OBJECTIVE:To explore the optimal steaming time of Carapax trionycis during cleansing period,and to optimize and improve production technology of Carapax trionycis recorded by current Chinese Pharmacopoeia. METHODS:The mechanical processing replaced the artificial processing method in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The content of protein and the appearance of Cara-pax trionycis were investigated after steaming for 30,60,90,120,180,240 min during cleansing period. The extract,decoction, ash content,appearance and property of Carapax trionycis decoction piece processed with vinegar were also investigated after cleansed Carapax trionycis decoction piece was processed by sand scalding and vinegar quenching method. RESULTS:The differ-ent steaming time obtained different quality of cleansed Carapax trionycis decoction piece and Carapax trionycis decoction piece pro-cessed with vinegar. Compared with decoction piece steamed for other duration,when the steaming time was 90 min,the content of protein in cleansed Carapax trionycis decoction piece was higher(31.16%),and its appearance was up to the requirement. Cara-pax trionycis decoction piece processed with vinegar had higher contents of extract and decoction(9.13%,11.39%)and lower con-tent of ash(66.29%),and its appearance was up to the requirement. CONCLUSIONS:Different steaming time have certain effect on the quality of cleansed Carapax trionycis and Carapax trionycis processed with vinegar,the optimal steaming time of Carapax tri-onycis is about 90 min during cleansing. The mechanical processing method maybe replace the artificial processing on Carapax tri-onycis for improving its production efficiency.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the roles of p15,p27 gene protein and expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC).METHODS The EnVision immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of p15,p27 gene protein in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues of 43 NPC cases and non-tumor nasopharyngeal tissues of 21 cases.RESULTS ① The positive expression rates of p15,p27 gene protein were 65%,68% in NPC respectively.There were significant differences between NPC and non-tumor group(P0.05).③The positive expression of p15 gene protein was correlated to the positive expression of p27 gene protein(P

AIM AND METHODSTo further explore the functions of alveolar macrophage and their modulation mechanisms, the activity of lysozyme in rat alveolar macrophage assessed by electrophoresis was determined. The effects of androsterone and estradiol on lysozyme secretion and their mechanisms were also studied.

RESULTSThe results showed that androsterone and estradiol increased activity of lysozyme significantly (P < 0.01), indomethacin abolished those effects. This suggests that the insufficiency of sex hormones secretion as the retrogression of gonads is involved in the decrease of immunological functions, and the susceptibility to infectious diseases.

CONCLUSIONSex hormones increased activity of lysozyme, and those effects related to prostaglandin.

Androsterone ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Female ; Indomethacin ; pharmacology ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; drug effects ; enzymology ; secretion ; Male ; Muramidase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

AIMTo investigate the influence and mechanisms of 17beta-estradiol on the CTP: phosphorylcholine cytidylyltransferase (CCT) activity from cultured lung explants without serum.

METHODSWe detected the amount of [M-14C] choline incorporation into phosphatidylcholine so as to reflect CCT activity by liquid scintillation.

RESULTS(1) 17beta-estradiol increased the CCT activity in dose-dependence and time-dependence. (2) Both the protein kinase C inhibitor H-7 and calmodulin antagonist W-7 abolished the stimulatory effect of 17beta-estradiol (3 x 10(-6) mol/L) on the CCT activity.

CONCLUSION17beta-estradiol can increase CCT activity in cultured lung explants, its mechanism is related to protein kinase C and calmodulin.

Animals ; Calmodulin ; metabolism ; Choline-Phosphate Cytidylyltransferase ; metabolism ; Culture Media, Serum-Free ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Lung ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Male ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

An investigation on the chemical constituents of the 90% EtOH extract of Perovskia atriplicifolia led to the isolation of fifteen compounds from the EtOAc fraction. Based on the detailed spectral analysis (MS, 1D and 2D NMR), as well as comparison with the literatures, the structures of compounds 1-15 were determined as cirsimaritin (1), salvigenin (2), syringaldehyde (3), vinyl caffeate (4), 2α, 3α-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oicacid (5), 2α, 3α-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oicacid (6), niga-ichigoside F1 (2α, 3β, 19α, 23- tetrahydroxyurs - 12-en-28-oicacid- O-β-D- glucopyranoside, 7), sericoside (8), 4-epi-niga-ichigoside F1 (2α, 3β, 19α, 24-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oicacid O-β-D-glucopyranoside, 9), 2α, 3β, 24-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oicacid O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2) - β-D-glucopyranoside (10), pruvuloside A (11), asteryunnanoside A [2α, 3β, 23-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oicacid O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-β- D- glucopyranoside,12], rosmarinic acid methyl ester (13), β-sitosterol (14), and daucosterol (15), respectively. Compounds 1-13 were isolated from the Perovskia genus for the first time. All the compounds were obtained from P. atriplicifolia for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lamiaceae ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiological characteristics of pneumoconiosis in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China from 2006 to 2009.

METHODSStatistical analysis was performed on the types, populations, ages, and geographic distribution of the pneumoconiosis cases in Ningxia from 2006 to 2010, as reported in China Information System for Diseases Control and Prevention.

RESULTSA total of 625 new cases of pneumoconiosis (4 death cases) occurred throughout Ningxia from 2006 to 2010. Of the new cases, 538 (86.1%) suffered stage I pneumoconiosis, 70 (11.2%) stage II pneumoconiosis, and 17 (2.72%) stage III pneumoconiosis. Silicosis and coal-workers' pneumoconiosis were the dominant types of pneumoconiosis, accounting for 97.44% (609/625) of all cases. Of the 625 cases, 557 (89.12%) were distributed in Shizuishan City, and 563 (90.08%) were engaged in coal and metallurgical industries. Most cases were in the 35-year-old group and 45-year-old group, and the lengths of dust-exposed service mostly ranged from 10 to 29 years.

CONCLUSIONIn Ningxia, pneumoconiosis control should focus in the state-owned, middle-sized coal enterprises in Shizuishan City. Health surveillance should be enhanced in the workers with more than 10 years of dust-exposed service or aged more than 35 years, so as to reduce the incidence of occupational diseases.

Adult ; Anthracosis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Pneumoconiosis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of local application of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) via adenovirus-mediated gene transfer on survival of full thickness flaps selected randomly in rats.

METHODSThirty Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 480-520 g were used in this study. A dorsal flap (8 cm x 2 cm) in full thickness with the pedicle located at the level of the iliac crest was designed. Then the rats received 1,012 pfu replication-deficient recombinant adenovirus carrying VEGF (AdCMV-VEGF group, n=10), 1,012 pfu recombinant beta-galactosidase adenovirus (AdCMV-Gal group, n=10) and 1 ml saline (saline group, n=10), respectively, in the distal two thirds of the proposed flap by means of subdermal injection at 8 different locations. Three days after treatment, the flaps were elevated as originally designed and sutured back in situ. The survival rate of the flaps was evaluated on day 7 after operation.

RESULTSThe survival rate of the flaps in the AdCMV-VEGF group increased significantly as compared with those of the AdCMV-Gal group (P<0.01) and the saline group (P<0.01). Immunohistochemical staining showed that VEGF was expressed in the survival flaps injected with AdCMV-VEGF. Histological analysis showed that more granulation tissues and angiogenesis were observed in the AdCMV-VEGF group than those in the AdCMV-Gal and the saline groups.

CONCLUSIONSLocal application of adenovirus-mediated VEGF165 cDNA may efficiently improve the survival of ischemic skin flaps.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; Lymphokines ; genetics ; Male ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Surgical Flaps ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

The goal of this study is to investigate the population pharmacokinetics of oral tacrolimus in Chinese renal transplant patients and to identify possible relationship between covariates and population parameters. Details of drug dosage history, sampling time and concentration of 802 data points in 58 patients were collected retrospectively. Before analysis, the 58 patients were randomly allocated to either the model building group (n=41) or the validation group (n=17). Population pharmacokinetic data analysis was performed using the nonlinear mixed-effects model (NONMEM) program on the model building group. The pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus was best described by a one compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination. Typical values of apparent clearance (CL/F), apparent volume of distribution (V/F) were estimated. A number of covariates including demographic index, clinical index and coadministration of other drugs were evaluated statistically for their influence on these parameters. The final population model related clearance with POD (post operative days), HCT (haematocrit), AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and coadministration of nicardipine and diltiazem. Predictive performance of the final model evaluated with the validation group showed insignificant bias between observed and model predicted concentrations. Typical value of CL/F and V/F was 21.7 L x h(-1) and 241 L, inter-patient variability (RSD) in CL/F and V/F was 41.6% and 49.7%, respectively. The residual variability (SD) between observed and model-predicted concentrations was 2.19 microg x L(-1). The population pharmacokinetic model of tacrolimus in Chinese renal transplant patients was established and significant covariates on the tacrolimus model were identified.
Administration, Oral ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Metabolic Clearance Rate ; Middle Aged ; Models, Statistical ; Nonlinear Dynamics ; Retrospective Studies ; Tacrolimus ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Young Adult

Objective To construct a modified and enhanced thymidine kinase (TK) vector regulated by human telemerase catalytic subunit promoter (hTERT) promoter and cytomegaiovirus (CMV) enhancer and its killing effect on nasopharyngeal carcinoma in vitro and in vivo and its safety in vivo. Methods The pGL3-basic,as basic vector template,was linked and constructed into TK vector regulated by hTKRT promoter and CMV enhancer with mono-promoter vector as control. Enhanced TK expression was confirmed by fluorescent microscopy and real time fluorescent quantitative PCR. Telomerase activity was measured by stretch PCR. Tumour killing effects were examined by MTT and Boyden areole. The effects of enhanced TK on the invasiveness of tumor cell NPC 5-8F and the growth of xenograft implanted in nude mice were investigated. Results Compared with non-enhanced vector, TK expressed by the enhanced vector significantly increased in NPC 5-8F and MCF-7 cells,telomerase activity was positive in human in NPC 5-8F cells and breast cancer MCF-7 cells and negative in control human blood vessel endothelium ECV-304 cells. After ganciclovir (GCV) treatment, NPC 5-8F cell survival rate and invasiveness decreased and tumor progress of NPC xenograft implanted in nude mice was inhibited, without obvious toxicity effects on mouse liver and kidney. Conclusions The enhanced TK vector regulated by hTERT promoter and CMV enhancer can obviously and specifically inhibit and kill nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells in culture and nasopharyngeal carcinoma xenograft in nude mice in vivo, without obviously toxic side effects on nude mice. The targeted and enhanced TK gene vector with high performance may be a new tumour targeted gene therapy strategy clinically to aim directly at most malignant tumours including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, with more extensive anti-cancer spectrum.

Hallux valgus is a common disorder of the forefeet,and its diagnosis and treatment have always drawn the attention of the practitioners.This article introduced the minimally-invasive diagnosis and treatment system for hallux valgus of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine,which was established by Professor WEN Jian-Min after more than 40 years of in-depth clinical practice and research based on the theory of yin-yang balance and theory of tendons and bones in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)and through the combination of modern surgical experience.The minimally-invasive diagnosis and treatment system for hallux valgus embodies the principles of balancing yin and yang,laying equal stress on tendons and bones,unifying the fixation and functional exercises,and treating the fractures and the whole body simultaneously,and includes the key technologies such as minimally-invasive osteotomy for the first metatarsal bone,curtain-wrapped external fixation,perioperative Chinese medicine therapy based on syndrome differentiation,and rehabilitation and nursing of TCM.The system will provide a systematic guide for the standardized minimally-invasive treatment of hallux valgus,and will supply an important approach to the treatment of other orthopedic diseases with integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine.The minimally-invasive diagnosis and treatment system for hallux valgus reflects the scientific research achievements and clinical experience of Professor WEN Jian-Min,which exerts high significance of reference and application value.