ve To study the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) on lipid peroxidation of myocardium in rats. Methods The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the contents of malonaldehyde (MDA) of the myocardium tissue of rats under the different conditions such as healthy state, my-ocardiac ischemic state and lead-exposure state before and after ELF EMFs exposure were determined respectively. Results ELF EMFs exposure didn't induce significant changes of SOD activities and MDA contents in myocardium of healthy rats, but caused the SOD activities of myocardium of lead-exposure rats to decrease from (31.24?1.08)U/mg prot before exposure to ELF EMFs to (29.20?1.14) U/mg prot after exposure to ELF EMFs (P

Objective To evaluate the relationship between asthma and rhinitis in children.Methods One hundred and thirty children with rhinitis were divided into two groups.Among them,60 displayed rhinitis alone and 70 displayed rhinitis associated asthma.The following parameters were analyzed between two groups: age,sex,history of eczema,familial history of smoking,familial history of asthma,sensitization to allergens,level of total serum IgE,blood eosinophil count.Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the effect of covariates on risk of rhinitis or asthma.Results History of bronchiolitis,familial history of asthma,maternal asthma and sensitization to allergens h_1(greer labs inc),d_2(dermatophagoides farinae) were significantly more frequent in asthmatic subjects.In these patients,the total serum IgE and eosinophil count were higher.Logistic regression analysis showed that a high eosinophil count and total serum IgE significantly increased the risk of developing asthma in patients with rhinitis.Conclusions In subjects with rhinitis,the occurrence of asthma is related to history of bronchiolitis,familial history of asthma,atopy,total serum IgE levels and blood eosinophilia.In rhinitis subjects,these parameters will be taken into account to manage underlying asthma.

With inlet temperature, specific gravity, feeding speed as independent variables, the comprehensive evaluating indexes of content of schisandrin and arctiin as dependent variable, the experimental data were fitted to a second order polynomial equation. Based on establishing the mathematical relationship between the comprehensive evaluating indexes and respective variables, Box-Benhnken central composite test and response surface analysis method was employed to optimize the spray drying technology of Biqiu granules ethanol extract. The optimal drying parameter was as follows: the inlet temperature was 175 degrees C, the specific gravity was 1.10, feeding speed was 32 r x min(-1). Under these conditions, the comprehensive evaluating indexes of spraying dry processes was 92.68, which was close to the model prediction. The spraying dry technology of Biqiu granules ethanol extract optimized by response surface methodology was accurate and feasible, which provided theoretical experiment basis for the industrialization production.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ethanol

First with the qualified rate of granules as the evaluation index, significant influencing factors were firstly screened by Plackett-Burman design. Then, with the qualified rate and moisture content as the evaluation indexes, significant factors that affect one-step pelletization technology were further optimized by Box-Behnken design; experimental data were imitated by multiple regression and second-order polynomial equation; and response surface method was used for predictive analysis of optimal technology. The best conditions were as follows: inlet air temperature of 85 degrees C, sample introduction speed of 33 r x min(-1), density of concrete 1. 10. One-step pelletization technology of Biqiu granules by Plackett-Burman design and Box-Behnken response surface methodology was stable and feasible with good predictability, which provided reliable basis for the industrialized production of Biqiu granules.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) on apoptosis and cell cycle of mouse brain and liver cells.

METHODSMice were exposed to 50 Hz, 0.2 mT or 6.0 mT electromagnetic fields for 2 weeks. TUNEL and flow cytometric methods were used to analyze apoptosis and cell cycle of brain and liver cells.

RESULTSAfter exposure to 0.2 mT and 6.0 mT ELF EMFs for 2 weeks, apoptosis rates of brain cells [(5.60 +/- 1.47)% and (4.73 +/- 0.48)% respectively] were higher than that of control [(2.90 +/- 0.75)%], and apoptosis rates of liver cells [(4.19 +/- 2.08)% and (3.38 +/- 0.65)% respectively] were higher than that of control [(1.84 +/- 0.76)%]. G0/G1 cell percentage of brain cells [(80.21 +/- 1.68)% and (79.54 +/- 0.56)% respectively] were higher than that of control [(76.85 +/- 0.83)%], and those of liver cells [(79.42 +/- 1.80)% and (80.47 +/- 1.79)% respectively] were higher than that of control [(73.36 +/- 3.10)%]. The above differences were all statistically significant as P < 0.05. At the same time S and G2 + M cell percentage of brain and liver cells were significantly decreased.

CONCLUSIONExposure to 50 Hz EMFs may alter cell cycle and induce apoptosis of mouse brain and liver cells.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; radiation effects ; Brain ; cytology ; radiation effects ; Cell Cycle ; radiation effects ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Flow Cytometry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Liver ; cytology ; radiation effects ; Male ; Mice

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) on c-fos gene expression in mouse brain and liver tissues.

METHODSMice were exposed to 50 Hz sinusoidal 0.2 mT or 6.0 mT electromagnetic field for 2 weeks or 4 weeks. Competitive RT-PCR method was used to measure c-fos mRNA level.

RESULTSAfter exposure to 0.2 mT or 6.0 mT field for 2 weeks, c-fos mRNA levels in brain tissue [(0.0178 +/- 0.0076) amol/120 ng cDNA and (0.0092 +/- 0.0042) amol/120 ng cDNA respectively] were higher than that of control level [(0.0012 +/- 0.0005) amol/120 ng cDNA] (P < 0.05). In liver tissue c-fos mRNA levels [(0.0117 +/- 0.0055) amol/120 ng cDNA and (0.0148 +/- 0.0162) amol/120 ng cDNA respectively] were also higher than that of control level [(0.0005 +/- 0.0005) amol/120 ng cDNA] (P < 0.05). After exposure to 0.2 mT or 6.0 mT field for 4 weeks, c-fos mRNA levels in brain tissue [(0.0100 +/- 0.0054) amol/120 ng cDNA and (0.0198 +/- 0.0079) amol/120 ng cDNA respectively] were higher than that of control level [(0.0015 +/- 0.0008) amol/120 ng cDNA] (P < 0.05). In liver tissue the exposure induced much higher expression level [(0.0173 +/- 0.0122) amol/120 ng cDNA and (0.0133 +/- 0.0090) amol/120 ng cDNA respectively] while no expression was found in the control.

CONCLUSIONExposure to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields may induce up-regulation of c-fos transcription in mouse brain and liver tissue.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Gene Expression Regulation ; radiation effects ; Genes, fos ; genetics ; Liver ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Male ; Mice ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors

Objective To examine the clinical manifestations and pulmonary radiological features in patients with triphosgene poisoning.Methods Clinical manifestations,laboratory tests and CT scans were analyzed retrospectively in 17 patients with triphosgene poisoning.We focused on the severity,development and repair of pulmonary impairment.Results Plain film and CT scans in five mild cases demonstrated bilateral scattered pulmonary patchy shadows.Of 12 cases with moderate to severe diseases,three showed bilateral multiple pulmonary patchy shadows and nodules with confluence of part of the lesions on plain film and CT scans;bilateral lungs were involved in nine cases with imaging findings of bilateral disseminated pulmonary round or ovary nodules with different size,ill-defined and partly-confluent patchy shadows and thickening of both interlobular septum and the wall of bronchus.Of clinical interests,imaging findings were closely correlated with clinical course and laboratory results.Conclusion Radiological examinations with plain films and CT scans could reveal the severity,evolvement of pulmonary edema in patients with triphosgene poisoning,and these are of clinical benefit in the early management and prognostic evaluation of patients with triphosgene poisoning.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on DNA of testicular cells and sperm chromatin structure in mice.

METHODSMice were exposed to 50 Hz, 0.2 mT or 6.4 mT electromagnetic fields for 4 weeks. DNA strand breakage in testicular cells was detected by single-cell gel electrophoresis assay. Sperm chromatin structure was analyzed by sperm chromatin structure assay with flow cytometry.

