AIM: To develop a method for determining ginsenoside Rb_1,Rc,Rb_2 and Rd in Shenqi Granules (Radix Rhizoma Ginseng,Radix Astragali,Rhizoma Atractylodis macrocephalae,Poria,etc.) by microbore LC.METHODS: Microbore liquid chromatography was applied.Microsil C_(18) column( 150 mm×1.0 mm) was used with the mobile phase containing acetonitrile-water for gradient elution.The flow rate was 50 μL/min,and the detection wavelength was set at 220 nm.RESULTS : The relationships between the concentrations and the peak areas of these for components were all linear.The recoveries were 98.14% for ginsenoside Rb_1,98.04% for ginsenoside Rc,98.79% for ginsenoside Rb_2,and 97.97% for ginsenoside Rd respectively.The relative standard deviations (RSD) were 0.67%,0.99%,0.75%,and 1.46%,respectively.CONCLUSION: This method is simple,convenient and can be used for quality control.

AIM:To develop a method for determining ginsenoside Rb_1,Rc,Rb_2 and Rd in Shenqi Granules(Radix Rhizoma Ginseng,Radix Astragali,Rhizoma Atractylodis macrocephalae,Poria,etc.)by microbore LC.METHODS:Microbore liquid chromatography was applied.Microsil C_ 18 column(150 mm?1.0 mm)was used with the mobile phase containing acetonitrile-water for gradient elution.The flow rate was 50 ?L/min,and the detection wavelength was set at 220 nm.RESULTS:The relationships between the concentrations and the peak areas of these for components were all linear.The recoveries were 98.14% for ginsenoside Rb_1,98.04% for ginsenoside Rc,98.79% for ginsenoside Rb_2,and 97.97% for ginsenoside Rd respectively.The relative standard deviations(RSD)were 0.67%,0.99%,0.75%,and 1.46%,respectively.CONCLUSION:This method is simple,convenient and can be used for quality control.

Objective: To observe the changes of liver metabolism in mice exposed to artificial light at night. Methods: Healthy male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the light at night group and the control group, with 8 mice in each group. The daily light/dark cycle was 12/12 hours in the control group, and 24/0 hours in the light at night group for 10 consecutive days. The hepatic metabolite profiles of the two groups of mice were detected by high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The modelling was assessed by combining principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis ( OPLS-DA ) , The changes of metabolites in the two groups were compared through KEGG database. Results: Compared with the control group, 9 different metabolites were detected in the light at night group, among which the down-regulated metabolites were glycine-betaine, glutathione, tyrosine, betaine, lysine, hypoxanthine, histidine and methionine, and the up-regulated ones were mannose-6-phosphate. The weight analysis of the metabolic pathways showed that the major influences on liver of light at night group were phenylalanine-tyrosine-tryptophan metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, fructose and mannose metabolism, cysteine and methionine metabolism and histidine metabolism. Conclusion The metabolism of various amino acids and sugars in light at night mice is disturbed,and the key differential metabolites are tyrosine, methionine, histidine and mannose-6-phosphate.

OBJECTIVETo verify the efficacy on lumbar disc herniation treated with Shu-needle therapy in combination with ozone injection of low concentration.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty cases of lumbar disc herniation were randomized into a Shu-needle therapy group and an acupotomy group, 65 cases in each one. In the Shu-needle therapy group, Shu-needle therapy was used in combination with ozone injection of low concentration. In the acupotomy group, the conventional acupotomy therapy was applied in combination with ozone injection of low concentration. The treatment was given once every 10 days, 3 treatments made one session. After one session treatment, the clinical efficacy of two groups was observed, scores of visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were counted before and after treatment. The long-term efficacy was followed up in half a year.

RESULTSThe clinical curative rate was 69.2% (45/65) and the total effective rate was 96.9% (63/65) in the Shu-needle therapy group. The curative rate was 43.1% (28/65) and the total effective rate was 84.6% (55/65) in the acupotomy group. In comparison, the efficacy of the Shu-needle therapy group was superior to that of the acupotomy group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The scores of VAS and ODI were reduced obviously after treatment as compared with those before treatment in two groups (all P < 0.05). The improvements in the Shu-needle therapy group were superior to those in the acupotomy group (both P < 0.05). In the follow-up observation, the recurrence rate in the Shu-needle therapy group was lower than that in the acupotomy group [17.8% (8/45) vs 46.4% (13/28), P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONShu-needle therapy in combination with ozone injection of low concentration achieves the superior efficacy on lumbar disc herniation as compared with the acupotomy group.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ozone ; administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate occupational health status of female workers in pharmaceutical industries and to propose the protective measures for the occupational health.

METHODA total of 2816 female workers from 19 pharmaceutical industries in Shandong and Gansu provinces were investigated by a questionnaire.

RESULTS73.1% of female workers exposed to occupational hazards, mainly to toxic chemicals. 63.2% of them suffered from dysmenorrhea; 38.5% of them have reproductive system diseases, i.e. mammary gland hyperplasia (44.1%), cervical erosion (26.5%), uterine annex inflammation (24.2%); 17.1% of them suffered from accidental work injuries; 34.7% of them complained about low back pain, and 29.7% of them perceived hearing loss. 94.9% of female workers hoped to get the occupational health and labor protection knowledge and skills.

CONCLUSIONStrengthening the supervision of labor protection for female workers, including technical measures occupational hazards control and health-related knowledge, and improving the occupational health status of female workers should be conducted.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; Drug Industry ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; statistics & numerical data ; Occupational Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult

Objective Brucine and strychnine monomer reference substance as extremely toxic substance had potential threat during transportation and utilization. In this study we investigated the homogeneity, stability and assignment accuracy of the mixture reference solution of strychnine and brucine, so as to provide reference for the quality control of extremely toxic chemical reference substances for Chinese medicine. Methods Following the assay in Chinese Pharmacopoeia volume I (2015), we prepared the mixture reference solution of brucine and strychnine, and investigated the solvents and the concentration of mixutre reference solution. The stability test lasted for 12 months. F-test was used for heterogeneity assay. Three researchers were involved for collaboration. Results Methanol and chloroform solution were selected as the solvents for the stability test. Results showed the difference was not statistically significant among various mixture solutions. The results of value assignment were 0.14 mg/mL for strychnine (sR = 0.5％)and 0.10 mg/mL for brucine (sR = 1.0％). The stability of mixture solution were better under the conditions of methanol solution at 4 ℃ or -20 ℃. Conclusion The results provide a possible way to develop the mixture solution in place of the monomer reference, and the mixture reference solution is expected for the quality control in the slices of Semen Strychni and its compound preparations.

OBJECTIVESTo explore the feasibility of DC being in vitro induced from AML cells with cytokine cocktails and their biological properties.

METHODSAML cells were cultured in either presence or absence of cytokine cocktails. DC were studied for morphology, and cytochemical and immunofluorescent staining. Functions of DC were examined by MLC, FITC-conjugated dextran uptake test, and LDH release assay. RT-PCR and FISH were used to analyze the specific fusion genes of culture-derived DC.

RESULTSClassical DC morphological changes occurred in all 15 cultured AML cells. DC-associated surface molecules such as CD(1a), CD(80), CD(86), CD(106), CD(83) and HLA-DR were upregulated (P < 0.05). The allostimulatory abilities of culture-derived DC were significantly higher than those of AML cells uncultured or cultured in the absence of cytokines (P < 0.05). Culture-derived DC only in the presence of GM-CSF + IL-4 have phagocytotic activities. CTL assay was performed in 5 of the 15 samples. At effector/target ratio of 20:1, auto-T lymphocytes primed with the culture-derived DC exhibited no more killing activity to auto-AML cells than those stimulated by IL-2 or uncultured AML cells. Culture-derived DC presenced the native AML-specific aberrant karyotype and related fusion gene.

CONCLUSIONSCytokine cocktails could in vitro induce AML cells into DC with classical morphology, immunophenotype and function. DC maturity induced by different cytokine cocktails could be variable. Culture-derived DC were originated from the native AML cells. AML cells could make the auto-T lymphocyte anergy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cytokines ; pharmacology ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; Drug Synergism ; Female ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-4 ; pharmacology ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

