The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of angiotensin-(1-7) 〔Ang-(1-7)〕 on coronary flow and cardiac function in isolated guinea-pig hearts. The isolated guinea-pig heart was perfused in a Langendorff mode. Coronary flow, heart rate, left ventricular pressure and its first derivatives (±dp/dtmax) were recorded. Results showed that Ang-(1-7) (100 or 300 nmol*L-1) caused an increase in coronary flow and an impairment in cardiac function in isolated guinea-pig hearts. Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, did not affect the effect of Ang-(1-7). However, the increased coronary flow by Ang-(1-7) was abolished by pretreatment of Nω-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester, a nitric oxide(NO) synthase inhibitor. These results suggest that Ang-(1-7) increases coronary flow and reduces cardiac function, and that the vasodilating action is related to stimulation of NO release.

This study aimed to optimize the ultrasonic extraction of gardenia oils from Gardenia jasminoides Ellis.by response surface analysis methodology (RSM).The duration of extraction,ratio of liquid to materials and extracting times were selected as impact factors based on single-factor experiment.RSM was adopted to learn the effects of the three factors on the extraction rate of Gardenia oil from Gardeniajasminoides Ellis.As a result,it was found that the duration of extraction was 28.7 min,while the ratio of liquid to materials was 11.62:1,and the number of extracting times were 3.36.Under this extracting condition,the average extraction rate of the oil was 13.5％ according to three validation experiments,fitting the predicted value well.In conclusion,it was demonstrated that the ultrasonic extraction method effectively improved the extraction rate of gardenia oil,providing a certain basis for the development and utilization of gardenia oil.

Objective Retrospectively evaluate the effect of Z-axis tube-current modulation technique with desired noise level to improve image quality (image noise level) and decrease radiation doses of MSCT (16-slice CT) in chest scanning. Methods Consecutive two hundred patients whose CT scan projection radiographs showed no significant abnormal were randomly divided into two groups by the examination order: Z-axis tube-current modulation (ZTCM) group (odd number, test group) and constant tube-current (CTC) group (even number, contrast group). The desired noise level of ZTCM group was 10HU and the machine automatically set the dynamic tube-current in scanning according to attenuated information of chest acquired in scan projection radiographs, the tubo-current of CTC group was set at 200mA, while the other scan parameters remained totally the same. The maximum tube-current value,CTDIvol, DLP and the tube-current of the slice at the maximum breast level of female patients were recorded respectively. The noise of image at upper lung, aorta arch, left atrium and bottom lung level were measured and compared. The qualities of Images were classified in three levels (excellent, good, poor) with double blind method. Results The mean value of maximum mA, CTDIvol, DLP and mA of the slice at the maximum breast level of ZTCM group were (178.5±125.6) mA, (10.5±3.8) mGy, (231.6±24.3)mGy/cm and (116.0±22.5) mA, those of CTC were 200.0 mA, 12.8 mGy, (274.7±18.4)mGy/cm and 200.0 mA, ZTCM group decreased by 10.8%, 19.9%, 15.7% and 42.0%,respectively, as compared with CTC group. The image quality at upper lung and bottom lung level in ZTCM group was improved significantly (P < 0.05) and the cases of excellent images in ZTCM group was significantly higher than that of CTC group (P < 0.05). Conclusion ZTCM technique not only contributes to more rational distribution of radiation doses but also realizes individuation, decreases the total radiation doses and improves image quality in chest CT scanning. It is valuable and promising in chest CT scan.

Objective To explore a new scanning technique to reduce and avoid image artifacts of thoracoabdominal CT and improve image quality for patients who cannot raise their arms. Methods Sixty-one patients with arm-raising disability between March 2004 and May 2009 were enrolled in the study. Thirty-one cases before June 2007 were scanned with their arms beside their body (control group), 30 cases after June 2007 were scanned with their arms shifting to different imaging planes of the spine(study group), and another 30 patients who can raising their arms were taken as routine group. The images artifacts were blindly evaluated by 5-points scale (severe, less severe, moderate, minimum and no artifact) by 2 experienced CT technologists and one radiologist and compared between the three groups (χ~2 test). CT values and its noise of the liver with or without artifact of the three groups were measured and analyzed by one-way ANOVA test. Results In the control group, 11 cases had severe, 15 cases had less severe, 5 cases had moderate. In the study group, 6 cases had moderate, 15 cases had minimum, 9 cases had no artifact. In the routine group, 8 cases minimum and 22 cases had no artifact. Image quality was significantly improved in the study group compared to the conventional group where χ~2 = 95.32 and P <0.01. CT value and the noise of the liver without artifact were (54.5±3.0) HU and 10. 7±2.4 in the control group, (52.0±3.5) HU and 10.7±0.5 in the study group, (53.7±3.1) HU and 9.9±0.5 in the routine group, respectively. CT value and noise of the liver with artifact were (41.7±8.4) HU and 17.9±2.6 in control group, (53.1±6.9) HU and 11.0±0.7 in the study group, (54.1±2.4) HU and 9.9±0.5 in the routine group, respectively. The CT value and its noise variation with artifact were significantly higher in the control group than the study group and the control group, where F = 36.352,235. 848, respectively and P <0.01. Conclusion The image quality can be improved and the artifact can be minimized for the patients with arm-raising disability by shifting their arm position to the different imaging planes of the spine.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the cause of atypical manifestation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in triple-phase spiral CT enhanced scan.

METHODSTriple-phase spiral CT scan was performed in 75 patients with HCC. The hepatic arterial phase (HAP), portal venous phase (PVP) and delayed phase (DP) images were started at 25 to 30 s, 65 to 70 s and 3 tp 5 min after injection of contrast medium. The contrast enhanced patterns of lesion were observed and analyzed.

RESULTSNinety-two lesions were found in 75 patients. Typical enhanced findings such as hyperdense in HAP and hypodense in PVP and DP was found in 60 of 92 lesions. Atypical enhanced findings were observed in the other 32 lesions. Fourteen of 32 atypical enhanced lesions were hyperdense in HAP and isodense in PVP, of which 8 were seen in liver cirrhosis and 3 in fatty liver. In DP, 10 were hypodense and 4 still isodense. Eight of the 32 lesions were hyperdense both in HAP and PVP, of which 6 were seen in fatty liver. In DP, 3 were isodense and 5 were hypodense. Six of 32 lesions were isodense in HAP which became hypodense in PVP and DP. Four of 32 lesions were all hypodense in HAP, PVP and DP.

CONCLUSIONMultiple atypical enhanced manifestations are present by triple-phase spiral CT scan in HCC. Pattern of blood supply, scanning technique and pathophysiologic status are usually the cause of these findings.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnostic imaging ; Contrast Media ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE： To provide reference for the development and sustainable utilization of TCM industry with regional characteristics. METHODS： Taking Shicheng county of Jiangxi province as an example， field investigation was carried out on Paeoniaceae suffruticosa planting base in the county， a few representative P. suffruticosa planting bases in the county were selected as sample points， and GPS was used to locate and record the location information of sample points. The remote sensing image was automatically extracted by computer， the artificial visual interpretation method was used to get P. suffruticosa planting area image. Then combined with the field inspection verification， P. suffruticosa planting area was obtained， and the investigation results were analyzed. RESULTS： Through remote sensing interpretation of the planting area of P. suffruticosa in Shicheng county， it was obtained that the total planting area of P. suffruticosa in Shicheng county was 42 597 951.505 square meters （63 864.995 mu） in 2018， accounting for about 33％ of the cultivated land area， which was 42.12％ higher than the conventional planting area of 44 936 mu in 2013. The distribution of P. suffruticosa planting in Shicheng county was mainly concentrated in Xiaosong town and Fengshan town in the north， and Daqu town and Pingshan town in the south. CONCLUSIONS： Remote sensing technology has the advantages of fast data acquisition， large amount of information， high accuracy and strong timeliness， which greatly avoids the complexity of work， saves a lot of manpower and material resources. The technology can provide technology support for obtaining the regional planting area and distribution information of TCM such as P. suffruticosa， dynamic monitoring， scientific warning of the market status of TCM， and guiding the large-scale， standardized and intensive development of TCM cultivation.

OBJECTIVE：To study the composition and contents of flavonoids chemical components in waste material during industrialization of Pueraria thomsonii resources，and to provide reference for comprehensive development and reasonable utilization of the variety. METHODS ：Using“No. 2 Gange”of P. thomsonii from Jiangxi as objects ，UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and HPLC method were adopted to detect the components and contents of flavonoids in the root （with or without cortex ），cortex，flower， fibrous root ，stem，head and dregs （with or without cortex ）of P. thomsonii as well as dry matter of industrial wastewater （with or without cortex ）after precipitation of pueraria powder. RESULTS ：The linearity ，precision，repeatability，stability and recovery of the established method for content determination of 7 flavonoids（puerarin，daidzin，iridoxine-7-O-xylose glucoside ，genistin， iridin，daidzein and kakkalide ）were all in line with the requirements. Totally 12 kinds of flavonoids were identified ，among which the flavonoids in the root ，cortex，stem，fibrous root ，head and dregs of P. thomsonii as well as dry matter of industrial wastewater were the same ，mainly were puerarin ，daidzin，genistein，daidzein and malonyl-daidzein. The flower of P. thomsonii mainly included iridoxine- 7-O-xylose glucoside ，genistin，iridin，kakkalide，6″-O-xylosyldaidzein，but the components as puerarin ， daidzin and its aglycone were not be detected. The content of puerarin in the head of P. thomsonii was the highest （5.765％）. The contents of puerarin in root and dregs of P. thomsonii as well as dry matter of industrial waste-water in samples with cortex were all higher than in corresponding peeled sample. CONCLUSIONS ：The waste material from the industrialization of P. thomsonii resources contains a lot of flavonoids with rich species and high content ，and can be used as an important raw material for obtaining flavonoids such as puerarin.