Animals ; Electrocardiography ; Heart ; physiology ; physiopathology ; Heart Rate ; physiology ; Humans ; Noise ; adverse effects ; Rats

Objective To determine the distribution and influencing factors(dehydration method, storage time and chili varieties) of arsenic contents in chilies from southwest China, and the relationship between arsenic content and selenium content in chilies. Methods There were 272 dried chili samples, 76 groups of fresh chili samples and its corresponding soil samples, which were collected from the markets and peasant households in 76 counties of 9 regions in southwest China, and 36 dried chilies from other regions in China and abroad as a comparison. Their dehydration methods and storage time were investigated. The chilies were classified by Bailey Criteria. Arsenic content and selenium content in chilies were determined with hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry. Arsenic content in soils were determined with water bath hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrum. Results Their ranges of arsenic content in dried chili and fresh chili were 0.2 - 16 637.3,0.2 - 295.8 μg/kg, respectively. The median of arsenic content in the dried chili was 106.9 μg/kg while it was 0.2 μg/kg (dry weight) in the fresh chili. The chilies median arsenic of different drying methods and storage time, in order were: the furnace-dried stored for more 1 than year( 197.3 μg/kg), the sun-dried stored for more than 1 year (130.7 μg/kg), the furnace-dried stored for less than 1 year(94.1 μg/kg), the sun-dried stored for less than 1 year (55.5 μg/kg). The arsenic content of different kinds of solar-dried chilies and roast chilies were different. In solar-dried chilies, the median of arsenic contents from a order of high to low sequences were cluster chili (101.5 μg/kg), cherry chili (95.6 μg/kg), corn chili (86.8 μg/kg), and long chili (47. 1 μg/kg); in roast chilies, the median of arsenic contents from a order of high to low sequences were cherry chili(275.5 μg/kg), cluster chili (173.0 μg/kg), corn chili( 164.3 μg/kg), and long chili( 136.8 μg/kg). The medians of chilies from other regions of China and Turkey were higher than that of southwest China, their median were 125.8,112.3 μg/kg, respectively;the medians of chilies from America, France, and other countries were lower than that of southwest China, their median were 29.4,54.1,85.3 μg/kg, respectively. There was no significant correlation between fresh chilies and its corresponding soil arsenic(r = 0.010, P ＞ 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between the amount of arsenic and selenium in chilies(r = 0.616, P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions The arsenic of dried chilies from southwest China was higher than that of fresh chilies. The arsenic of chili was different with different dehydration methods and storage time. There was a significant positive correlation between the amount of arsenic and selenium in chilies.

Objective To determine the fluoride contents in dried chilies in Southwest China to provide the basis for the prevention of the fluoride contamination in chili.Methods The dried chili samples collected from the markets and farmers in 76 counties of 9 regions in Southwest China.Their dehydration methods and storage time were investigated.These dried chilies were classified by Bailey'Criteria.The total fhorine content in chili were determined with ion wlective electrodes,fluoride forms with acid-soluble ultrasonic and water-soluble ultrasonic methods,Based on the differences of chili variety,edible part,dehydration method,storage time and fluoride form, a systemic statistics of the fluoride content in dried chili Was established.Results Theere were 296 dried chili samples collected from 76 counties of 9 regions.The geometric mean of fluoride content in dried chili was 19.6 mg/kg;The dried chili samples were classified into 4 types:cherry chili,corn chili,long chili and cluster chili; their ranges of fluoride content in cherry chili,corn chili,long chili and cluster chili Were 1.7～233.4,3.4～ 367.3,2.0～380.3,3.9～104.0 mg/kg,respectively,and the high to low sequence of fluoride content was cherry chili(25.9 mg/kg),long chili(20.3 mg/kg),corn chili(19.5 mg/kg) and cluster chili(15.3 mg/kg).The waler- soluble fluoride content in dried chili about 27.9 mg/kg occupies 77.5%(15.2/19.6)of total fluoride content and the acid-soluble fluoride content about 33.5 mg/kg reached as high as 93.0%(1 8.2/19.6).The high to low sequence of fluoride content in dried chili Was the sun-dried stored less than 1 year(10.9 mg/kg),the sun-dried stored more than 1 year(13.7 mg/kg),the fumace-dried stored less than 1 year(21.4 mg/kg),the fumace-dried stored more than 1 year(53.9 rag/ks).Conclusions The research shows that inappropriate dehydration method and storage time are the two main reasons leading to fluoride contamination in chili.

