OBJECTIVETo explore the best pretreatment condition of inorganic salting on volatile oil-bearing water body of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix before membrane separation.

METHODThe simulative system of volatile oil-bearing water body of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix was pre-treated before membrane separation by salting. The best conditions of salting were determined by selecting types and amounts of inorganic salt as investigate factors and comparing membrane flux and oil retention rate.

RESULTThe best pretreatment condition of inorganic salting on volatile oil-bearing water body of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix before membrane separation was to add 2% sodium chloride (NaCl) according to the amount of oil-bearing water body. Gas chromatographic fingerprint showed that inorganic salting did not affect the active ingredient of volatile oil.

CONCLUSIONAdding NaCl to volatile oil-bearing water body of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix before membrane separation can optimize membrane processes by improving membrane flux.

Apiaceae ; chemistry ; Oils, Volatile ; isolation & purification ; Sodium Chloride ; pharmacology

Histopathological effects due to elevation of blood pressure induced by norepinephrine and sodium chloride, and due to high cholesterol feeding were studied upon the arteries and various organs of rats for the evaluation of relationship between arteriosclerosis and hypertension. Blood pressure was generally elevated in all groups, but rose significantly, particularly in the groups receiving sodium chloride. This was especially abrupt at the end of 3 months. No particular gross nor histopathologic changes were found in the aorta, but variable alterations in the coronary and renal arteries including hypertrophic and proliferative changes were characteristically identified. Variable interesting changes of myocardium, kidneys and adrenal glands were also observed. The hypertrophic changes were especially due to hyalinosis in the vascular wall, and the proliferative changes in several cases were similiar to that noted in malignant hypertension. Induction of hypertension by norepinephrine and sodium chloride caused arterial changes such as hypertrophic changes, mainly hyalinosis, and proliferative and necrotizing changes especially in the renal and coronary arteries of rats.
Animals ; Arteries/*pathology ; Hypertension/*pathology ; Male ; Norepinephrine/*pharmacology ; Rats ; Sodium Chloride/*pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore a sampling method which could reflect iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) status at provincial level and discover risk areas with non-iodized salt problem.

METHODBaseline data of Iodized salt from Gansu and Fujian provinces were analyzed with Monte Carlo method both at county and prefecture levels respectively. True positive rate and false positive rate were also calculated.

RESULTSWith data from 7 - 8 villages or 4 - 5 townships counties at risk could be discovered. The true positive rate was around 80% and false positive rate was around 20%. At prefecture level, when randomly selecting and checking 3 counties, the samples would satisfy the discovery of all the risk areas with non-iodized salt problem.

CONCLUSIONSWe suggested that the sampling method of iodized salt investigation in national IDD surveillance as follows: to randomly choose 3 counties at each prefecture, 4 townships at each county, 2 villages at each township and 10 salt samples by household survey. The coverage rate of iodized salt in a province could be calculated by post-weighted method with population number.

China ; Drug Monitoring ; methods ; Humans ; Iodine ; deficiency ; pharmacology ; Monte Carlo Method ; Sodium Chloride, Dietary ; pharmacology

Chickpea is an important food legume crop of Turkey and is largely grown for human consumption on low moisture or salt-affected soils. The objective of the study was to find the effects of NaCl stress at electrical conductivities of 4.5, 8.6, 12.7 and 16.3 dS/m and seed sizes (7, 8 and 9 mm) on germination and early seedling growth of three popular chickpea cultivars (AKN-97, Gokce and Uzunlu-99). Mean frequency of germination, germination time, germination index, root length, shoot length and seedling fresh weight showed seed size-dependent responses of cultivars to salt stress. In general, small seeds germinated and grew more rapidly compared to medium and large seeds of the same cultivars against all levels of salt stress, with the best results in cultivar Uzunlu-99. No effect of NaCl treatments was observed on frequency of germination; however, a drastic decrease in early seedling growth was recorded at increased NaCl concentrations. Regression analysis results showed a significantly positive relationship (P<0.01) between seed size and mean germination time, whereas a significantly negative relationship was recorded between seed size and germination index, root length, shoot length. Moreover, linear regression values apparently confirmed that increased seed size in each cultivar affected decreased germination index, root and shoot lengths with enhanced mean germination time. Thus, it was concluded that the use of small seeds could considerably reduce the production costs of chickpea in salt-affected soils.
Cicer ; growth & development ; Linear Models ; Seedlings ; growth & development ; Seeds ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Sodium Chloride ; pharmacology

