Objective To apply accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) technique to extract Achyranthes bidentata and to explore the application of this technique in quality control of Chinese materia medica. Methods Investigation of single factor was used to optimize the conditions that affected the efficiency for ASE from A. bidentata by RP-HPLC using ecdysterone as a quantitative marker. Results The optimized conditions for ASE of A. bidentata were obtained as follows: methanol as solvent, particle size between 0.3 and 0.45 mm, temperature at 100 ℃, pressure under 10.34 MPa, 6 min duration and once extraction. Conclusion ASE technique can be used to extract A. bidentata quickly and effectively.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Coal Mining ; Cross Infection ; complications ; microbiology ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Methicillin ; pharmacology ; Methicillin Resistance ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Silicosis ; classification ; complications ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; Treatment Outcome

Background Studies showed plasma fibrinogen (FIB) is not only the independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease,but also associated with the prevalence and incidenc of hypertension.A gender difference was shown in the association of FIB with hypertension,while no epidemiological study has been reported in Chinese population.Objective To explore the association between plasma FIB concentration and ten-year accumulative risk of hypertension.Methods A prospective study of relationship between blood pressure and other traditional risk factors were carried out in a cohort of Chinese population of 2115 people aged 35-64 years old in 1992 and 2002. The association of plasma FIB concentration with ten-year accumulative risk of hypertension was analyzed.Results The ten-year accumulative incidence rate of hypertension was 34.8%,and incidence in males (39.3%) was signifi- cantly higher than that in females (31.5%) (P

Objective To study the clinical significance of fecal smear examination on diagnosing intestinal flora imbalance in infantile diarrhea.Methods A sterile cotton swab was used to spread a layer of fresh feces quantum satis from a sterile container on a clean slide;the smear was fixed and stained with Gram′s methods after it was air-dried,then the specimen was observed with a microscopy(field lens 100 ? eye lens 10) and recorded.Results In the acute diarrhea group(40 cases),the distribution feature of 3 floras on the fecal smears:≥50% Gram-negative bacilli in 6 cases(15%),≥50% Gram-positive cocci in 30 cases(75%) and ≥68% Gram-positive bacilli in 4 cases(10%).In the delayed and chronic diarrhea group(62 cases),the distribution feature of 3 floras on the fecal smears:≥50% Gram-negative bacilli in 7 cases(11.29%),≥50% Gram-positive cocci in 44 cases(70.97%) and ≥68% Gram-positive bacilli in 6 cases(9.68%).In the normal control group(32 cases),the distribution feature of 3 floras on the fecal smears:≥50% Gram-negative bacilli in 1 case(3.13%),≥50% Gram-positive cocci in 1 case(3.13%),and ≥68% Gram-positive bacilli in 17 cases(53.13%).For the distribution of 3 floras in the 3 groups,chi-squared test was performed,and the results showed that the difference was significant in Gram-positive cocci(?~2=47.76 P0.05).Conclusions Acute,delayed or chronic diarrhea can lead to flora imbalance.In order to timely and rapidly know the flora imbalance in children with diarrhea,clinically the simple,easily operated and practical smear staining method shall be widely applied.

Alternol is purified from fermentation productions of microorganisms named as Alternaria alternata var. monosporus. The research is to investigate the apoptosis-inducing effect of alternol on mouse lymphocyte leukemia (L1210) cells and the possible mechanisms. MTT method was used to evaluate the viability of L1210 cells. Apoptosis of L1210 cells was detected by morphological assessment, DNA electrophoresis assay and flow cytometry. Western blotting analysis was carried out to determine the apoptosis-related proteins. Proliferation inhibition of L1210 cells by alternol was found remarkably in a dose-dependent manner. When treated with alternol, apoptotic morphological features of L1210 cells were observed by fluorescent microscopy (AO/EB) and the apoptosis rate was also elevated in a time-dependent manner. After treatments with various concentrations of alternol for 48 h, DNA laddering appeared. The increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was found after cells were exposed to alternol for 6 h, while the decrease of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (delta psi m) was not found until cells were exposed to alternol for 24 h. Furthermore, the level of Bcel-2 and Bcl-2/Bax was down-regulated, while the level of caspase-3 and caspase-9 but not caspase-8 was up-regulated when alternol was added for 72 h. In summary, the results suggested that alternol could inhibit the proliferation of L1210 cells and induce apoptosis of L1210 cells, which was mediated by mitochondria-dependent pathway.
Alternaria ; chemistry ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings ; pharmacology ; Leukemia L1210 ; metabolism ; pathology ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Mice ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the distribution of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP)-TaqIB polymorphism and plasma concentration in general population and the association between the two.

METHODSA cross-sectional study was carried out in a general population of Beijing in 1999, using stratified-random sampling method. CETP-TaqIB polymorphism and plasma CETP concentration were determined in 719 individual aged 45 - 64 years.

RESULTS(1) Frequencies of B1B1, B1B2 and B2B2 genotypes were 0.356, 0.478 and 0.166, respectively. The frequency of allele B2 was 0.405. Distributions of genotypes and alleles were homogeneous in both sexes. (2) Plasma CETP concentration manifested as a normal distribution, with the mean of 2.03 micro g/ml. The value of female was 20.3%, higher than that of male (P < 0.001). There were no differences among age groups. (3) Plasma CETP concentrations of B1B1 and B1B2 were 19.6% and 13.4% higher than that of B2B2 homozygotes. (4) Stratified by lipid levels, smoking and alcohol consumption, only when tryglyceride exceeded 150 mg/dl, with no significant difference among three genotypes. The effect of lipids, smoking and alcohol consumption status was more significant in B1B2 heterozygotes.

CONCLUSIONCETP-TaqIB polymorphism was a determinant of plasma CETP concentration. However, the effect could be modified by other factors, such as lipids, smoking and alcohol consumption.

Carrier Proteins ; blood ; genetics ; Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Genotype ; Glycoproteins ; blood ; genetics ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sampling Studies

OBJECTIVETo compare the differences of cognitive functions in patients with hypertension and normotensives, and to analyze the primary influencing factors on cognitive functions.

METHODSThis was a cross-sectional study carried out in two community populations of Beijing in 2001. The study subjects consisted of 83 hypertensive individuals aged 50-65 years, who were both stroke and dementia-free, the control group was chosen with 83 normotensives who were matched one by one with hypertensive individuals on age, sex, educational level and occupation. Socio-demographic, behavioral, medical history, and physiological data were collected on all participants through interview and medical examination. A comprehensive and computerized neuropsychological battery was administered.

RESULTSThe total score of Basic Cognitive Ability Examination on hypertension (63.62) was worse than that among controls (68.58) with P < 0.01. Mean reaction time of Digit Discrimination of hypertensive (1.25) was longer than controls (1.17) with P < 0.05. The span of Digit Working Memory of hypertensive (4.96) was shorter than controls (5.63) with P < 0.05. The Score of Dual-Word Recognition of hypertensive (12.05) was lower than controls (13.45) with P < 0.01. Educational level, age and hypertension were the primary influencing factors on cognitive function.

CONCLUSIONPatients with hypertension performed significantly worse than controls on velocity of perception, working memory and word memory. The findings suggested that the prevention of hypertension could protect cognitive function.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Cognition ; physiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; Linear Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuropsychological Tests

Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Fixatives ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods ; Tissue Fixation ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of anti-cancer bioactive peptide-S (ACBP-S) on cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis in human stomach cancer cell line MGC-803 cells.

METHODS(1) The cultured MGC-803 cells were treated with ACBP-S at various concentrations for 24, 48, 72 h, respectively. The inhibition rate of proliferation of MGC-803 cells were evaluated by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). RT-PCR was used to assay the changes of p27 mRNA expression. Immunocytochemistry was used to detect the changes of expression of p27, PCNA, Bax, Bcl-2 proteins, respectively. (2) a nude mouse xenograft model with gastric carcinoma cell was established. ACPB-S was administered into the tail vein of the mice in a dose of 7 microg, every other day, and the mice were killed after two weeks. The tumors were taken off for further analysis.

RESULTS(1) ACBP-S at concentrations of 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0 microg/ml inhibit the growth of MGC-803 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The concentration of ACBP-S at 20.0 microg/ml showed an inhibition rate of (86.6 + 0.1)%. Typical apoptotic changes were observed under the transmission electron microscope. The result of FCM in the range of 5.0 and 20.0 microg/ml for 24 h showed higher early apoptosis rates, (5.7 +/- 0.2)% and (13.9 +/- 0.6)%, respectively, with s significant difference compared with that of the control group (P < 0.05). The ratio of G0/G1 was significantly increased with the increase of incubation time at 20 microg/ml. RT-PCR showed that the expression of p27 mRNA in MGC-803 cells was markedly increased after ACBP-S treatment. (2) After ACBP-S administration the tumor growth in nude mice was inhibited by 34.2%. More apoptotic and necrotic cells were observed in the mice of treatment group by histological examination with HE staining. The immunocytochemistry demonstrated that the expression of Bax protein was significantly increased and Bcl-2 and PCNA protein expressions were significantly decreased after ACBP-S treatment.

CONCLUSIONACBP-S has marked inhibiting effect upon the growth of MGC-803 cells inducing more apoptosis. The anti-cancer mechanism is probably related with its regulatory effects on cell cycle and apoptosis in the tumor cells.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Peptides ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic values of prealbumin (PAB) and retinol-binding protein (RBP) for liver damage caused by mild or severe asphyxia.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed on 185 neonates (including 84 premature infants and 101 full-term infants) with asphyxia. Based on the Apgar score, they were divided into two groups: mild asphyxia group (n=150) and severe asphyxia group (n=35). The levels of PAB, RBP, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured and compared. Their diagnostic values for liver damage were evaluated by ROC curve analysis.

RESULTSThe premature infants in the severe asphyxia group had significantly higher AST level and significantly lower levels of PAB and RBP than those in the mild asphyxia group (P<0.05). The full-term infants in the severe asphyxia group had a significantly lower PAB level than those in the mild asphyxia group (P<0.05). After treatment, the PAB level was significantly improved in the premature infants in the severe asphyxia group and in the full-term infants in both mild and severe asphyxia group (P<0.05). The full-term infants in the mild asphyxia groups also showed a significant improvement in AST level (P<0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that PAB had a good sensitivity and specificity for identifying liver damage caused by mild or severe asphyxia in full-term and preterm infants.

CONCLUSIONSPAB can be used as an indicator of liver damage caused by asphyxia in neonates, and can be used to assess the degree of asphyxia.

Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Asphyxia Neonatorum ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Liver Diseases ; blood ; diagnosis ; Male ; Prealbumin ; analysis ; Retinol-Binding Proteins ; analysis ; Serum Albumin ; analysis