Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Nickel ; toxicity ; Oxidative Stress ; physiology ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism

The study was conducted to explore the response of growth and yield of Tulipa edulis to flower bud removal and artificial pollination. And flower bud removal and artificial pollination were carried out in the squaring period and bloom stage respectively. The morphological index and biomass indicators were determined and the yield was counted in harvest time. Result showed that flower bud removal was beneficial to the growth of T. edulis, resulting in increasing growth index, biomass as well as the yield of bulb. The diameter and dry weight of T. edulis fruit by artificial pollination were increased significantly compared with the control. Seed setting percentage increased to 100%, and the number of seed as well as the single grain weight increased by 69.03% and 16.48%, respectively, which did not significantly affect the bulb production. In conclusion, Flower bud removal treatment accelerates bulb biomass increase, so as to improve its yield. Artificial pollination raised significantly seed setting percentage, seed number as well as the single grain weight.
Biomass ; Botany ; methods ; Flowers ; growth & development ; physiology ; Pollen ; growth & development ; physiology ; Pollination ; Tulipa ; growth & development ; physiology

Effects of different drying methods including sun drying, steamed, boiled, constant temperature drying (at 40, 50, 60 °C) on appearance, hardness, rehydration ratio, dry rate, moisture, total ash, extractive and polysaccharides contents were studied to provide the basis of standard processing method for Tulipa edulis bulbus. The results showed that the treatments of sun drying and 40 °C drying showed higher rehydration ratios, but lower dry rate, higher hardness, worse color, longer time and obvious distortion and shrinkage in comparison with other drying methods. The treatments of 60 °C constant temperature drying resulted in shorter drying time, lower water and higher polysaccharides content. Drying time is shorter and appearance quality is better in the treatment of steaming and boiling compared with other treatments, but the content of extractive and polysaccharides decreased significantly. The treatments of 50 °C constant temperature drying led to similar appearance quality of bulb to commercial bulb, and it resulted in lowest hardness and highest dry rate as well as higher rehydration ratio, extractive and polysaccharides content, moderate moisture and total ash contents among these treatments. Based on the results obtained, 50 °C constant temperature drying is the better way for the processing of T. edulis bulbus.
Color ; Desiccation ; methods ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; Quality Control ; Tulipa ; chemistry ; Water ; analysis

OBJECTIVEIntravenous administration of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is effective to reduce the volume of cerebral infract due to ischemia. This study was designed to investigate the molecular mechanism, especially the signal transduction pathways, involved in this protective role of bFGF.

METHODSAnoxia-reoxygenation treated astrocytes were used to study the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MAPK/ERK kinase, MEK)-ERK signaling pathway after exogenous bFGF administration by Western blot. Electrophoretic mobile shift assay was used to detect the binding activity of early growth response factor-1 (Egr-1), an important transcription factor for endogenous bFGF.

RESULTSbFGF could protect some signal transduction proteins from the oxygen-derived free radicals induced degradation. ERK1/2 was activated and involved in Egr-1 binding activity enhancement induced by exogenous bFGF.

CONCLUSIONMEK-ERK MAPK cascade may be an important signal transduction pathway contributed to bFGF induced enhancement of Egr-1 binding activity in anoxia-reoxygenation injured astrocytes.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Astrocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Early Growth Response Protein 1 ; metabolism ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; methods ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; pharmacology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; drug effects ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; Time Factors

The effect of low temperature storage on dormancy breaking, sprouting and growth after planting of Tulipa edulis was studied. The results showed that starch content and activity of amylases significantly decreased during 10 weeks of cold storage, soluble protein content raised at first then decreased, and the peak appeared at the 6th week. However, total soluble sugar content which in- creased slowly at first than rose sharply and reducing sugar content increased during the storage duration. The bulbs with cold storage treatment rooted in the 6th week, which was about 2 weeks earlier than room temperature storage, but there were less new roots in the late period of storage. After stored at a low temperature, bud lengths were longer than that with room temperature treatment. Cold storage treatment could promote earlier emergence, shorten germination time, prolong growth period and improve the yield of bulb, but rarely affect the emergence rate. It was not beneficial to flowering and fruiting. The results indicated that 6-8 weeks of cold storage was deemed to be the key period of dormancy breaking preliminary.
Cold Temperature ; Plant Dormancy ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; growth & development ; physiology ; Tulipa ; chemistry ; growth & development ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism of the genital system damage by nickel sulfate in male rats in order to provide the laboratory theoretical evidence for the prevention and cure of nickel genital toxicity.

METHODSThree groups of rats were injected intraperitoneally with nickel sulfate at dose of 1.25, 2.50, 5.00 mg/kg respectively for two weeks. The content of testicle nickel and blood serum testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) were assessed with atomic absorption spectrum and radioimmuno-assay, meanwhile the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and the content of nitric oxide (NO) were measured by enzyme method.

RESULTSThe contents of testicle nickel [(0.22 +/- 0.03), (0.34 +/- 0.04), (0.41 +/- 0.02) micro g/g respectively] were increased, but the content of T, TSH, LH in blood serum were reduced; the activities of NOS in testicle tissue [(33.65 +/- 2.93), (26.53 +/- 9.52), (10.20 +/- 2.74) U/g respectively] were inhibited by nickel sulfate and the contents of NO [(0.26 +/- 0.03), (0.18 +/- 0.05), (0.15 +/- 0.02) mmol/g respectively] were decreased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONNickel-induced genital system injury of male rats may be related to the decrease in the contents of T, TSH, LH, and the inhibition on NOS, as well as the fall of NO content.

Animals ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Genitalia, Male ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Nickel ; toxicity ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; analysis ; Radioimmunoassay ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the infection and the drug resistance status of mycoplasma and chlamydiae in genitourinary tracts of children with suspected nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) and provide information for clinical rational administration of antimicrobial agents.

METHODSSamples of genitourinary tract secretion from 146 children who were suspected of having nongonococcal urethritis or colpitis were collected and tested for mycoplasma via culture and for chlamydia with antigen detection. Meanwhile, susceptibility test was carried out on the samples which were positive in mycoplasma cultivation. Chlamydia antigen was detected by the polymer conjugate-enhanced (PCE) indirect enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (IDEIA PCE Chlamydia; DAKO). The mycoplasma culture medium was produced by Nanjing Liming Biological Products Co,. Ltd. Antibiotics used for susceptibility test were erythromycin, roxithromycin, josamycin, leucomycin, meleumycin, rovamycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, cycloate erythromycin, and clindamycin.

RESULTSFifteen samples were positive for Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) by antigen detection (10.3%), 82 samples were positive in mycoplasma cultivation (56.2%), and among the 82 samples, 58 were positive for Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu, 39.7%), 9 were positive for Mycoplasma hominis (Mh, 6.2%), and 15 were positive for Uu and Mh (10.3%). Of all the samples, 4 were positive for both Uu and Ct (2.7%). The rates of drug resistance of the 10 commonly used antibiotics were as follows: erythromycin 32.9%, roxithromycin 41.5%, josamycin 19.5%, leucomycin 22.0%, meleumycin 28.0%, rovamycin 30.5%, azithromycin 37.8%, clarithromycin 26.8%, davercin 24.4%, and clindamycin 26.8%, respectively. The results indicated that drug resistance rates of josamycin and leucomycin were the lowest, and the rates of roxithromycin and azithromycin were the highest.

CONCLUSIONSThe infection rates of mycoplasma and chlamydia in children suspected NGU were high. Mycoplasma showed drug resistance to a different degree to 10 common antibiotics. The results of chemosensitivity showed that josamycin had the highest susceptibility rate.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chlamydia Infections ; microbiology ; Chlamydia trachomatis ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mycoplasma Infections ; microbiology ; Mycoplasma hominis ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Ureaplasma Infections ; microbiology ; Ureaplasma urealyticum ; drug effects ; isolation & purification

Humans ; Dyslipidemias ; HIV Infections/drug therapy* ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore possible alterations in velopharyngeal function after maxillary advancement.

METHODSTen patients (3 secondary deformity of cleft palate, 7 maxillary retrusion) had maxillary advancement surgery. Pre- and post-operative examinations consisted of lateral cephalometric radiography, nasopharyngoscopy and speech recording.

RESULTSThere was no significant changes on speech or velopharyngeal competence after maxillary advancement. Cleft palate patients appeared slight hypernasality and nasal emission.

CONCLUSIONSGood velopharyngeal function pre-operation is not affected after the surgery of maxillary advancement.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Osteotomy, Le Fort ; Palate ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Pharynx ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Voice Quality ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the psychological well-being among adolescents of HIV-positive parents.

METHODSThis study was involving 298 adolescents from 10 to 18 years old, including 54 adolescents of both parents living with AIDS or HIV, 114 adolescents of one parent living with AIDS or HIV and another 130 adolescents from normal families. Only one adolescent was studied per family. All participants completed an anonymous questionnaire. Psychological health, satisfaction on life, self-esteem and coping style were evaluated by SCL-90, Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale, Self-esteem Scale and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire.

RESULTSThe total score and 10 factors of the SCL-90 in the adolescents of parents living with HIV or AIDS was higher than the adolescents from normal families and those scores in the adolescents of both parents living with HIV or AIDS were the highest. There were 27.8% of the adolescents with both HIV-positive parents were having the total score of SCL-90 more than 160 or at lest one of the 10 factors' score more than 3. The detected rate of adolescents with one HIV-positive parent was 16.7%, higher than those adolescents from normal families (8.5%) and with significant difference (chi2 = 11.457, P = 0.003). 50.0% of the adolescents with both HIV-positive parents, were having one or more factor' score between 2.0 and 3.0, compared to the rate (37.0%) of adolescents with one HIV-positive parent. The rate was higher than the adolescents from normal families (29.8%) and with significant difference (chi2 = 7.250, P = 0.027). Among the students from normal families, the total score and the 5 dimensionalities' score of the MSLSS were lower than those adolescents of parents living with AIDS or HIV. In the friend dimensionality, the score of the adolescents from normal families was significantly higher than the adolescents of parents living with AIDS or HIV. The scores of self-esteem, positive coping style and negative coping style were not significantly different in three different subjects.

CONCLUSIONThe psychological status of the adolescents of parents living with AIDS or HIV indicated unoptimistic situation.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Adaptation, Psychological ; Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; HIV Infections ; Humans ; Male ; Parent-Child Relations ; Parents