RESULTSAfter 50 Hz, 0.2 mT or 6.4 mT EMFs exposure, the percentage of cells with DNA migration in total testicular cells increased from the control level of 25.64% to 37.83% and 39.38% respectively. The relative length of comet tail and the percentage of DNA in comet tail respectively increased from the control levels of 13.06% +/- 12.38% and 1.52% +/- 3.25% to 17.86% +/- 14.60% and 2.32% +/- 4.26% after 0.2 mT exposure and to 17.88% +/- 13.71% and 2.35% +/- 3.87% after 6.4 mT exposure (P < 0.05). Exposure to EMFs had not induced significant changes in S.D.alphaT and XalphaT, but COMPalphaT (cells outside the main population of alpha t), the percentage of sperms with abnormal chromatin structure, increased in the two exposed groups.

CONCLUSION50 Hz EMFs may have the potential to induce DNA strand breakage in testicular cells and sperm chromatin condensation in mice.

Animals ; Chromatin ; radiation effects ; ultrastructure ; Comet Assay ; DNA ; analysis ; radiation effects ; DNA Damage ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Flow Cytometry ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Spermatozoa ; radiation effects ; ultrastructure ; Testis ; cytology ; radiation effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) on male reproduction in mice.

METHODS94 adult male mice were exposed to 50 Hz sinusoidal electromagnetic fields of 0.2, 3.2 or 6.4 mT for 2 weeks or 4 weeks. Testicular histology and weight, sperm amount, sperm motility and morphology were measured. The percentages of different ploidy cells and cell phases, and DNA content of testis cells were estimated by flow cytometry. The micronucleus rate of bone-marrow cell was also observed.

RESULTSThe testicular weight of the mice exposed to 6.4 mT for 4 weeks [(76.06 +/- 32.25) mg] was significantly lower than that of the control [(111.44 +/- 19.99) mg, P < 0.05]; no significant histopathological changes were observed on the testis in EMFs exposed mice;the sperm amount was decreased after EMFs exposure for 4 weeks, and those of the mice exposed to 0.2 mT and 6.4 mT for 4 weeks [(4.87 +/- 0.94) x 10(6)/ml and (4.30 +/- 1.89) x 10(6)/ml respectively] were significantly lower than that of the control [(6.67 +/- 0.70) x 10(6)/ml, P < 0.05]; the rates of sperm motility also showed a decline. After 0.2, 3.2 or 6.4 mT EMFs exposure for 2 weeks, the deformity rates of sperm [(7.416 +/- 3.352)%, (6.862 +/- 2.947)% and (8.112 +/- 4.615)% respectively] were significantly higher than that of the control [(4.098 +/- 2.028)%, P < 0.01]. Similarly, those of the mice exposed for 4 weeks [(10.267 +/- 3.836)%, (11.027 +/- 7.059)%, (8.814 +/- 3.678)% respectively] were higher than that of the control [(3.714 +/- 1.830)%]. After 6.4 mT exposure for 2 weeks, the percentages of 1C testis cells [(69.56 +/- 4.07)%] was significantly lower than that of the control [(73.45 +/- 3.10)%, P < 0.05]. There were not any remarkable changes in those of 2C, 4C cells. DNA content in different ploidy cells of the mice exposed to 6.4 mT was decreased. Moreover, the cell percentage in S phase was increased significantly (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONELF EMFs exposure may have some adverse effects on reproduction in mice.

Animals ; DNA ; metabolism ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Male ; Mice ; Random Allocation ; Reproduction ; radiation effects ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; radiation effects ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Testis ; cytology ; radiation effects

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM)expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(SCC).Methods The Ep-CAM expression was immunohistochemically investigated in 70 normal esophageal mucosas,SCCs and 72 lymph nodes.Results Ep-CAM expression was observed in 94.3% of the tumors,but no expression in the normal mucosa.The Ep- CAM expression was not significantly different between different tumor scales and tumors invading depths,its expression level was relevant with the tumors differentiation and lymph node metastases(P