Aged ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; complications

Objective To estimate the present salt iodine content and iodine nutrition need of high risk population of iodine deficiency disorder in Meixian County. Methods Each primary school was selected from urban and rural areas(Xiyang Town, 20 kilometers away from Meixian County), the goiter rate of 8 to 10 year-old students was examined and urinary iodine and household salt iodine was sampled. Twenty to 40 year-old women of childbearing age nearby schools around the urban and villages around Xiyang Town were selected to collect their urine and salt samples. At urban hospitals and rural health centers, 0 to 2 year-old infant urine samples were collected, Thyroid gland was palpated and urinary iodine was determined by iodine in urine by As3+-Ce4+catalytic spectrophotometry, salt iodine was determined by direct titration. Results The goiter rates of 8 to 10 year-old students were 1.5 % (3/200), 1.0% (1/100) for the urban area and 2.0% (2/100) for rural area. Median of urinary iodine in 8 to 10 year-old students, infants, women of childbearing age averaged at 237.1 μg/L and 280.1, 234.7,187.6 μg/L respectively, with each being 287.4,245.0,205.5 μg/L in urban area and 278.9,228.5,176.4 μg/L in rural area. Women of childbearing age had a higher percentage of urinary iodine < 50.0 μg/L than students,students had a higher percentage than infants, each being 7.5%(15/200), 4.5%(9/200), 4.0%(4/100). The ration of urinary iodine > 300.0 μg/L was more in infants than in students, that in students was more than that in women of childbearing age, each being 33.0% (33/100), 30.0% (60/200),22.5% (45/200). The median of salt iodine was 27.2 mg/kg. The coverage of iodized salt was 100.0%(400/400). Ninty-seven percent(194/200) and 96.0% (192/200) of qualified iodized salt were consumed in urban area and in rural area. Conclusions The amount of iodine added to salt meets the requirement in the 3 kinds population risk of iodine deficiency disorder. But a higher iodine status has been found out in students and infants. It is reasonable to decrease the present salt iodine content.

Aim To investigate the effects of maternal chronic aluminum exposure on memorial behaviour and hippocampal intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i)on their offspring after the induction of LTP(long-term potentiation). Methods Adult Wistar rats (150~200 g) were exposed to aluminum by drinking distilled water, the concentration of AlCl3 is 0.015 mol?L-1(2 g?L-1) and 0.03 mol?L-1(4 g?L-1) aluminum chloride (AlCl3) solution, respectively, for 30 days prior to mating and during the whole gestation and suckling period. Their offspring were distributed into three experimental groups: control group; two exposed groups (represented by 0.2%-Al and 0.4%-Al ) administrated aluminum exposure ended at postnatal day 21. The brain tissue and blood aluminum levels were measured by Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Memorial ability of the offspring was tested by Step down test.[Ca2+]i was measured by the technique of Fura-2/AM calcium ions fluorescence indicator. Results The mean aluminum content in blood and brain tissue was significantly higher than the control group(P0.05), but was significantly decreased in 0.4%-Al exposed group(P

OBJECTIVETo identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AGTR2) gene, and to determine whether the AGTR2 polymorphisms are associated with essential hypertension in a male Chinese population.

METHODSDirect DNA sequencing was performed in 20 subjects. 96 male hypertensive patients and 107 normal controls were included to assess the contribution of the SNP of AGTR2 gene to hypertension.

RESULTSSeven SNP of the AGTR2 gene were identified, of which 4 were reported for the first time. A case-control study including two polymorphisms (A1675G and T1334C) showed a significant increase in the A1675 allele frequency among male hypertensive subjects as compared with normotensive subjects (49.0% vs 34.6%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe AGTR2 A1675G polymorphism might be involved in the development of essential hypertension in male Chinese.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Hypertension ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2 ; genetics

Through the analysis on the methods of medicinal paste preparation, the irritation of skin to medicine and the plaster materials adopted in acupoint plaster therapy for the prevention of winter-attacked disease in summer, the acupoint plaster materials and devices were improved. According to the differences in age, illness condition, acupoint and medicinal irritation of patients, the high-dosage, moderate-dosage and low-dosage series of medicine were prepared in proportion; 2. 5 mL and 5 mL syringes were manually reconstructed as the pushers for the delivery of the medicine paste of different specifications. The new-type materials such as spun-bonded non-woven fabrics, transparent dressing film and spun-laced non-woven skin-color stick plaster were adopted. In the operation, the medicine was classified and prepared more specifically. The dedicated acupoint plaster was characterized as less in skin irritation, breathable in property, convenient in practice and proper in stickiness. The plastic anti-seepage film in the middle and the medicine storage pool for stabilizing medicinal paste could avoid drug leakage. The medicinal paste pusher could achieve the even size, proper thickness and precise dosage of the paste. The new-type plaster material and the self-prepared innovated plaster device contribute to the development of acupoint plaster therapy in clinical application.
Acupuncture Points ; Dosage Forms ; Drug Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans

AIMTo establish a RP-HPLC method for determination of cyclovirobuxine D.

METHODSCyclovirobuxine D reacted with a derivative reagent 1-naphthyl isocyanate in chloroform to form fluorescence derivatives, stopped the reaction by adding the mobile phase and then directly injected the solution into the chromatograph to seperate it by RP-HPLC. The analysis was carried out on C18 column, the mobile phase is methanol-water (85:15), the excitation wavelength was set at 305 nm, emission at wavelength 385 nm, and the flow rate was 1 mL.min-1. The effect of several factors including the reaction medium, temperature, time and amount of 1-naphthyl isocyanate on the yield of the derivatization was also investigated systematically.

RESULTSA simple and rapid RP-HPLC method for the simultaneous isolation and analysis of cyclovirobuxine D and its related substances was developed, and the absence of interference between the derivative peak responses of cyclovirobuxine D and its related substances were verified by UV diode array detecter and MS. The linearity was obtained from 0.75 microgram.mL-1 to 2.5 micrograms.mL-1 of cyclovirobuxine D derivatives with a correlation coefficient of 0.9991. The detection limit of cyclovirobuxine D derivative was 1 ng.mL-1, the repeatability of derivatization was good with relative standard derivation no more than 1.2% and derivative was stable within 48 h. The method described conforms to the validation of China Pharmacopiea compendial methods used for pharmaceutical products in general.

CONCLUSIONThe established method is proved to be reliable quantitative method for the quality control of cyclovirobuxine D.

Buxus ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control

Chilling-sensitive rice varieties acquire chilling tolerance when their roots are exposed to water stress for short time. Caffeine-sensitive calcium signal was involved in this procedure. By using total RNA differential display, a chilling induced cDNA(ICT: induction of chilling treatment) was isolated from roots of chilling-sensitive rice variety. It was determined that it is a novel cDNA by homology searching. The transcript level of ict mRNA is up-regulated under chilling stress, it is decreased to low level when the samples were transferred to standard culture conditions. Pre-treated with mannitol for two hours is beneficial to inducing ICT level of expression. This chilling induction was inhibited by caffeine, suggesting that it may play a putative role in signal transduction of caffeine-sensitive calcium.
Cold Temperature ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; drug effects ; Mannitol ; pharmacology ; Oryza ; drug effects ; genetics ; Plant Roots ; drug effects ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo identify the genetic variants of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1) gene in a population of Han ethnicity in east China and to determine whether the AT1 gene polymorphisms are associated with essential hypertension (EH) and coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODSThe detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was performed in 20 subjects by a direct DNA sequencing. All 213 EH patients, 171 patients of EH with CHD and 200 controls were genotyped by three detected SNPs.

RESULTSEight positive SNPs were detected in the promoter, exon and 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of AT1 gene. A case-control study by using a frequent SNP (A-153G) in the promoter region, showed a significant increase in allele frequency of G-153 in the subjects of EH complicated with CHD (17.8% vs 11.5% for normal controls, P < 0.05). The SNP A1166C, which has been widely studied, manifested no difference in the three groups.

CONCLUSIONA polymorphism in the promoter region (A-153G) of AT1 gene might be involved in the development of EH and CHD in Han ethnicity population in east China.

Aged ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Coronary Disease ; complications ; genetics ; DNA Primers ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 ; genetics

BACKGROUNDMany studies have indicated that hyperpolarizing cardioplegia is responsible for myocardial preservation and researchers have suggested that the adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels (K(ATP)) were the end effectors of cardio-protection. But whether mitochondrial K(ATP) plays an important role in hyperpolarizing cardioplegia is not apparent. The present study investigated the effect of hyperpolarizing cardioplegia containing pinacidil (a nonselective K(ATP) opener) on ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat hearts, especially the role of mitochondrial K(ATP) in pinacidil hyperpolarizing cardioplegia.

METHODSSprague-Dawley rat hearts were Langendorff-perfused for 20 minutes with Krebs-Henseleit buffer at 37°C before equilibration. Cardiac arrest was then induced in different treatments: there was no arrest and ischemia in the normal group, the control group were arrested by clamping the aorta, depolarizing caidioplegia (St. Thomas solution containing 16 mmol/L KCl) and hyperpolarizing cardioplegia groups used St. Thomas solution containing 0.05 mmol/L pinacidil and 5 mmol/L KCl to induce cardiac arrest in group hyperkalemic and group pinacidil, in group hyperkalemic + 5-hydroxydecanote (5HD) and Pinacidil + 5HD, 5HD (0.1 mmol/L) was added to the above two solutions to block mitochondria K(ATP) channels. Global ischemia was then administrated for 40 minutes at 37°C, followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion. At the end of equilibration and reperfusion, hemodynamics, ultrastructure, and mitochondrial function were measured.

RESULTSIn the control group, ischemia/reperfusion decreased the left ventricular developed pressure, heart rate, coronary flow, mitochondrial membrane potential, impaired mitochondrial respiratory function, increased reactive oxygen species and left ventricular end diastolic pressure. Damage to myocardial ultrastructure was also evident. Both depolarized arrest and especially hyperpolarized cardioplegia significantly reduced these lesions. 5HD partially blocked the beneficial effects of pinacidil cardioplegia but showing no effects on hyperkalemic arrest.

CONCLUSIONSPinacidil cardioplegia provides better cardioprotection with preservation of hemodynamics, ultrastructure, and mitochondrial function than traditional cardioplegia. The mitochondria K(ATP) channels may play an important role in the protection mechanism.

Animals ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Pinacidil ; therapeutic use ; Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo identify the genetic variants of angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) gene in a Chinese population and to determine whether the ACE2 gene polymorphisms are associated with essential hypertension (EH).

METHODSSeven hundred and forty-five patients with EH and 362 normal blood pressure controls were included in the study to assess the contribution of polymorphism of ACE2 gene. Direct DNA sequencing was performed to detect the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 20 subjects who were randomly selected from the EH patients.

RESULTSOne SNP named G8790A located in the 4th base of the third intron was found in the 20 patients. The genotyping data indicate that the A allele frequency in male EH patients complicated with cardiac incompetence(55%) is significantly different from that in the control group(43.3%)(P<0.01). The A allele frequency in female patients with cardiac incompetence (56.1%) is higher than that in the controls (50.5%), but the difference does not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONThe G8790A polymorphism may be related to the essential hypertension with cardiac incompetence in Chinese population. Additional investigation will be need to confirm the association.

Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertension ; ethnology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sequence Analysis, DNA