Anticonvulsants ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Seizures ; chemically induced

Nine compounds were isolated from the n-butanol fraction of 95% ethanol extract of the fruit of Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. with a combination of various chromatographic approaches, including MDS resin, silica gel, reverse phase C18 and preparative HPLC. On the basis of spectroscopic data analysis, they were elucidated as (1R, 4R, 10R)-1β, 4α-dihydroxy-11, 12, 13-trinor-5, 6-eudesmen-7-one (1), 1β, 4β-dihydroxy-11, 12, 13-trinor-8, 9-eudesmen-7-one (2), oxyphyllenone A (3), oxyphyllenone B (4), rhamnocitrin (5), staphylionoside D (6), benzyl-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), 2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1S)-phenylethylene glycol (8), and (S)-1-phenylethyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (9). Among them, compound 1 is a new sesquiterpene, named as oxyphyllenone C; compounds 8 and 9 are new natural products; compounds 2 and 6 were isolated from the genus Alpinia for the first time, and compound 7 was isolated from A. oxyphylla for the first time.
1-Butanol ; Alpinia ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Phytochemicals ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sesquiterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

In order to study the spectral reflectance differences of Glycyrrhizae Radix under different growth conditions and lay the foundation for quantitative monitoring of Glycyrrhizae Radix remote sensing images, spectra of Glycyrrhiza species under different growth period and different varieties and different regions were measured by a portable spectrometer. The results showed that the reflectivity of annual G. uralensis was obviously higher than that of the two years plant in the visible light band own to the contents of crown layer chlorophyll. The reflectivity of two years G. pallidiflora was higher than that of G. uralensis in the near infrared band own to the leaf area index and the content of leaf water. The red edge spectrum of annual plant fluctuated largely than that of two years plant due to vegetation coverage and leaf area index. G. pallidiflora grew well than G. uralensis. Under different regions of the Glycyrrhiza species, spectral data analysis showed that within a certain range, the average annual precipitation and average annual evaporation were the major factors to affect the differences of Glycyrrhiza species spectral data under different regions owe to the leaf water content, the higher leaf water content, the lower spectral reflectance. The principal component analysis and continuum-removed method of the spectral data under different regions found that, within a certain range, the average annual precipitation and average annual evaporation were the major factors caused by the differences of Glycyrrhiza species spectral data under the different regions, Glycyrrhiza species spectral similarity related to the spatial distance.
Geography ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Principal Component Analysis ; Spectrum Analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of red peony root (RPR) on serum proteome in rat suffering from noxious heat with blood stasis Syndrome (NH-BS).

METHODSThe differences of serum proteome among rats in four groups, treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), RPR, LPS + RPR and saline respectively, were analyzed by bi-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) assay. LPS was administered by intravenous injection and RPR by oral intake.

RESULTS(1) Serum of rats with LPS induced NH-BS showed significant changes in volume of serum protein (xPr) in 13 points on 2DE collagen, the volume of xPr 16 and 19 were significantly lower, volume of xPr 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 23 were significantly higher respectively, as compared with those in the normal control group. (2) After being treated with RPR, the increased volume of xPr 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9 significantly decreased, and the decreased xPr 16 significantly increased, with xPr 2, 3 restored to normal level but the xPr16 still lower and xPr 1, 4, 9 higher than those in the normal group. RPR showed interaction with LPS on xPr 1, 3, 9, and 16. (3) For xPr 19, the interaction of RPR with LPS might be synergistic. (4) In the group treated with RPR, volumes of xPr 13 and 14 were significantly higher and those of 15, 17 were significantly lower than those in the normal group respectively, but the similar changes didn't found in the LPS group.

CONCLUSIONThe molecular basis of therapeutic effect of RPR on NH-BS might be through the regulation of xPr 1, 2, 3, 4, 9 and 16.

Animals ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endotoxemia ; blood ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Paeonia ; Phytotherapy ; Proteome ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Background The pathological change of the anterior uveitis is the disruption of blood-aqueous barrier.Slit lamp examination appears to be limited for the evaluation of inflammatory response,and fluorescine angiography is an objective approach.However,there are few relative studies up to now in China.Objective Aim of this study was to observe the characteristics and assess the clinical applications of iris fluorescein angiography (IFA)in Chinese uveitis with brown iris.Methods Forty eyes of 40 normal subjects and 21 eyes of 13 patients with the anterior uveitis were collected in this study.IFA,slit-lamp examination and iris photograph were performed on the subjects.All individuals were informed consented at the initiation of this study.Results In normal eyes,fluorescence in iris vessels was blocked by the melanin pigment,but peripupillary weak fluorescent leakage was seen in the normal eyes with the age of ＞60 years old.The multiple patterns of fluorescence leakage were found in the patients suffered from uveitis of various etiologies although the negative slit-lamp finding,including the leakage of fluorescein around the pupillary margin and radial iris vessels in the eyes with mild diseases,transmitted fluorescence of regular iris vessels in the eyes with diffuse and local iris atrophy,and vascular tufts of the pupillary margin with coiled interwind tight clusters of thin vessels at the early phase in the eyes with dilated capillaries,microvascular anomalies and new vessel formation.The hyperfluorescence remained throughout the IFA duration.Conclusions IFA findings in uveitis vary depending on the topography,type and severity of inflammation.IFA has a good clinical applying value because of its objective assessment ability of the degree of the blood-aqueous barrier breakdown and iris neovascularization breakdown.It can exhibit the unvisible lesion under the slit-lamp and monitor the efficacy of medical theraphy in patients with active or quiescent uveitis.