Objective To investigate the distribution of fluoride content in fresh chili in southwestern China and provide the fluoride background content for the confirming fluoride contamination discrimination value for fresh chili.Methods The method of analyzing fluoride in food as stipulated in GB/T 5009.18-2003 was adopted to determinate fluoride content in chilies.175 fresh chili samples were collected from 76 counties in southwestern China.Based on the origin and types of the chilies,we systemically analyzed the fluoride content in fresh chilies.Results In fresh chilies directly sampled from farms,the averaging content was up to 8.9 mg/kg(dry weight)and the fluoride content in more than 95.54% of fresh chili samples was less than 24.7 mg/kg(dry weight).Conclusions The current fluoride content standard for vegetables as stipulated in GB 2762-2005(≤1.0 mg/kg)is unsuitable for chili,therefore it is essential to draw a new value for discriminating fluoride contamination in fresh chili.

AIMTo investigate the mechanism of protection by sound conditioning from acoustic trauma.

METHODSSound conditioning experimental model of animals was established. The expression of CaM, HSP70 and F-actin in hair cells were examined with the method of immunohistochemistry. Free calcium concentration in hair cells was observed by LSCM at the same time. Quantitative investigation was devised to assess the changes of F-actin, CaM, HSP70 and intracellular calcium concentration in hair cells.

RESULTSThe expression of CaM, HSP70 and F-actin all showed an increased trend after noise exposure. HSP70 and F-actin expressed significantly more in group CH than that expressed in group H. Compared with group H, the expression of CaM showed an increased trend in group CH. Elevation of intracellular calcium concentration could be resulted from noise exposure. The calcium concentration in group H was significantly higher than that in group C and group CH.

CONCLUSIONA suitable sound conditioning can make the auditory system of guinea pig more resistant to noise trauma. The strengthened cytoskeleton system and the intracellular calcium homeostasis play a critical role in the protective mechanism of sound conditioning.

Acclimatization ; Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Auditory Threshold ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calmodulin ; metabolism ; Cytoskeleton ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; HSC70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Hair Cells, Auditory ; cytology ; metabolism ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; pathology ; Male

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the preventive and therapeutic effect of thymosin alpha(1) on lung infections in critical patients with tracheotomy.

METHODSForty-two patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group to receive daily subcutaneous thymosin injection at 11.6 mg and saline of 2 ml for 7 days, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the infection rate, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukiu-6 were significantly lower in the treatment group.

CONCLUSIONThymosin alpha(1) can be effective for prevention and treatment of lung infections in critical patients with tracheotomy and may improve the patients' immunity and prognosis.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; therapeutic use ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Injuries ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; Critical Illness ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; prevention & control ; Thymosin ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Tracheotomy ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility and authenticity of repairing alveolar defects in alveolar cleft patients with osteoinduction active material (OAM) in clinic.

METHODSTwenty-seven cases of alveolar defect chosen from clinic were divided into two groups (test group and control group). For test group (12 cases), OAM was transplanted to repair the alveolar cleft. For control group (15 cases), autogenous ilium cancellous bone were transplanted into the defect region to repair alveolar cleft. At 6 months after operation, CT and three-dimensional reconstruction were used to observe alveolar appearance, and the effect and clinical success rate of recover alveolar cleft by using different repair material were compared.

RESULTSIn the 27 cases, all the maxillary continuity was restored except two of test group and two of control group. There was no significant difference between test group and control group regarding the clinical success rate of the alveolar cleft repair (P = 1.000).

CONCLUSIONOAM was used to repair the alveolar cleft that can result in new bone formations and the burgeon of canines from the bone grafted areas. There is no significant difference between OAM and autogenous ilium cancellous bone regarding the effect of the alveolar cleft repair.

Alveolar Process ; pathology ; surgery ; Biocompatible Materials ; therapeutic use ; Bone Regeneration ; Bone Transplantation ; Cleft Palate ; surgery ; Humans ; Ilium ; transplantation

AIMTo study the effects of noise on event-related potential(ERP) and its mechanism in hippocampus in rats.

METHODSMale SD rats were divided into 2 groups: control group (CG) and noise exposure group(NG). The rats in NG were exposed to white noise 105 dB SPL for 2.5 h/d x 20 d. P300 were recorded at parietal bone in rats. The Nissl body, NMDAR2B and [Ca2+]i of neurons in hippocampus were analyzed.

RESULTSThe peak latency (PL) of ERP P3a, P3 and P3b in NG were significantly longer than that in CG in the 14th and 20th exposure day. The amount of Nissl body in dentate gyrus (DG) and CA1 region and NMDAR2B in DG, CA1 and CA3 region of hippocampus of NG were significantly decreased than those of CG as well, while the concentration of Ca2+ in neurons increased markedly in NG.

CONCLUSIONDecreased Nissl body and NMDAR2B and increased [Ca2+]i in hippocampus in long-term noise exposed rats might cause the change of ERP P300.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; Event-Related Potentials, P300 ; physiology ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; physiology ; Male ; Neurons ; metabolism ; physiology ; Nissl Bodies ; metabolism ; Noise ; adverse effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism

Objective To investigate changes in the healthcare and support needs during the diagnostic period,and factors that affect these needs in women with suspected breast cancer.Methods This study used an investigator-developed,self-administered questionnaire to collect data from 283 women on three occasions:notification cation of need for breast biopsy,before biopsy and after diagnosis.Results The total score of need before the patients told breast biopsy was (27.68 ±0.53 ),and was higher than that after diagnosis ( 26.80 ±0.47) and the highest score was that before biopsy,which was ( 27.93 ± 0.49),and the difference among the three groups was significant ( F=6.48,P ＜ 0.01 ) ; needs score before diagnosis was ( 28.83 ± 0.31 ) and (27.06 ± 0.46) after diagnosis in participants whose education background was senior middle school or above;needs score before diagnosis was (27.04 ± 0.34) and ( 26.92 ± 0.48) after diagnosis in participants whose education background was junior high school or below; the differences was significant ( t=- 44.09,- 2.40,respectively; P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions Need levels of women with suspected breast cancer vary during the diagnostic period,and are highest before breast biopsy,and related to personal characteristics and cultural context.Therefore,during this period,nursing staff should provide patients and families with cuhurally sensitive,individualized,supportive care.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of chronic noise exposure on expression of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor 2B (NR2B) and tau phosphorylation in hippocampus of rats.

METHODSTwenty-four male SD rats were divided in control group and chronic noise exposure group. NR2B expression and tau phosphorylation in hippocampus of rats were detected after chronic noise exposure (100 dB SPL white noise, 4 h/d×30d) and their mechanisms underlying neuronal apoptosis in hippocampus of rats with TUNEL staining.

RESULTSThe NR2B expression decreased significantly after chronic noise exposure which resulted in tau hyperphosphorylation and neural apoptosis in hippocampus of rats. Immunohistochemistry showed that the tau hyperphosphorylation was most prominent in dentate gyrus (DG) and CA1 region of rat hippocampus.

CONCLUSIONThe abnormality of neurotransmitter system, especially Glu and NR2B containing NMDA receptor, and tau hyperphosphorylation in hippocampus of rats, may play a role in chronic noise-induced neural apoptosis and cognition impairment.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; Neurons ; cytology ; metabolism ; Noise ; adverse effects ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism ; tau Proteins ; metabolism