI can make accurate diagnosis of APE.

Objective To study the expression of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and survivin in children with acute leukemia(AL) and its significance.Method The expression of COX-2 and survivin were determined by immunohistochemical SABC assay.Results The expression rate of COX-2 and survivin were 52.4%(22/42 cases)and 45.2%(19/42 cases)in AL,and the expression rate of COX-2 and survivin were 46.9%(15/32 cases)and 40.6%(13/32 cases)and in acute lymphonate leukemia(ALL),both of them were higher than those in control group(Pa0.05).The positive rate of COX-2 was 84%(16/19 cases)in 19 cases with survivin positive expression,and the negative rate of COX-2 was 85%(17/20 cases)in 20 cases with survivin negative expression,and there was positive correlation between COX-2 expression and survivin expression(r=0.579 P

Adiponectin ; blood ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Ribavirin ; pharmacology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESTo study whether Chinese Medicine Yiqihuoxuetang(YQHXT) could inhibit antisperm antibodies in infertile men, and to explore the therapeutical mechanism of YQHXT.

METHODSThirty infertile men with antisperm antibodies took YQHXT continuously for 60 days. Indirect immuno-fluorescence technique (IFT) was used to detect the levels of CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD4/CD8 ratio before and after treatment.

RESULTSCD4 value and CD4/CD8 ratio after treatment were significantly lower than before treatment (P < 0.05); CD8 value became significantly higher(P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe results indicated that YQHXT could inhibit antisperm antibodies by keeping the balance of T-lymphocyte subpopulation in immunoinfertile men.

Adult ; Autoantibodies ; immunology ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo detect the point mutations by chip-based capillary electrophoresis and to provide a rapid and sensitive technique detection for beta-thalassemia.

METHODSMultiplex primer-extension reaction was used to amplify the common loci of the samples for beta-thalassemia. The reaction products were detected by the chip-based capillary electrophoresis and the genotypes of the samples were discrened.

RESULTSA system was constructed to detect the point mutations of beta-thalassemia by chip-based capillary electrophoresis, and the technology was ralidated by the patients' samples and the results coincided with those of detection kit.

CONCLUSIONBeta-thalassemia can be detected by chip-based capillary electrophoresis rapidly with a small amount of samples. It would be a new detection method of the genetic disorders.

Electrophoresis, Capillary ; methods ; Female ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; beta-Thalassemia ; diagnosis ; genetics

Cytochrome P450 enzymes are composed of many isozymes and involved in the biotransformation of both exogenous and endogenous substances. A growing number of studies have found that the P450 enzymes do not always follow the classical Michaelis-Menten kinetics, but show atypical kinetic behavior, which is also the current research hotspot. In this paper, the category and mechanisms of atypical kinetics of the P450 enzyme were reviewed, providing theoretical basis for the research of enzyme kinetics.
Animals ; Benzoflavones ; pharmacology ; Binding Sites ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Enzyme Activation ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Protein Binding ; Substrate Specificity