In order to determine the tolerance ability of platelet to change of osmotic pressure in solution, the isotonic fresh platelets were exposed to a series of crystal salt solutions with osmotic pressure range from 47 to 611 mOsm for 15 minutes. Then the platelets were returned to isotonic condition and kept for 15 minutes. The expressions of phosphatidylserine and CD62p were assayed in platelets. The results showed that the phosphatidylserine and CD62p expressions were increased when the osmotic pressure of solution was below 238 mOsm, but no significant rise was detected when the platelets were exposed to 611 mOsm solution. No increases of positive rate of CD62p and phosphatidylserine were detected in platelets returned to isotonic condition. It is concluded that platelets are sensitive to hypoosmotic solution and tolerated to hyperosmotic solution. Exceeding the platelet safe volume limitation may lead to injure of platelet osmosis in crystal salt solution.
Blood Platelets ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypotonic Solutions ; pharmacology ; Isotonic Solutions ; pharmacology ; Osmotic Pressure ; P-Selectin ; biosynthesis ; Phosphatidylserines ; biosynthesis ; Saline Solution, Hypertonic ; pharmacology ; Sodium Chloride ; pharmacology

Aquaporin belongs to a highly conserved group of membrane proteins called major intrinsic proteins (MIPs) that facilitate water transport across biological membranes. Aquaporins are membrane water channels that play critical roles in controlling the water content of cells and tissues. We focused on GhPIP1;2 which belongs to the PIP subfamily and GhgammaTIP1 which belongs to the gammaTIP group of the TIP subfamily. Northern blot analysis with gene-specific probes and real-time PCR demonstrated that GhPIP1;2 and GhgammaTIP1 are predominantly expressed during cotton fiber elongation, with the highest expression levels at 5 days post anthesis. The high and preferential expression of GhPIP1;2 and GhgammaTIP1 suggests that they may play important roles in supporting the rapid influx of water into vacuoles during cotton fiber cell expansion. Also, the effects of Ca2+ on aquaporins in salinity-stressed plants were studied. Researchers treated the protoplasts and plasma membrane with NaCl or CaCl2, alone or in combination. Under saline conditions, osmotic water permeability (Pf) values decreased in protoplasts and plasma membrane vesicles, and the same reduction was observed in the PIP1 aquaporin abundance, indicating inhibitory effects of NaCl on aquaporin functionality and protein abundance. Two different actions of Ca2+ were observed. Increase in free cytosolic calcium concentrations associated with stress perception may lead to aquaporin closure, however, the extra-calcium would lead to an upregulation of aquaporins. Meanwhile, experiments have demonstrated HvPIP2;1, one of barley aquaporins, has a higher water and CO2 transport activity. The goal of our plant aquaporin research is to determine the key aquaporin species responsible for water and CO2 transport, and to improve plant water relations, stress tolerance, CO2 uptake or assimilation, and plant productivity.
Aquaporins ; physiology ; Cell Enlargement ; Cotton Fiber ; Gossypium ; metabolism ; physiology ; Photosynthesis ; physiology ; Plant Proteins ; physiology ; Sodium Chloride ; pharmacology ; Stress, Physiological ; physiology

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristic changes of the peripheral chorda tympanic nerve (CT) electrophysiological responses to salty stimulus and other taste stimuli in rats with the conditioned taste aversion to saltiness. METHODS: Fourteen adult SD male rats were divided into a conditioned taste aversion to salty group (CTA) and a control group (Ctrl) (n=7/group). On the first day of the experiment, rats were given a 0.1 mol/L NaCl intake for 30 min, then, the rats in CTA and Ctrl groups were injected intraperitoneally with 2 ml of 0.15 mol/L LiCl and the same amount of saline respectively. On day 2, 3 and 4, the 30 min consumption of NaCl and distilled water was measured for both groups of rats. On the 4th day after the behavioral test of that day, CT electrophysiological recording experiments were performed on CTA rats and control rats. RESULTS: Compared with the rats in Ctrl group, the electrophysiological characteristics of CT in CTA group rats did not change significantly the responses to the series of NaCl and other four basic taste stimuli (P＞0.05). The amiloride, the epithelial sodium channel blocker, strongly inhibited the response of CT to NaCl in CTA and Ctrl group rats (P＜0.01). CONCLUSION The electrophysiological responses of CT to various gustatory stimuli do not significantly change in rats after the establishment of conditional taste aversion to the saltiness.
Amiloride ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Chorda Tympani Nerve ; physiology ; Conditioning, Classical ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium Chloride ; Taste ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore an effective way to increase drought tolerance of Prunella vulgaris seed.

