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.

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

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 investigate effects of two kinds of anti-cancer bioactive peptide (ACBP) on proliferation and cell cycle in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma strain CNE.

METHODSCell culture was used in vitro, CNE cells were exposed to different concentration ACBP, in all groups, contrast groups were set up. And 24, 48, 72 hours later, growth characteristics of CNE cells were studied by morphological observation and MTT assay . Cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTSIn normal contrast group, CNE cells grew intensively and contacted with each other. However, cells which were treated with ACBP were inhibitory greatly in higher dose ACBP group, necrosis could be found. MTT assay showed that ACBP inhibited growth of CNE cell. FCM showed that ACBP (20.0 microg/ml) could raise cell ratio of S phase and induce apoptosis of CNE cells. CNE cells were treated by two kind of ACBP (5.0 microg/ml) for 24 h, FCM showed that early apoptosis rate were (11.8 +/- 0.3)% and (8.1 +/- 0.2)% respectively, which showed statistical significance in comparison with control group (t = 42.535, 47.300 respectively, P = 0.000). Under light microscope, some sings of cell apoptosis including coagulation of chromatin, fragmentation of nuclei and apoptotic body could be found.

CONCLUSIONSTwo kinds of ACBP inhibited human nasopharyngeal carcinoma strain CNE proliferation and arrested the cells to S phase, also induced the cells to apoptosis. Nasopharyngeal neoplasms;

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Peptides ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo clarify the gene type of Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ot) from Shandong province.

METHODSNested-polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) was used to identify the gene type of 23 isolated Ot strains, 2 pools of homogenized leptotrombidium (L.) scutellare, 10 blood specimens of scrub typhus patients, and at the same time to compare with the international reference strains Gilliam, Karp, Kato. Sequencing analysis of the Sta56 gene was also used to further identify the precise gene types.

RESULTSOf the 35 samples, 33 had the same products in the amplification of template Ot-DNA. They all belonged to Kawasaki strains endemic in Japan while 2 (FXS4 and LHGM2 strain) belonged to Karp strains. The Sta56 gene sequence homologies to Japan Kawasaki strain of the 2 representative strains (B-16 and FXS2 strain) of the 33 samples were 94.22%, 95.21% respectively, but they were less than 75.87% to other prototype strains; The homologies to Karp strain of FXS4 and LHGM2 strain were 83.03%, 96.45% respectively. B-16 and FXS2 strain were designated as of types strain Japan Kawasaki, FXS4 and LHGM2 as Karp strain.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that the dominant Ot strains in Shandong Province were similar to Kawasaki strains, but Karp strains also existed.

Animals ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Mice ; Orientia tsutsugamushi ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Scrub Typhus ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Sequence Homology ; Serotyping