Potential growth of two widely-grown hybrid rice varieties in the Jinhua district of Zhejiang Province, Shanyou63 for mid-rice and Xieyou46 for late rice, was simulated using a crop growth model of WOFOST. Parameters of the rice growth in WOFOST were calibrated through field experiments from 1999 to 2002 in Jinhua. The potential yield simulated with WOFOST was about 12 t/ha for Shanyou63 and 10 t/ha for Xieyou46, which are in good agreement with the highest recorded yield obtained in this area. Under farmers practice, current yield is about 7.5 t/ha for Shanyou63 and 6.5 t/ha for Xieyou46. There is a gap between the actual rice yield and the potential yield for these two hybrid rice varieties grown in this area. The attainable target yields were set to 70% to 75% of their potential yields for the two varieties. A recently developed software "Nutrient Decision Support System (NuDSS)" for irrigated rice was used to optimize nutrient management for these two rice varieties. According to NuDSS, the optimal fertilizer N requirement for the target yields was about 150 kg/ha for Shanyou63 and about 120 kg/ha for Xieyou46, which were only about 70% of the fertilizer N application under current farmers' practice. Comparing with farmers' practice, there is great potential to increase actual rice yields and to reduce fertilizer N use rates by improving rice crop management practice in Jinhua.
Agriculture ; China ; Fertilizers ; Oryza ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Soil ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo increase the accuracy of beam targeting and improve the dose distributions in radiotherapy using a robust image registration algorithm based on control volumes.

METHODSControl volume mapping and thin-plate spline deformable transformation were combined. The use of the control volumes increased the accuracy for the deformable registration. A bi-directional mapping method was also employed to correctly match the control volumes.

RESULTSThe clinical images were simulated using the proposed two-step image registration algorithm. The simulation results indicated that the registration algorithm was robust and universal, even in cases of obvious deformation.

CONCLUSIONSThe algorithm provides a more convenient and robust resolution as compared to manual landmark-based methods and single-step deformable transformations, and may help in automatic image registration in radiation therapy.

Algorithms ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the reduction of chlorination by-products (CBPs) precursors using the fluidized-bed biofilm reactor (FBBR).

METHODSReduction of total organic carbon (TOC), ultraviolet absorbance (UV254), trihalomethane (THM) formation potential (THMFP), haloacetic acid (HAA) formation potential (HAAFP), and ammonia in FBBR were evaluated in detail. Results The reduction of TOC or UV254 was low, on average 12.6% and 4.7%, respectively, while the reduction of THMFP and HAAFP was significant. The reduction of ammonia was 30%-40% even below 3 degrees C, however, it could quickly rise to over 50% above 3degrees C. Conclusions The FBBR effectively reduces CBPs and ammonia in drinking water even at low temperature and seems to be a very promising and competitive drinking water reactor for polluted surface source waters, especially in China.

Biofilms ; Chlorine ; Water Purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of reducing THM precursors and controlling bromate taste and odor in drinking water taken from the Yellow River by an ozonation combined system.

METHODSThe appropriate ozone dosage was determined, and then the changes of TOC, UV254 and THM formation potential (THMFP) in the combined system were evaluated.

RESULTSOne mg/L ozone could effectively remove taste and odor and meet the maximum allowable bromate level in drinking water. The pre-ozonation increased THMFP, but the conventional treatment system could effectively reduce the odor. The bio-ceramic filter could partly reduce CHCl3FP, but sometimes might increase CHCl2BrFP and CHClBr2FP. The biological activated carbon (BAC) filter could effectively reduce CHCl3FP and CHCl2BrFP, but increase CHClBr2FP. Compared with other filters, the fresh activated carbon (FAC) filter performed better in reducing THMFP and even reduced CHClBr2FP.

CONCLUSIONThe combined system can effectively reduce taste, odor, CHCl3FP, and CHCl2BrFP and also bring bromate under control.

Bromates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; China ; Chlorine ; Humans ; Odorants ; analysis ; prevention & control ; Ozone ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rivers ; chemistry ; Taste ; Trihalomethanes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Water Supply ; analysis ; standards

Sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporter is encoded by the solute carrier family 17 gene.The gene is located on chromosome 6 and is an important transporter of the organic anion as the substrate and is expressed in kidney and other tissues .Among them, the sodium-dependent phosphate transporter type 1, 3, and 4 have the func-tion of transferring uric acid , and abnormal function can lead to the decrease of uric acid excretion , which can cause hyperuricemia and even induce gout .