METHODThe treatment of drought stress to P. vulgaris seeds was made by the different concentrations of PEG solutions. Primed seeds germinated under 25% PEG.

RESULTAs concentrations of PEG increasing, seed germination percentage, germination index and vitality index reduced. Primed with 20%-25% PEG, 300-500 mg x L(-1) GA3 and 1.6%-2.0% KNO3-KH2PO4 could enhance three population seeds germination index and vitality index under drought stress. Treated with NaCl, seeds germination percentage and germination index of two population increased, which came from Nanjing Zijinshan and Anhui Jinzhai, respectively, while those of seeds from Gansu Chengxian reduced.

CONCLUSIONTreated with PEG, GA3, KNO3-KH2 PO4 under proper concentration, seed vigor, seed resistance under drought stress would increase.

Desert Climate ; Droughts ; Germination ; drug effects ; Kinetin ; pharmacology ; Osmotic Pressure ; drug effects ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plant Proteins ; Prunella ; drug effects ; physiology ; Seeds ; drug effects ; physiology ; Sodium ; pharmacology ; Sodium Chloride ; pharmacology ; Temperature

The present study was done to determine whether endogenous nitric oxide (NO) plays a role in the regulation of sodium transporters in the kidney. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 mg/L drinking water) for 4 weeks. Control rats were supplied with tap water without drugs. Expression of Na, K-ATPase, type 3 Na/H exchanger (NHE3), Na/K/2Cl cotransporter (BSC1), and thiazide-sensitive Na/Cl cotransporter (TSC) proteins was determined in the kidney by Western blot analysis. Catalytic activity of Na,K-ATPase was also determined. The treatment with L-NAME significantly and steadily increased the systemic blood pressure. Total and fractional excretion of urinary sodium decreased significantly, while creatinine clearance remained unaltered. Neither plasma renin activity nor aldosterone concentration was significantly altered. The alpha1 subunit expression and the catalytic activity of Na, K-ATPase were increased in the kidney. The expression of NHE3, BSC1 and TSC was also increased significantly. These results suggest that endogenously-derived NO exerts a tonic inhibitory effect on the expression of sodium transporters, including Na, K-ATPase, NHE3, BSC1, and TSC, in the kidney.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Carrier Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Kidney/drug effects/metabolism ; Male ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester/*pharmacology ; Na(+)-K(+)-Exchanging ATPase/biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Drug/biosynthesis ; Sodium/*metabolism ; Sodium Chloride Symporters/biosynthesis ; Sodium-Hydrogen Antiporter/biosynthesis ; Sodium-Potassium-Chloride Symporters/biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness of universal salt iodization (USI) for the control of IDD in Hebei province since it was implemented in 1995, identify the problems currently encountered in the implementation of USI and provide practical proposals for addressing these problems.

METHODSProbability proportionate to size sampling (PPS) was employed in the surveillance of IDD, for which a total of 1200 school children aged 8-10 years were randomly selected from 30 counties around the whole province during each IDD survey. The iodine content of salt was determined quantitatively with the titration method. The iodine content of urinary samples was measured by the method of ammonium persulfate oxidation.

RESULTSThe coverage of iodized salt increased from 65.0% in 1995 to 98.0% in 1999, then decreased to 88.1% in 2005 which was below the national standard of 90%. The median urinary iodine of children aged 8-10 years varied between 160.1 microg/L and 307.4 microg/L, which was above the national standard. The proportion of urinary samples with iodine content above 300 microg/L was over 30% in 2005, implying exorbitant iodine nutrition among the children. The goiter rate (TGR) among children aged 8-10 years dropped from 11.8% in 1995 to 2.7% in 2005, indicating that the spread of endemic goiter was under control.

CONCLUSIONPreliminary elimination of IDD was achieved by USI in Hebei province. Nevertheless, some problems still existed in USI such as non-iodized salt competition, over iodization and un-standardized iodization. In order to address these problems, the management and supervision of salt market needs to be strengthened to prevent non-iodized salt from reaching households; updating equipment and modifying techniques are also necessary to ensure the quality of iodized salt; to clarify the causes of excessive urinary iodine content, the various sources of iodine from the diet need to be investigated in the future.

Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Goiter ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Iodine ; deficiency ; pharmacology ; urine ; Male ; Nutrition Policy ; Nutritional Status ; Sodium Chloride, Dietary ; pharmacology ; Time Factors