Objective To disscus the applicability of three surveillance methods for Aedes albopictus in dengue risk indication. Methods Larval and adult mosquito surveillance were conducted in two villages of Guangzhou by using three vector monitoring methods. Meteorological data and dengue cases were obtained in the same period. Results The population dynamics of larvae and adult mosquitoes were affected by temperature and their overall trend was consistent, but there were differences between the abundance of larvae and adult mosquitoes. From December to February the next year, Breteau index(BI) ranged from 5.66 to 24.53 with a risk of level 1 to 3 for dengue fever, while the mosquito and oviposition positive index(MOI) and adult-mosquito density index(ADI) were 0 to 4.00 and 0 to 1 per man-hour, respectively, indicating no risk for dengue fever. In March, compared with BI which indicated a risk of level 3, MOI were 2.13 and 3.77, respectively, representing for no risk. ADI were 4 to 6 per man-hour, indicating a risk of level 1 and level 2, respectively. After April, the dengue risk level reflected by each indicator became to be consistent. Conclusions The risk of dengue fever indicated by BI is always higher than or equal to the risk indicated by the other two. Compared with BI, MOI and ADI are more sensitively in reflecting the activity of Ae. albopictus.

Objective To evaluate the effect of carbapenem exposure on isolation rate of multidrug resistant organisms(MDROs) and prognosis of elderly patients with severe pneumonia.Methods Elderly patients with severe pneumonia and admitted to the intensive care unit in a hospital between February 2014 and February 2016 were investigated retrospectively.According to whether there was carbapenem exposure,patients were divided into group A(carbapenem exposure group) and group B(carbapenem non exposure group).Patients in group A were subdivided into two subgroups according to exposure time of carbapenems,group A1 received carbapenems for＞7 days,group A2 received carbapenems for ≤7 days.The isolation rates of MDROs,mechanical ventilation days,length of stay in ICU,and 28 day mortality among groups were compared and analyzed.Results A total of 86 patients were enrolled in the investigation,57 were males and 29 were females;the average age was (80.12 + 10.45) years (range:65-92 years).There were 40 cases in group A,46 in group B;24 cases in group A1,and 16 in group A2.The isolation rates of MDROs in group A and group B were 65.00％ and 36.96％ respectively,difference was sta tistically significant(P＜0.05);Comparison between two groups of patients revealed that mechanical ventilation days,length of stay in ICU,and 28 day mortality in group A were all higher than group B,difference was statistically significant(all P＜0.05);the isolation rates of MDROs in group A1 was higher than group A2 (75.00％ vs 43.75％,P＜0.05)；mechanical ventilation days of group A1 was higher than group A2 ([7.69 ± 2.22]d vs [6.34±-1.56]d,P＜0.05);28-day mortality and length of stay in ICU between group A1 and A2 were not significantly different(both P＞0.05).Conclusion Carbapenem exposure can increase the occurrence of MDRO infection,especially the non-fermentative bacterial colonization or infection,and prolong the mechanical ventilation days and length of stay in ICU,thus affect the prognosis of patients.

BACKGROUNDHuman group O red blood cells have great benefit in specialized transfusion areas such as armed conflict and natural calamity. The group B antigen differs structurally from group O antigen only by the addition of one terminal alpha-linked galactose residue. In this study we aimed to remove the terminal galactose from group B red blood cell to get group O red blood cell.

METHODSalpha-galactosidase cDNA was cloned by RT-PCR from Catimor coffee beans grown on Hainan Island of China. The vector for alpha-galactosidase cDNA expression was constructed and transferred into Pichia pastoris cells by electroporation. The transgenic cells were cloned by fermentation and the recombinant alpha-galactosidase was purified by ion exchange chromatography. After studying the biochemical characters of alpha-galactosidase, we have used it in converting human erythrocytes from group B to group O.

RESULTSThe purity of recombinant alpha-galactosidase was higher than 96%, which was thought to be suitable for the use of blood conversion. Enzymatically converted human group O red blood cells (ECHORBC) exhibited membrane integrity, metabolic integrity, normal cell deformation and morphology. There were no coagulation between ECHORBC and any group of human blood. The ECHORBC will keep normal structure and function for a period of 21 days at 4 degrees C in monoammoniumphosphate nutrient solution. Experiments with Rhesus monkeys and gibbons showed that transfusion of enzymatically converted erythrocytes was safe.

CONCLUSIONECHORBC can be easily obtained from group B red blood cell by alpha-galactosidase digestion. This study suggests that ECHORBC could be transfused to patients safely and efficiently.

ABO Blood-Group System ; classification ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Transfusion ; Cloning, Molecular ; Coffee ; enzymology ; Erythrocytes ; metabolism ; Humans ; Macaca mulatta ; Quality Control ; Recombinant Proteins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; alpha-Galactosidase ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; toxicity