OBJECTIVETo develop a RP-HPLC method for determination of three glycosides in Swertia punicea.

METHODChromatographic column: Alltimal C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm). Mobile phase: methanol-water (including 0.05% H3PO4), and gradient elution. Flow rate: 1 mL x min(-1). Wavelength: 254 nm. Column temperture: 30 degrees C.

RESULTThe calibration curves of gentiopicroside, mangiferin and swertrianolin were in good linearity over the range of 31.3-281.7, 0.31-2.78, 0.55-4.91 microg, (r = 0.9996, 0.9993, 0.9995). The average recoveries were 103.36%, 101.42% and 97.39%, with RSD less then 3% (n = 5).

CONCLUSIONIt is a simple and sensitive meathod in controlling the quality of S. punicea.

Calibration ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Glycosides ; analysis ; Iridoid Glucosides ; Iridoids ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Swertia ; chemistry ; Xanthones ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate aquaporin 9 (AQP9) mRNA and protein expression in antrum follicle and luteinizing granulosa cells of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) ovary, and its relation to follicular fluid steroids hormone levels during IVF cycles.

METHODSAQP9 mRNA expression on luteinizing granulosa cells in IVF cycles was detected by RT-PCR. AQP9 protein expression in antrum follicles of PCOS ovary and luteinizing granulosa cells was measured by immunohistochemistry. The concentrations of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P) and testerone (T) in follicular fluid were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA).

RESULTThe expression of AQP9 mRNA in luteinizing granulosa cells during IVF cycles was positive by RT-PCR. No significant differences in AQP9 mRNA levels in granulosa cells between PCOS and control group were found during IVF cycles. The expression level of AQP9 mRNA in large follicles was higher than that in small follicles, but not significantly. The immunoreactivity for AQP9 was localized in membrane and cytoplast of granulosa cells in antrum follicles from PCOS ovary and luteinizing granulosa cells during IVF cycles. Multiple regression analysis showed that AQP9 mRNA levels on granulosa cells were not correlated with E2, P and T levels in follicular fluid during IVF cycles.

CONCLUSIONAQP9 may play an important role in the follicle development and antrum formation through water transport and AQP9 may be involved in the mechanism of follicle development in PCOS.

Adult ; Aquaporins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Follicular Fluid ; metabolism ; Granulosa Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infertility, Female ; etiology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; complications ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

The effect of 1-deoxynojirimycin(DNJ)on the proliferation of rat mesangial cells was observed and its mechanism was explored.The results showed that DNJ significantly inhibited the proliferation of rat mesangial cells induced by high glucose in time-and dose-dependent manners.DNJ significantly decreased expressions of?-smooth muscle action(?-SMA),integrin?1 mRNA and protein and focal adhesion kinase (FAK)protein stimulated by high glucose in rat mesangial cells(P

Objective To study the relationship between peripheral blood hemoglobin (HB) and blood pres- sure.Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis in 1153 subjects aged 29-83 years.Waist circumfer- ence,HB,blood pressure,high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL- C),triglycerides (TG),total cholesterol (TC) were determined.Results ①With the increasing of blood pres- sure,HB had a clearly increasing trend (HB,normotensive:137.5?14.7 vs prehypertension:143.4?14.4 vs hy- pertension:144.3?13.8 g/L,P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of infrasonic field of minesweeper on psychology of minesweeper crews.

METHODSAn experimental ship was selected to conduct infrasonic minesweeping, a control ship of the same type was selected to operate likewise with the infrasound generator turned off, and another group of coast-servicemen was chosen as blank control. Attention-span test, digit memory test, two-digital numbers list and profile of mood states (POMS) were used to test the ship crews and coast-servicemen.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in psychological parameters between the two ship crews before the experiment. But the scores of two-digit figures list in ship crews were significant lower than that in coast-servicemen, (31.2 +/- 11.8, 36.4 +/- 14.5 respectively vs 45.8 +/- 13.9, P < 0.05). POMS showed that the scores of anger-hostility, fatigue-inertia, and confusion-bewilderment in both ship crew groups [(15.5 +/- 6.4, 18.3 +/- 6.8), (12.1 +/- 5.0,12.3 +/- 4.9), (11.6 +/- 4.4, 12.5 +/- 4.8), respectively] were higher than those in coast-servicemen (13.9 +/- 7.0, 7.6 +/- 4.1, 8.2 +/- 4.3, respectively, P < 0.05 or 0.01), while vigor-activity in experimental group (15.0 +/- 5.9) was lower than that in coast-servicemen (19.7 +/- 4.7). After the experiment, the scores of experimental crews in digit memory test (14.5 +/- 5.0), vigor-activity (12.2 +/- 5.8), fatigue-inertia (15.8 +/- 6.2) were significantly different from those of control crews (17.3 +/- 4.8, 16.5 +/- 4.6, 11.3 +/- 5.1).

CONCLUSIONSThe infrasonic field from minesweeper may injure the crew's psychological health and some neurobehavioral function.

Adult ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Noise, Occupational ; adverse effects ; Ships

Seven compounds were isolated from Onychium japonicum by macroporous resin, silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and semi-preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified by NMR, MS and other spectroscopic methods as onychone A (1), quercetin (2), quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside (3), kaempferol-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (5), (-)-prunin (6), and norathyriol (7). Compound 1 is a novel macrocyclic flavonoid, and all the others are reported from this plant for the first time. In vitro cytotoxic activities of compounds 1-7 were evaluated by MTS testing with five cancer cell lines. Compound 7 exhibited weak cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines A549, SMMC-7721, and SW480.

Objective To explore the effect of Chinese shadow boxing exercise on long-term quality of life in middle-aged and elderly patients with primary hypertension. Methods 60 cases of middle-aged and elderly patients with primary hypertension were randomly divided into two groups :30 cases in observation group and 30 cases in control group. The observation group performed The quality of life was surveyed by using SF-36 and compared between the two groups 5 years later. Results In patients' quality of life, observation group was significantly higher than control group (P ＜ 0. 01 ). Conclusions Shadow boxing exercise is helpful to control the hypertension and release tension emotion in order to improve quality of life in middle-aged and elderly patients with primary hypertension.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the safety and efficacy of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody in treatment of severe pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (PSLE).

METHODThe diagnosis of PSLE was made according to the criteria for the classification of systemic lupus erythematosus revised by the American College of Rheumatology in 1997. Severe cases with PSLE was selected by the following criteria: age ≤ 16 years, number of important organs involved > 1, SLEDAI score > 10 points and poor response to conventional immunosuppressive treatment. These patients received 2 doses of 375 mg/m(2) rituximab (RTX), 2 weeks apart. Clinical, laboratory findings and drug side effects were recorded at RTX initiation, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3, 6 and 12 months after infusion.

RESULTA total of 20 patients. Male to female ratio was 1:3, were enrolled. They were 5-16 years old. The course of disease was (3.0 ± 2.5) years (range: 1 month-7 years), patients were followed up for 12 - 36 months [median: (27.0 ± 7.8) months]. Delirium and cognitive disorders were significantly improved in 10 cases of lupus encephalopathy after 1 month. Lupus nephritis in children were eased slowly, 14/15 patients with lupus nephritis were improved after 2-3 months. Four cases of lupus pneumonia were significantly improved within 1 month. Decreased blood cells counts were relieved at 1 month in 16/18 cases. Cellular immune function was assessed 2 weeks after application of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody; we found B-cell clearance in 19 patients (95%). B lymphocyte count of 18 patients (90%) was restored within one year. SLEDAI score was reduced obviously. Dose of corticosteroid ranged from (45.0 ± 4.7) mg/m(2) before drug use to (12.0 ± 2.7) mg/m(2) 12 months later (P < 0.001). After the drug use, 5 patients had pneumonia within 6 months; 2 cases who suffered from aspergillus pneumonia and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia respectively were severe. They accepted mechanical ventilation and anti-inflammatory support after being transferred to the intensive care unit, and their conditions improved at last. No death occurred. In 2 patients the disease recurred with B-cell recovery after 15 months and 18 months. Administration of another cycle of rituximab resulted in remission again in one case but not in the other.

CONCLUSIONAnti-CD20 monoclonal antibody is effective and safe in treatment of severe PSLE. But severe infections may occur in some cases. Focusing on prevention and early treatment can reduce the probability of adverse reactions.

Adolescent ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; B-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; immunology ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cyclophosphamide ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glucocorticoids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; complications ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Lupus Nephritis ; etiology ; pathology ; Male ; Pneumonia ; etiology ; pathology ; Prednisolone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Rituximab ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome

The present study was aimed to investigate the pathological changes after magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided high intensity focused ultrasound (MRgHIFU) therapy for ablating the liver tissue adjacent to goat portal vein. Fifty goats were involved in this study. Normal liver tissues at 0, 5, and 10 mm distance from portal vein, respectively, were ablated with MRgHIFU. Among the 50 tested subjects, 40 goats were sacrificed immediately after the operations, and the other 10 were sacrificed 7 days after the procedure for pathological examination of the targeted areas and the contiguous portal veins. Coagulation necrosis was observed in all the treated liver tissues. Collagen swelling (CS) and vessel wall fracture (VWF) emerged more frequently in the 0 mm group than that in the 5mm group: CS [0 mm group VS 5mm group = 27/40 (67.5%) VS 7/40 (17.5%), P < 0.05], VWF [0 mm group VS 5mm group = 8/40 (20%) VS 0/40 (0%), P < 0.05]. Seven days after ablation, no portal vein damages (CS and VWF) were observed under light microscope. The results indicated that MRgHIFU could be used to ablate the liver tissue adjacent to goat portal vein effectively, which may cause blood vessel damage when the focus is on the wall of blood vessels (0 mm). However, the pathological results indicated that these damages are reversible.
Animals ; Female ; Goats ; High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Liver ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Portal Vein ; pathology

The objectives of the study were to select suitable wavebands for rice leaf area index (LAI) estimation using the data acquired over a whole growing season, and to test the efficiency of the selected wavebands by comparing them with feature positions of rice canopy spectra. In this study, the field experiment in 2002 growing season was conducted at the experimental farm of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. Measurements of hyperspectral reflectance (350 approximately 2500 nm) and corresponding LAI were made for a paddy rice canopy throughout the growing season. And three methods were employed to identify the optimal wavebands for paddy rice LAI estimation: correlation coefficient-based method, vegetation index-based method, and stepwise regression method. This research selected 15 wavebands in the region of 350~2 500 nm, which appeared to be the optimal wavebands for the paddy rice LAI estimation. Of the selected wavebands, the most frequently occurring wavebands were centered around 554, 675, 723, and 1 633 nm. They were followed by 444, 524, 576, 594, 804, 849, 974, 1 074, 1 219, 1 510, and 2 194 nm. Most of them made physical sense and had their counterparts in spectral known feature positions, which indicates the promising potential of the 15 selected wavebands for the retrieval of paddy rice LAI.
Oryza ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Plant Leaves ; anatomy & histology