Objective To study the effect of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate(DHEA S)in fetal umbilical cord blood on term labor. Methods Cortisol and DHEA S concentrations were measured By radioimmunoassay in 100 term fetal umbilical cord blood. They were divided into four groups. Group A selective cesarean section without any birth pain ( n =18),Group B cesarean section in latent phase( n =10),Group C cesarean section in active phase( n =12),Group D spontaneous vaginal deliver( n =60). Results The concentrations of fetal umbilical cord cortisol in spontaneous vaginal deliver group was gradually increased with gestational week. The peak level was in the 39th gestation week,by the 42th gestation week,the concentration of cortisol declined to the 37th gestation week. DHEA S changed paralleled with cortisol ( r =0.46, P

To be a reference to industrial production of Chinese materia medica (CMM) and modernization of CMM and to summarize several relevant articles and consulte some publications about common key technologies in CMM production. Since 2000, some new technologies have been applied to CMM industrial production, such as SFE, macroporous resin extraction, MST, high-speed centrifugal, ultrasonic extraction, microwave extraction, HSCCC, etc. There are still some problems and difficulties lying in its application to industry. But with the innovation and further research of these new technologies, the application of these technologies to CMM preparation and production may help to expedite the modernization and industrial production of CMM. These technologies will be applied to CMM industrial production with making it more and more vigorous.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the role of encapsulated protein transfected into human bone marrow mesen-chymal stem cells ( hBMSCs) by polyethyleneimine ( PEI) , and to optimize the best mole ratio of PEI-proteins.METH-ODS:6 groups of DNase I-PEI complexes were constructed and the best mole ratio was explored by laser scattering analy-sis.The appearance of complexes was presented under transmission electron microscope.Meanwhile, 4 groups of construc-ted GFP-PEI complexes were utilized to transfect into the hBMSCs, which were isolated and expand in vitro.The fluores-cence intensity of transfected cells was observed under confocal microscope.In addition, the cytotoxicity of the complexes on the cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay.The activity of the intracellular proteins was testified by aβ-galactosi-dase staining experiment.RESULTS:When the mole ratio of PEI and protein was adjusted to 4∶1, the complex transfec-tion efficiency was the best, and β-galactosidase color test turned blue.CONCLUSION:PEI has the character of encap-sulating various proteins to nano-complexes.The proteins transfected into bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells are con-firmed to have functional activity.As a protein carrier, PEI is of high efficiency and low toxicity, thus providing a new way for stem cell reprogramming.

Near-infrared (NIR) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy was used to analyze the impact of multi-class particle size of Chinese material medica (CMM) based on the spectral characteristics in overtone and combination region. Several types of CMM (60, 80, 100,120 mesh) were subjected to NIR spectra analysis. Spectral reproducibility was examined after sample repackage. The result showed that the effects of particle size on the NIR spectra were different according to different bands, in the combination region and first combination-overtone region. Spectroscopy intensity was proportional to the particle size and influence of particle size was greater as the wavelength increased. While in the second combination-overtone region, it was inversely proportional to particle size. To the sampling loading error, the result indicated that when the mesh number was larger than 60 mesh, the error was small. The appropriate particle size was clarified to guarantee the accuracy and reliability of NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in CMM.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Materia Medica ; analysis ; Particle Size ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods

The on-line monitor for the changes in the content of baicalin in Scutellariae Radix formula particles during the extraction process was conducted by using near infrared spectroscopy (NIR). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used as a reference method. Kennard-Stone (KS) was used to divide sample sets, so as to compare different pretreatment methods. The synergy interval partial least squares (SiPLS) was used to screen out modeling wave band to establish partial least-squares models. The relative error method was applied to predict forecast set samples of Scutellariae Radix in three extraction phases. The results showed that the model established by Savitzky-Golay smoothing with 11 points (SG11 points) was the best, with the root mean square with cross validation (RMSECV), root mean square error of correction (RMSEC) and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of baicalin of 0.092 7, 0.134 4 and 0.114 8, respectively, the determination coefficient R2 of greater than 0.99, and the relative error of baicalin content of less than 5%. This indicates that the on-line near infrared reflectance spectroscopy could be applied in on-line monitor and quality control of the extraction process of Scutellariae Radix formula particles.
Automation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Quality Control ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods

It is the objective of this study to develop dynamic predictive model for the extraction process of red Ginseng using NIR spectroscopy. NIR spectroscopy was collected online and PLSR models were developed for total quantity of ginsenosides. The performance of NIR prediction model achieved R, RMSEC, RMSEP of 0.996 09, 0.018 9, 0.016 8, respectively. A first order dynamic mass transfer model was combined with NIR prediction of the quality indicator to predict the trajectory of the extraction process based upon the initial 3 or 4 data points. The results showed good agreement with actual measurements indicating reasonable accuracy of the predictive model. It could potentially be used for advanced predictive control of the extraction process.
Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; Ginsenosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Models, Theoretical ; Panax ; chemistry ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared

Near-infrared (NIR) was used as rapid analysis method to identify the sulfur fumigated Puerariae Lobatae Radix. NIR spectra of the cross-sectional and longitudinal selection of samples were acquired. Principal component analysis was conducted. The samples were randomly selected. The different pretreatment methods were compared. Discriminant models were established for every type of spectra to calculate the recognition rate. The orthogonal test and nonparametric test were used to test data normality. The result showed that absorbance values of different sections were different due to the different structure, and the raw spectra were analyzed by PCA method. The result founded that the cumulative contribution rate was arrived at 99.2% while the PC numbers were arrived at 3. The pretreatment method based on the MSC + 1D + Savitzky-Golay was the best to establish the model. For the 50 models constructed with cross-section and longitudinal spectra and total spectra, the recognition rate were (94.4 ± 0.66)%, (94.4 ± 0.66)%, (95.3 ± 0.65)%, respectively, and no difference was observed. The NIR method could be used to identify the sulfur fumigated Puerariae Lobatae Radix.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Discriminant Analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fumigation ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; Sulfur ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of Ginkgo biloba Tablet (GbT) on scavenger receptor A (SRA) of the aortic wall and changes of serum inflammatory factors in atherosclerotic rats, and to explore its new mechanism for fighting against atherosclerosis (AS).

METHODSTotally 45 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, the GbT group, 15 rats in each group. Levels of blood glucose, blood lipids, blood calcium, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (slCAM-1), and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were measured in all rats. The expression of SRA in the aortic wall of atherosclerotic rats was observed by immunohistochemical assay. The correlation between the expression of SRA and levels of in-flammatory factors was also observed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, blood glucose and blood calcium obviously increased (P < 0.05); levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C were significantly elevated (P < 0.01); neointimal areas were significantly thickened, increased intima percentage was significantly enlarged, narrowed lumen index was significantly reduced; levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were significantly elevated in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, blood glucose and blood calcium obviously decreased (P < 0.05); levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in the GbT group. Aortic lumens were obviously narrower in the model group than in the GbT group (P < 0.05). SRA expressed at the aortic wall. The aforesaid 3 indices were significantly improved in the GbT group than in the model group (P < 0.01). Serum levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were significantly decreased in the GbT group than in the model group (P < 0.01). Serum levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were positively correlated with the percentage of SRA positive expression area (r = 0.701, 0.604, 0.581, all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSerum levels of inflammatory factors in atherosclerotic rats were elevated, and the expression of SRA in the aortic wall was enhanced. The expression of SRA was closely correlated with serum levels of inflammatory factors. GbT could decrease serum levels of inflammatory factors and inhibit the expression of SRA.

Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Calcium ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Scavenger Receptors, Class A ; metabolism ; Tablets ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

BACKGROUND: At present, common therapies of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) are uvulo-palato-pharyngoplasty and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (N-CPAP). The effective rate of surgical treatment was 50% and the prostecdtive efficacy is decreased gradually. As to treatment with breathing machine, some of the patients can not adapt to it.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of auricular acupoint pressing therapy on clinical indexes of patients with OSAS and its clinical effect,and analyze the possible mechanism.DESIGN: Randomized control observation.SETTING: Department of Acupuncture and Department of Respiration,Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University.PARTICIPANTS: Forty-five outpatients with OSAS between April 2001 and April 2004, who were diagnosed as OSAS in the room of sleep-monitoring of Department of Respiration, were selected from the Clinic of Respiration, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, including 44 males and one female. All subjects were randomly divided into treatment group (n=30) and control group (n=15).METHODS: ①Patients in the treatment group were treated by auricular acupoint pressing therapy, acupoint-locating: shenmen, sympathesis, subcortex, heart, lung, spleen, kidney, anterior ear lobe. Each acupoint was pressed about 10-20 times with 3-5 times every day and 10 days as onecourse. Patients in the control group were treated with placebo and orally took 100 mg of Vitamin C three times a day. Patients in both groups were detected by 7hour nocturnal polysomnography before treatment and 10 days after the treatment, and the curative effects were evaluated.②Criteria of the curative effects on clinical symptoms: Effective: clinical symptoms such as dizzy,somnolence, oppressed chest and obstructing etc. were significantly ameliorated with nocturnal times decreased from 4-5 times to once or none and awake times decreased from 4-5 to once or none. Valid: clinical symptoms were improved. Invalid: no amelioration was found in clinicalsymptoms.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes of clinical symptoms before and after the treatment and hypopnea index (HI), apnea index (AI), apnea hypopnea index (AHI), minimum blood oxygen saturation as well as the longest apnea time detected by polysomnography were observed.RESULTS: A total of 45 patients with OSAS were involved in the analysis of results, and no one withdrew from the study.①The clinical symptoms in auricular acupoint treatment group were significantly ameliorated than control group. In the treatment group, 17 patients were effective (56.7%), 12 patients were valid and one patient was invalid. The clinical symptoms in the control group were not improved before and after the treatment, and there were significant differences between the treatment group and control group (P ＜ 0.05). ②Comparison in each inspecting indexes by polysomnogram: those in the auricular pressing therapy group were remarkably different from those in the control group after treatment (P ＜ 0.001). There was no significant difference in all indexes of the control group between and after the treatment (P ＞ 0.05).③The differences in AI, HI, AHI, minimum blood oxygen saturation as well as the longest apnea time of the auricular pressing treatment group after the treatment were markedly different from those before treatment [(65.25±7.44), (53.69±10.80) times/hour; (72.40±7.92), (59.22±10.55) times/hour; (9.46±2.6), (6.5±2.9) times/hour; (73.3±4.8)%,(77.67±3.78)%; (90.16±33), (45.33±24.69) s,P ＜ 0.001]. Among them, the maximum decrease of AI was 19.3 times/hour, the maximum decrease of AHI was 17.8 times/hour, the maximum decrease of HI was 12.9 times/hour and the maximum increase of blood oxygen saturation was 7% CONCLUSION: Auricular acupoint pressing therapy, in the treatment of OSAS, can significantly ameliorate the AI, HI; AHI, minimum blood oxygen saturation as well as the longest apnea time with better curative effects.

Spleen kidney Yang deficiency (SKYD) diarrhea is a common syndrome in tranditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Until now, there is not an ideal SKYD diarrhea rat model for the research. In this study, we compared single factor way (method I, injecting hydrocortisone and gavaging Sennae Folium) with compound factors way(method II, gavaging adenine, improper diet, exhaustion, and gavaging Sennae Folium) on establishing SKYD diarrhea rat model. After modelling, diarrhea index, D-xylose excretory rate, NOS/cGMP signal transduction system, organ index and histopathology examination were used to evaluate the two ways. The results showed that, compared with health group, all the assessment criterias of method I and method II had significant differences (P < 0.01, 0.05). In addition, the index such as diarrhea index, NOS/cGMP signal transduction system, organ index (kidney, testis and thymus) and histopathology examination had significant differences (P < 0.01, 0.05) between method I and method II. In conclusion, the compound factors modelling method better conforms to the symptom of diarrhoea model caused by SKYD. This new modelling method provides a basis for studying on TCM astringents warming and tonifying the spleen and kidney, relieving diarrhea.
Animals ; Diarrhea ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spleen ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Xylose ; metabolism ; Yang Deficiency ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology