OBJECTIVE: To explore the masking efficiency and regularity of bitterness suppressants (BS) to a representative bitterness substance berberine hydrochloride (BBR). METHODS: Some quantitative evaluation methods of BS efficiency were established based on relevant literature and our previous research. Efficiency of respectively added into eight kinds of BS such as acesulfame, on bitter degree 3 BBR solution (0.05 mg•mL-1) were evaluated using the established methods. Bitterness masking regularity of BS on BBR solution were explained by respectively establishing the relationships between tongue tasted bitter decreased value (ΔI), electronic tongue tasted bitter decreased value (ΔIe) with BS concentration (ρ). RESULTS: ①Five tongue taste bitter masking efficiency (calibrated masking rate, bitterness revised standard half effect index and so on), two electronic tongue bitter masking efficiency(first taste reduce and aftertaste reduce) were established. ②Seven kinds of bitterness suppressants efficacy indicators can be used to compare the bitterness suppressants efficacy of BS to BBR solution, and the maximum bitterness reduction of 8 kinds of BS to BBR solution is above 1.8. ③ΔI-ρ Weibull regularity models of eight BS and nine ΔIe-ρ models of six BS were brlilt.HP-β-CD, glycine and crystalline fructose had good response to two sensor, stevioside, soluble soybean polysaccharide and acesulfame had a good response to one sensor and xanthan gum and aspartame had no response to any sensor. CONCLUSION: Seven evaluation indexes and methods are built based on human tongue and electronic tongue taste method. Max standard capability index of BS is suitable for the development of bitterness suppressants in taste method and two indicators of electronic tongue are also can be used as indicative indicators. Masking regularity of BS to BBR solution is exposed which could provide reference for the development and application of more BS.

Objective To study the mechanism of anti-atherosclerosis of astragaloside IV by observing the regulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Methods In the in vitro experiments, macrophages were randomly divided into control group, astragaloside IV group, Kangshide group, rapamycin group and siRNA group. The changes of autophagy of macrophages were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) after 48 h of mouse RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro treated by astragaloside IV-containing serum, Akt inhibitor Kangshide, mTOR inhibitor rapamycin and mTOR-siRNA. The expression of Akt, mTOR and autophagy-associated protein Beclin 1 was detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting. The expression of Beclin 1 was detected by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. IL-4, IL-10, IL-2, and IFN-γ in RAW264.7 cells were detected by ELISA. In the in vivo experiments, the pathological changes of aorta were detected by HE staining. The expression of Akt, mTOR mRNA and protein in aorta of mice was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Results In vitro experimental results showed that compared with control group, the autophagus of astragaloside IV-containing serum group and each inhibitor group was significantly increased under the TEM (P < 0.05). The expression levels of LC3-II and Beclin1 were significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05). The expression of Akt and mTOR mRNA and protein was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The secretion of IL-10 was significantly decreased and the secretion of IFN-γ was significantly increased (P < 0.05). HE staining results showed that, compared with the model group, the blood vessels of astragalus membranaceus group were normal, arranged neatly, with small focal calcification of the granules. The lesions were mild, the patches were small, the foam cells and the lipids were reduced, the elastic plates were basically complete, The degree of lesion was significantly lighter and lighter than that of the inhibitor groups. The expression of Akt, mTOR mRNA and protein were significantly lower in the aorta of astragaloside IV group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Astragaloside IV inhibition of atherosclerotic plaque formation mechanism and regulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, inhibition of inflammatory response.

Covered in the paper are concepts and contents of medical risk and emergency response technology.Based on a description of medical risk information management experiences in Japan,Sweden and the United States and the current studies of medical risk response information management,the paper proposed measures for China in medical risk information emergency technology.Recommendations made include establishing a comprehensive emergency medical risk information management system,scientific medical risk information collection,monitoring,assessment,early warning systems,as well as building an intelligent risk emergency information decision system and establishing medical risk communication channels,thereby preventing effectively the occurrence of medical risks.

Objective: To clone the acteoside synthase gene (RgAcS1) from Rehmannia glutinosa, and analyze its subcellular localization and expression pattern. Methods: The cDNA sequence of RgAcS1 was identified based on the annotation of the transcriptome data of R. glutinosa, and the RgAcS1 gene was cloned by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Constructing the GFP fusion expression vector and observing the subcellular localization of RgAcS1 mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The expression pattern of RgAcS1 in different parts of tuberous root of R. glutinosa was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). Results: A full-length coding sequence of a shikimate-O-hydroxy cinnamoyl transferase from R. glutinosa was obtained and named RgAcS1. The length of the RgAcS1 cDNA was 1659 bp, including an open reading frame (ORF) of 1 296 bp, encoding 431 amino acid residues, the molecular weight of the protein was 475 900, and it has a typical domain of shikimic acid-O-hydroxy cinnamoyl transferase. The result of subcellular localization showed that RgAcS1 was mainly distributed in cytoplasm and also in nucleus. The qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of RgAcS1 were higher in the periderm and root hair of R. glutinosa tuberous root, but lower in the xylem and phloem. The expression levels of RgAcS1 were higher in non-radial striation than that in radial striation of BJ1, QH1 and 85-5. Conclusion: In this study, we obtained the cDNA sequence of RgAcS1, and analyzed the subcellular location and expression patterns of RgAcS1, which will lay foundations for further study on roles of RgAcS1 gene in the synthesis of acteoside in R. glutinosa.

Objective To prepare lappaconitine hydrobromide push-pull osmotic pump controlled release tablets and screen for the optimal formulation. Methods The percent of cumulative release was used as the evaluation index for the drug release profile in vitro. The effects of PEO N750, PEO WSR303, and plasticizer amounts and coating weight gain on the releasing behavior were investigated through single-factor method. Based on single-factor study on the compositions, the optimal formulation for lappaconitine hydrobromide push-pull osmotic pump controlled release tablet was selected via orthogonal design. The in vitro release of the optimized formulation was also fitted to different models. Results The results of orthogonal design indicated that coating weight gain had a significant effect on the drug release in vitro —<0. 05). The optimal formula was as follows; lappaconitine hydrobromide 20 mg, PEO N750 160 mg, NaCl 30 mg in drug layer; PEO WSR303 75 mg, NaCl 20 mg in the push layer; and plasticizer PEG 4000 was 10% and weight gain was 5% in the coating composition The release rate of the tablets with optimized formulation was constant within 12 h, and the cumulative release could reach 95. 02 %. Conclusion The current method to prepare lappaconitine hydrobromide push-pull osmotic pump controlled release tablets is stable, and the in vitro drug release has an excellent zero-release profile within 12 h (r=0. 992 1), which meets the standard for controlled release.

Objective: To study the hypnotic and anticonvulsant activities of the leaves of Eucommia ulmoides (LEU), the total alkaloids were extracted from LEU using water-acid method. Methods: Mice were divided into five groups, including groups contained total alkaloids in three different doses, negative and positive control groups. Direct hypnotic experiment in mice, pentobarbital sodium synergistic experiment, and anticonvulsant experiment were used. The numbers of spontaneous activities, sleep rate, sleep latency, sleep time, convulsion rate, and convulsion latency of the mice were recorded and analyzed. Results: The total alkaloids from LEU could increase the sleep rate, significantly lengthen the sleep time, and shorten the sleep latency of mice. Even the low dose of total alkaloids (0.33 g/kg) showed significantly different activities with negative control group (physiological saline) with the synergistic effect of the superthreshold dose of pentobarbital sodium. Furthermore, the total alkaloids efficiently inhibited the convulsion caused by nikethamide. Conclusion: The total alkaloids from LEU have the excellent sedative, hypnotic, and anticonvulsant activities in mice, with high safety and little drug side effects. Therefore, they have the protential development prospects in sedative-hypnotic drugs. © 2014 Tianjin Press of Chinese Herbal Medicines.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of different courses of electroacupuncture (EA) intervention on recognition memory and the proliferation and differentiation of hippocampal neural stem cells in mice with radiation-induced brain injury, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improving radiation-induced brain injury. METHODS: Se-venty 30-day old C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control, model and EA groups, and the latter two groups were further divided into 1 week (W), 2 W and 3 W subgroups (n=10 in the control group and each subgroup). The ra-diation-induced brain injury model was established by radiating the mouse' left head at a dose of 8 Gy for 10 min by using a radiation linear accelerator. EA (1.5 V, 2 Hz/10 Hz) was applied to "Baihui" (GV20), "Fengfu" (GV14) and bilateral "Shenshu" (BL23) for 30 min, once daily for 1, 2 and 3 weeks, respectively. The learning-cognition memory ability was detected by using novel object recognition test in an open test box to record the time for exploring a novel object (TN) and a familiar object and to calculate the recognition index (RI). The neural stem cells' proliferation and differentiation in the hippocampus tissues were evaluated by counting the number of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-labeled cells, neuronal nuclei (NeuN)/BrdU-positive cells and BrdU/glia fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells under microscope after immunofluorescence stain. RESULTS: After modeling, the TN at 90 min and 24 h and RI of the model subgroup 3 W at 90 min and RI of the model subgroup 1, 2 and 3 W at 24 h were significantly decreased in comparison with those of the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Moreover, the number of BrdU-positive cells in the model subgroup 1 W and 2 W, the BrdU/NeuN double-labeled cells in the 3 model subgroups and BrdU/GFAP double-labeled cells in the model subgroup 1 W and 3 W were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05). Following EA interventions, the TN in the 3 EA subgroups at both 90 min and 24 h, and RI of EA subgroup 3 W at 90 min and EA subgroup 2 W and 3 W at 24 h were considerably increased compared with those of the corresponding 3 model subgroups (P<0.05, P<0.01). The numbers of BrdU-positive cells as well as BrdU/NeuN and BrdU/GFAP double-labeled cells were significantly increased in the 3 EA subgroups (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: EA of GV20, GV14 and BL23 can improve the recognition memory ability of mice with radiation-induced brain injury, which may be related to its effect in promoting the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells in the hippocampus.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of embedding sutures of single inner- and outer-prepuce flap in the treatment of concealed penis. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included 37 cases of concealed penis treated by embedding sutures of single inner- and outer-prepuce flap between July 2011 and May 2015. Catheters were pulled out from the patients within 24 hours and the dressing removed about 1 week after surgery. All the patients were followed up for 12－24 months postoperatively for evaluation of the long-term outcomes of surgery. RESULTS: One-stage wound healing was achieved in all the patients. No foreskin flap necrosis, inflammation, edema, voiding dysfunction, or painful erection was found during the follow-up. The penises were extended by 2－4 cm. No complications were observed axcept 8 cases of mild prepuce edema, which all subsided with 6 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS Embedding sutures of single inner- and outer-prepuce flap, with the advantages of simple operation, rapid recovery and few complications, is a desirable surgical option for the treatment of concealed penis.
Foreskin ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Diseases ; surgery ; Penis ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; pathology ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Flaps ; pathology ; transplantation ; Suture Techniques ; Sutures ; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male ; methods ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinicopathological characteristics and therapeutic approach for mercury poisoningassociated nephritic syndrome. METHODS: Clinical and pathological data of 9 patients diagnosed with mercury poisoningassociated nephritic syndrome were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 9 cases,2 cases were mercury smelters,1 case was instrument production worker,1 case was traditional Chinese medicine preparation worker,4 cases were psoriasis treated by folk prescription of traditional Chinese medicine,and 1 case used cosmetics for whitening and freckle removal. All cases showed clinical manifestation of nephritic syndrome that included large amount of proteinuria,hypoalbuminemia,edema and hyperlipidemia. The concentrations of urine mercury in the patients were from 0. 09 to 0. 75 mg / L before treatment.Pathology examination on renal biopsy showed that there were 4 cases of minimal change nephropathy and 5 cases of membranous nephropathy at stage Ⅰ. The patients with nephritic syndrome were cured after mercury driving and treatment with corticosteroid. CONCLUSION: The kidney histopathology changes in patients with mercury poisoning-associated nephritic syndrome are primarily characterized by minimal change and membranous nephropathy. The mercury driving combined treatment with corticosteroid can completely relieve the clinical symptoms of the patients with mercury poisoningassociated nephritic syndrome.

OBJECTIVETo identify the genotypes of the blood sample whose blood grouping showed discrepancies and study the ABO alleles' molecular characteristics of the involved ancestry.

METHODSBlood samples were preliminary genotyped by PCR-SSP. Complete exon 6 and 7 in the ABO genes were amplified by PCR and the PCR products were directly sequenced and cloning sequenced to identify its genotype.

RESULTSSequence analysis indicated that 3 samples of the family had an nt905A>G mutation in the B gene compared with ABO*B101. Combined with the serological results, the propositus could be typed as Bx02/O102.

CONCLUSIONDNA sequencing analysis is able to identify the serological phenotype samples that forward and reverse group methods were incongruous.

ABO Blood-Group System ; Alleles ; Base Sequence ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; Exons ; Genetic Testing ; Genotype ; Humans ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction