Objective To understand the evaluation on graduates' professional quality from the employment institutions,and to provide the references for the higher vocational schools in improving students' training model and strengthening students' professional quality. Methods The questionnaires designed independently were answered by the employment institutions hiring 2003-2005 four majors(namely nursing,laboratory science,dental technology,optometry) graduates from Shanghai Institute of Health Sciences. Results The overall evaluation of employment institutions on the graduates was quite good,but the evaluation on graduates' professional ability was low. Conclusion With strengthening the student' specialized knowledge and skill training,higher vocational schools must pay more attention to the students' professional ability education.

OBJECTIVETo study hypoglycemic action of total flavone (GXTF) of Ampelopsis grossedentata from Guangxi by observing the effects of GXTF on blood glucose levels in many strain animal models.

METHODThe blood glucose levels in many strain animal models were determined after oral administration, with the models of diabetes induced by alloxan, of hyperglycemic mice induced by epinephrine and glucose, and normal mice.

RESULTGXTF had better therapeutical action on diabetes mice induced by alloxan, and could significantly lowered the blood glucose levels of hyperglycemic mice induced by epinephrine and glucose, but had no significant effects on blood glucose levels of normal mice. Acute toxicity test showed that the maximum oral dosage is 26.0 g.kg-1.

CONCLUSIONGXTF has better hypoglycemic effect on many strain animal models and toxicity is vary small.

Ampelopsis ; chemistry ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; China ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Epinephrine ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Female ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

The tail suspension test (TST), forced swimming test (FST) and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model were used to evaluate the anti-depressant effect of supercritical CO2 extract from Compound Chaigui Fang (FFCGF). A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabonomics combined with multivariate statistical analysis was performed to explore the mechanism of FFCGF. Rats were conducted by CUMS procedure for 28 days and drugs were administrated at the same time. The body weight, sucrose preference, crossings and rearings in open-field tests were evaluated and the urine was collected simultaneously. The metabonomic profiles of rats' urine were analyzed by NMR and potential biomarkers were searched by multivariate statistical analysis. The results showed that administration of FFCGF significantly decreasing the immobility time in FST and TST and improving rats' body weight, sucrose preference, crossings and rearings in CUMS, which were indication that the anti-depressant effect of FFCGF was abvious. Significant differences in the metabolic profile of the CUMS treated group and the control group were observed, which were consistent with the results of behavioral tests. Decreased levels of acetic acid, succinic acid, 2-oxidation glutaric acid and citric acid and increased glycine and pyruvic acid in urine were significantly affected by the CUMS procedure and the 6 biomarkers were reversed evidently after administration of FFCGF. These changes were suggestion that the anti-depressant mechanism of FFCGF was associated with energy metabolism, lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism.
Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Body Weight ; Carbon Dioxide ; chemistry ; Depression ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mice

Objective To evaluate the prognostic value of serial 18F-fluorodeexyglucose (FDG) PET/CT in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods Thirty-seven NPC patients who had 18F-FDG PET/CT scan before and after external beam intensity-modulated radiotherapy, were studied retrospectively.All patients were followed for five years.Correlation analysis between metabolic tumor volume (MTV)/uptake volume index (UVI) and survival was performed by Kaplan-Meier analysis, Log-rank test and multivariate Cox model.Results The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 70.3% (26/37) and 62.2% ( 23/37 ), respectively.Patients with a lower MTV (MTV＜30 cm3) had significantly higher 5-year OS ( 82.6% ( 19/23 ) ) and DFS (73.9% ( 17/23 )) rates than those with a higher MTV (OS:50.0% (7/14),x2 =5.28, P＜0.05; DFS:42.9% (6/14),x2 =4.84, P＜0.05).Patients with a lower UV1 (UVI＜150) had significantly higher 5-year OS( 87.5%( 21/24 )) and DFS (79.2% (19/24)) rates than those with a higher UVI (OS:38.5% (5/13),x2 =10.72, P＜0.01;DFS:30.8% (4/13), x2 =11.04, P＜0.01).Multivariate analysis showed that UVI and metabolic response (MR) were independent predictors of DFS.Conclusions Tumor volume parameters, UVI and MR, are independent prognostic factors for patients with NPC.Patients with a high UVI may benefit from more aggressive treatment.

Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture treatment on the levels of HPA axis related hormones and acupoint compatibility in insomnia rats; To discuss the mechanism of action for acupuncture treatment. Methods Chlorophenylalanine suspension was under intraperitoneal injection to establish insomnia model rats. Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, Baihui+Shenmen group, Baihui+Sanyinjiao group, Baihui+non-acupoint group, with 12 rats in each group. Each treatment group received acupuncture in relevant acupoints, 30 min each time, for 7 d. ELISA was used to measure the levels of CRH, ACTH and CORT. Results Compared with the model group, the levels of CRH, ACTH and CORT of the acupuncture groups decreased to some extent. In the three acupuncture groups, the efficacy of Baihui+Shenmen group was better than that of Baihui+Sanyinjiao group and Baihui+non-non-acupoint group. Conclusion Acupuncture treatment may calm and soothe the nerves to release the insomnia through regulating HPA axis related hormones. Acupuncture acupoints at different meridians may be one of the factors that cause the difference of acupoints compatibility effect.

Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture in acupoints at different meridians on 5-HT, DA, NE in the peripheral serum of insomnia rats; To explore the mechanism of action of acupuncture for the treatment of insomnia. Methods Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, Baihui+Shenmen group, Baihui+Sanyinjiao group, and Baihui+non-acupoint group, with 12 rats in each group. Injection of PCPA suspension of rats was used to establish insomnia model. Each acupuncture group received corresponding acupoints, 30 min each time, for 7 days. The levels of 5-HT, DA and NE in serum were measured by ELISA. Results Compared with the blank group, the levels of 5-HT, DA and NE in the model group were significantly higher than those in the blank group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the contents of DA and NE in the acupuncture groups were significantly lower than those in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the 5-HT in Baihui+Sanyinjiao group was significantly lower than those in the model group (P<0.05). Among all acupuncture groups, overall efficacy of Baihui+Shenmen group was better than Baihui+Sanyinjiao group and Baihui+non-acupoint group. Conclusion Acupuncture can improve sleep structure in rats may be related to serum monoamine neurotransmitters. Acupuncture in acupoints at different meridians may be one of the influencing factors of acupoint compatibility effects.

OBJECTIVEMeasure the thermal stability and the forming constant of inclusion complex for paeonol with beta-CD, and investigate interaction between beta-CD and paeonol,

METHODThe thermal stability investigated by using different thermal analysis. The forming constant was determined by using phase method.

RESULTComparing with melt temperature of paeonol, that of its inclusion complex increase about 220 degrees C. The solubility of paeonol increases with the increased concentration of beta-CD, the composing ratio and the inclusion constant of beta-CD-paeonol is respectively 1/1 and 27.42 mL x mg(-1).

CONCLUSIONInclusion constant is applied to research the stability of included drug in physiological condition.

Acetophenones ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Interactions ; Drug Stability ; Hot Temperature ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plant Bark ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Solubility ; beta-Cyclodextrins

An alkaline catalase has been purified and characterized from a slightly halophilic and alkaliphilic bacterium Bacillus sp. F26. The purification was performed with a four step procedure consisting of ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange, gel filtration and hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and finally achieved a 58.5-fold-purifying over the crude extract. The purified catalase was composed of two identical subunits with a native molecular mass of 140 kD. The native enzyme showed the typical Soret band appearing at 408 nm. The pyridine hemochrome spectrum indicated the presence of protoheme IX as the prosthetic group. The apparent Km value for enzyme activity on H2O2 was calculated to be 32.5 mmol/L. The activity of this catalase was not reduced by dithionite but was strongly inhibited by cyanide, azide, and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (the specific inhibitor of monofunctional catalase). No peroxidase activity of this enzyme was detected when using o-dianisidine, diaminobenzidine (DAB) and p-phenylenediamine as electron donor. Moreover, the N-terminal sequence of this catalase exhibited substantial similarity to the monofunctional catalase subgroup rather than catalase-peroxidase or Mn-catalase one. Therefore, we characterize the purified catalase as a monofunctional catalase. Besides, this monofunctional catalase was thermosensitive and its activity exhibited pH-independent over pH 5-9 but showed a sharp maximum at pH 11. An activity half-life of approximately 49 h was measured when the enzyme was incubated at 20 degrees C and pH 11. To our knowledge, pH 11 is the most alkaline condition for optimum catalysis and enzyme stability among the catalases reported up to now. Furthermore, this monofunctional catalase also showed excellent halo-alkali-stability with a half-life of approximately 90 h at 0.5 mol/L NaCl and pH 10.5. On the other hand, so far as we know, the characterized catalase is the first dimeric monofunctional catalase from alkaliphiles and is also the first monofunctional catalase derived from a natural soda lake, which could partially reflect the oxidative stress response in the corresponding environment.
Bacillus ; enzymology ; Bacterial Proteins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Catalase ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Enzyme Stability ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo observe the neurologic damage in rat hippocampus after electromagnetic field (EMF) acute or chronic irradiation and research the protective effects of Chinese medicine diet (CMD) which comprised ferulic acid, ginsenoside, astragalus polysaccharide and rhodiola sachalinensis.

METHODSEighty rats were divided into ten groups (n = 8): normal diet with shame irradiation group (NS), normal diet with chronic irradiation group (NCI), three groups of normal diet with acute irradiation after 3 h, 24 h, 72 h (NAI), Chinese medicine diet with shame irradiation group (CS), Chinese medicine diet with chronic irradiation group (CCI), three groups of Chinese medicine diet with acute irradiation after 3 h, 24 h, 72 h (CAI). The chronic EMF irradiation were performed by electromagnetic wave at 15 W/cm2 for 20 min everyday for 8 weeks continuously. The acute EMF irradiation were performed by electromagnetic wave at 65 W/cm2 for 20 min after feeding with CMD for 8 weeks. The learning and memory were evaluated by Morris water maze before/after electromagnetic wave irradiation. The apoptotic cells in hippocampus was detected by Tunel staining. The peroxidation damage of EMF and the protective effect of CMD intervention were assayed by measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and reactive oxygen species (ROS).

RESULTSThe acute and chronic EMF irradiation disturbed the ability of learning and memory significantly (P < 0.05), CMD intervention markedly antagonized this effect. The apoptotic cells in hippocampus increased evidently after EMF irradiation (P < 0.05), but CMD intervention reduced the apoptotic cells. The acute and chronic EMF irradiation induced the oxidative stress by down-regulating SOD activity, GSH-Px activity, ROS inhibiting and up-regulating the content of MDA obviously (P < 0.05), and CMD intervention reduced peroxidation damage significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe acute and chronic EMF irradiation could initiate neurologic damage in hippocampus. CMD intervention has protective effect on the impaired learning and memory, the neuron apoptosis, the peroxidation damage induced by EMF irradiation. CMD intervention plays a significant protective role in antagonizing neurologic damage in the later stage of acute irradiation and chronic irradiation.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Electromagnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Female ; Hippocampus ; radiation effects ; Male ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; Phytotherapy ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the anti-aging effects and reveal the underlying mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi ethanol extract (SBG) in D-galactose-induced rats. Fifty rats were randomly divided into five groups: vehicle control group, D-galactose group, and D-galactose combined with 50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1) SBG. A rat aging model was induced by injecting subcutaneously D-galactose (100 mg x kg(-1)) for ten weeks. At the tenth week, the locomotor activity (in open-field test) and the learning and memory abilities (in Morris water maze test) were examined respectively. The urine was collected using metabolic cages and analyzed by high-resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy combined with multivariate statistical analyses. The SBG at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg x kg(-1) treatments groups could significantly ameliorate aging process in rats' cognitive performance. The 50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1) SBG regulated citrate, pyruvate, lactate, trimethylamine (TMA), pantothenate, β-hydroxybutyrate in urine favorably toward the control group. These biochemical changes are related to the disturbance in energy metabolism, glycometabolism and microbiome metabolism, which is helpful to further understanding the D-galactose induced aging rats and the therapeutic mechanism of SBG.
Aging ; drug effects ; Animals ; Galactose ; Memory ; drug effects ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacokinetics ; urine ; Rats ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry