Infestation, moldy and other phenomenon in the processing and storage of Chinese herbal medicines is a problem that faced in the production of Chinese traditional medicine. The low productivity of traditional processing methods can not guarantee the quality of Chinese herbal medicines. Sulfur fumigation is the first choice of grassroots to process the Chinese herbal medicine with its low cost and easy operation. Sulfur fumigation can solve some problems in the processing and storage of Chinese herbal medicines, but modern pharmacological studies show that long-term use of Chinese traditional medicine which is fumigated by sulfur can cause some serious harm to human liver, kidney and other organs. This paper conducts a review about the application history of sulfur fumigation, its influence to the quality of Chinese herbal medicines as well as domestic and foreign limits to sulfur quantity, and a brief introduction of the status of modern processing technologies in the processing of food and some Chinese herbal medicines, the problems ex- isting in the Chinese herbal medicines processing, which can provide a reference basis for the further research, development and application of investigating alternative technologies of sulfur fumigation.
Fumigation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Quality Control ; Social Control, Formal ; Sulfur ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

A phytochemical investigation on the aerial parts of a Tibetan medicine Meconopsis horridula, by solvent extraction, repeated chromatographies on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and preparative TLC techniques, led to the isolation of 9 compounds. By spectroscopic analysis and comparison of its 1H and 13C-NMR data with those in literatures, their structures were identified as oleracein E(1), N-( trans-p-coumaroyl) tyramine (2), chrysoeriol (3), apigenin (4), hydnocarpin (5), p-coumaric acid glucosyl ester (6), stigmast-5-ene-3beta-ylformate (7), 3beta-hydroxy-7alpha-ethoxy-24beta-ethylcholest-5-ene (8), and beta-sitosterol (9), respectively, among which compounds 6-8 were isolated from the genus for the first time,and 1,3 were isolated from the species for the first time. A MTT method was applied to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of compounds 14 against the human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cell line (HepG2), and compound 1 showed significant cytotoxicity against HepG2,with its inhibitory rate of 52.2% at 10 micromol x L(-1).
Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Molecular Structure ; Papaveraceae ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics, treatment methods, and prognosis of synchronous primary cancers of the endometrium and ovary.

METHODSThe clinical data of 43 patients with synchronous primary cancers of the endometrium and ovary were retrospectively reviewed. The survival was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test.

RESULTSThe median age at diagnosis was 49 years (range, 28-73 years). The most common symptoms were abnormal vaginal bleeding (69.8%) and abdominal or pelvic pain (44.2%).Pelvic masses were found in 39.5% of the patients and enlarged corpus in 27.9% at physical examination, while pelvic masses were found in 67.4% of the 43 patients (29 cases) and thickening or abnormal endometrium in 23.3% (10 cases) during ultrasound examination. Of 25 patients examined by CT/MRI, pelvic masses were found in 13 cases and enlarged uterus in 11 cases. All 15 patients who underwent endometrial biopsies were proven to have endometrial carcinomas. Serum CA125 level was found to be elevated in 22 of the 34 examined cases (64.7%) with a median value of 500 U/ml (range, 39-3439 U/ml). FIGO stages of endometrial carcinomas: IA 18 cases, IB 20 cases, IC 2 cases, IIA 3 cases; Stages of ovarian carcinomas: IA 19 cases, IB 4 cases, IC 7 cases, II 4 cases, III C 9 cases. Twenty-four patients (55.8%) were in stage I both endometrial and ovarian carcinomas. Thirty-one patients underwent total hysterectomy plus bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with omentectomy and appendectomy, meanwhile, 12 patients had pelvic lymph node dissection. Thirty-eight of the 43 patients (88.4%) had a pathologically proven endometrial adenocarcinoma. The predominant ovarian histology was endometrioid or mixed tumor with endometrioid components (30/43, 69.8%). Postoperatively, 26 patients (60.5%) received adjuvant chemotherapy alone, 12 had chemotherapy plus radiotherapy, only one patient had radiation alone and the remaining 4 cases received no adjuvant treatment. The 3- and 5-year survival rates of the group were 87.4% and 71.1%, respectively. The 3- and 5-year survival rates of patients with both endometrioid and ovarian carcinomas were higher than that of those with non-endometrioid or mixed subtypes (93.8%, 82.0% vs. 79.7%, 69.0%). The 3-year and 5-year survival rates of patients with early stage disease were better than those of the other patients (93.3%, 93.3% vs. 69.7%, 36.7%). Recurrence developed in 15 patients (34.9%). It was showed by univariate analysis that lower CA125 level, early FIGO stage, and adjuvant chemotherapy plus radiotherapy significantly and positively affect the 5-year survival rates, while only early FIGO stage and chemotherapy plus radiotherapy were revealed by multivariate analysis as independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONSynchronous primary cancers of the endometrium and ovary are different from either primary endometrial carcinoma or ovarian cancer, while it can usually be detected in early stage and with a good prognosis. The impact of the CA125 level on prognosis needs to be further studied. Surgical treatment alone may be enough for early stage patients. Chemotherapy plus radiotherapy may be necessary for advanced stage patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Endometrioid ; blood ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; methods ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary ; blood ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Proteins ; metabolism ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

China ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism by which propofol exposure causes PC12 cell apoptosis under hypoxic conditions.

METHODSPC12 cells were exposed to room air, 35% oxygen, or 5% oxygen (hypoxia) for 24 h in the presence of either 10 µmol/L lipid emulsion or 10 µmol/L propofol. After the treatments, the cell apoptosis was measured by flow ceytometry, and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were evaluated.

RESULTSIn room air, PC12 cells treated with propofol showed increased apoptosis rate and ROS production as compared with the cells treated with the lipid emulsion; propofol treatment of the cells exposed to 35% oxygen showed obvious enhancement of the apoptosis rate, ROS production and SOD activity. Under the hypoxic condition, propofol treatment even further increased the apoptosis rate, ROS production and SOD activity. Lipid emulsion caused no such changes in cells exposed to room air, 35% oxygen or 5% oxygen.

CONCLUSIONUnder hypoxic conditions, propofol can cause apoptosis in PC12 cells by inducing oxidative stress injury.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Hypoxia ; Oxidative Stress ; PC12 Cells ; Propofol ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of reoperation for local recurrence of rectal carcinoma.

METHODSThe data of 62 cases with post-operative local recurrence of rectal carcinoma were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSAll the 62 patients received reoperation. Thirty two of those patients were treated with radical resection (16 patients combined multiple organ resection), 6 palliative resection, 11 colostomy, and 13 laparatomy only. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates in the patients accepted radical resection were 90.6%, 59.4% and 18.8% respectively. But in patients undergone palliative resection and combined therapy, survival time was 6-24 months with median survival time of 16 months. The patients, accepted laparatomy and intra-abdominal chemotherapy, all died within 2-14 months postoperatively. For patients with postoperative recurrence time >5 years, <2 years and 2-5 years, the reoperation resection rates were 100%(11/11), 62.9%(22/35), and 31.3%(5/16) respectively, and there were significant differences among 3 groups (P<0.01). The rate of reoperation resection of pure local recurrence was 80.0%(32/40). The rate of reoperation resection of local recurrence, associated with near organ invasion, was 27.3%(6/22). The difference was significant(P<0.01). The reoperation resection rate of first operation with Dixon or Miles was 61.9%(26/42) and 30.0%(6/20), and the difference was significant as well(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe recurrence of rectal carcinoma still needs positive operation in order to prolong the survival time and improve the quality of life of the patient. First operative procedure, post-operative recurrence time and recurrence type are important factors of reoperative resection.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; surgery ; Postoperative Period ; Rectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the actual condition of the sexual physiological and psychological development of the high school students in Yibin in order to get a reliable basis for sexual education of the teenagers.

METHODSWith a proportion of 1% to the whole, 2,770 students were randomly selected from eight high schools in the urban and rural areas of the city. We devised a questionnaire and asked each student to fill in his or her answers presently.

RESULTSSo far as sexual physiological and psychological development was concerned, the high school students of Yibin were found rather precocious, with very little sexual knowledge and psychological endurance in sexual affairs and a relative lack of sexual education.

CONCLUSIONIt is imperative to extend the scope of puberty sexual education in high schools. Teenagers must be taught different kinds of sexual knowledge at different periods of growth as well as how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and gestation. The sexual knowledge level of the teachers must also be raised. It is a must to establish service or specialist consultation hot lines about sexual knowledge for teenagers. Parents are expected to change their traditional views and assume an active role in the joint efforts of sexual education for their children.

Adolescent ; Child ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Menarche ; Psychology, Adolescent ; Psychosexual Development ; Rural Population ; Sexual Development ; Students ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution and change of the causes of fever of unknown origin(FUO).

METHODSThe clinical data of 500 inpatients with FUO in our center between December 2003 and June 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The diagnostic methods,etiologies,and their possible relationship with age,sex,fever duration,and period.

RESULTSOf these 500 FUO patients,452(90.4%)were confirmed to be with fever caused by conditions including infectious diseases [(n=231,46.2%;e.g.tuberculosis(32.9%,76/231)],connective tissue diseases(CTD)(n=99,19.8%),neoplasms(n=58,11.6%),miscellaneous causes(n=64,12.8%). The causes were not identified in 48 cases(9.6%).The proportion of CTD in female patients was significantly higher than that in male patients(26.3% vs. 14.5%,P=0.025),whereas the proportion of neoplasms in male patients was significantly higher than that in female patients(14.5% vs. 8.0%,P=0.001). Infectious diseases was the most common cause in all age groups,CTD ranked the second in the 21-39-year group and 40-59-year group,and neoplasm was the second most coomon cause in the over 60 year group. Thus,the distribution of FUO etiologies significantly differed in different age groups(χ(2)=43.10,P=0.000). The duration of fever in patients with neoplasms [60(28,90)d] was longer than that in patients with infectious diseases [28(21,42)d,Z=-4.168,P=0.000] or CTD [30(21,60)d,Z=-2.406,P=0.016)]. Compared with the level in 2003-2008,the proportion of CTD significantly increased in 2009-2014(13.7% vs. 23.8%,χ(2)=8.598,P=0.003),along with the dicrease of the proportions of infectious diseases,neoplasms and miscellaneous diseases were decreased(all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSInfectious diseases(in particular,tuberculosis)remains the major cause of FUO. CTD and neoplasms also play important roles in the development of FUO. The distributions of the FUO etiologies have certain differences in terms of age,sex,duration of fever,and period.

Connective Tissue Diseases ; Female ; Fever of Unknown Origin ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasms ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUNDInterleukin (IL)-37, also called IL1F7, is a natural inhibitor of inflammatory and immune responses. It is involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to investigate the role of IL1F7 gene polymorphism in RA susceptibility in a large cohort of patients.

METHODSFive selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms in IL1F7 genes (rs2723186, rs3811046, rs4241122, rs4364030, and rs4392270) were genotyped by TaqMan Allelic Discrimination in Northern Chinese Han population. The allele and the genotype were compared between patients with RA and healthy controls. Association analyses were performed on the entire data set and on different RA subsets based on the status of the anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody and the rheumatoid factor by logistic regression, adjusting for age and gender.

RESULTSTrend associations were detected between rs2723186, rs4241122, rs4392270, and RA in Stage I (160 patients with RA; 252 healthy controls). Further validation in Stage II comprised 730 unrelated patients with RA (mean age: 54.9 ± 12.6 years; 81.6% females) and 778 unrelated healthy individuals (mean age: 53.5 ± 15.7 years; 79.5% females). No significant differences in the distributions of alleles and genotypes were observed between the case and control groups in both the entire set and the different RA subsets. Disease activity and age of RA onset were also not associated with genotype distributions.

CONCLUSIONIL1F7 gene polymorphism does not significantly influence RA susceptibility in the Northern Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUNDIn cardiac surgery, elevation of procalcitonin (PCT) could be observed postoperatively in the absence of any evidence of infection and also seems to be a prognostic marker. PCT levels measured in patients undergoing Type A aortic dissection (TAAD) were used to determine prognostic values for complications and surgical outcomes.

METHODSMeasurements of PCT, C-reactive protein (CRP), and leukocyte count were observed in TAAD surgery patients (n = 251; average age: 49.02 ± 12.83 years; 78.5% male) at presurgery (T0) and 24 h (T1), 48 h (T2), and 7 days (T3) postsurgery. PCT clearance (PCTc) on days 2 and 7 was calculated: (PCTday1- PCTday2/day7)/PCTday1 × 100%. Endotracheal intubation duration, length of stay (LOS) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)/hospital, and complications were recorded.

RESULTSPCT peaked 24 h postsurgery (median 2.73 ng/ml) before decreasing. Correlation existed between PCT levels at T1 and duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (P = 0.001, r = 0.278). Serum PCT concentrations were significantly higher in nonsurvivor and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome groups on all postoperative days. PCT levels at T1 correlated with length of time of ventilation support and ICU/hospital LOS. Comparing PCT values of survivors versus nonsurvivors, a PCT cutoff level of 5.86 ng/ml at T2 had high sensitivity (70.6%) and specificity (74.3%) in predicting in-hospital death. PCTc-day 2 and 7 were significantly higher in survivor compared with nonsurvivor patients (38% vs. 8%, P= 0.012, 83% vs. -39%, P< 0.001). A PCTc-day 7 cutoff point of 48.7% predicted survival with high sensitivity (77.8%) and specificity (81.8%).

CONCLUSIONSPCT level and PCTc after TAAD surgery might serve as early prognostic markers to predict postoperative outcome. PCT measurement may help identify high-risk patients.

Adult ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; blood ; metabolism ; surgery ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Calcitonin ; blood ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perioperative Period ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Treatment Outcome