OBJECTIVE:To study the pharmacokinetics of magnolin in rats. METHODS:High performance liquid chromatog-raphy(HPLC)was adopted. The determination was performed on Kromasil C18 with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-tetrahy-drofuran-water (39∶1∶60),at the flow rate of 1.0 ml/min,with the measurement wavelength of 278 nm,column temperature of 35 ℃ and the sample size of 20 μl. 8 Wistar rats were docked to collect blood from the caudal vein before administration [10 mg(medicinal materials)/kg] and 0.25,0.5,0.75,1,1.5,2,4,8,12 and 20 h after administration,to determine the concentra-tion of the drug in blood. DAS2.1.1 software was used to calculate pharmacokinetic parameters. RESULTS:In the determination of magnolin,the mass concentration linear range was found to be 0.05-10.00 μg/ml(r=0.999 5);the RSD of precision test and sta-bility test were less than 13%(n=6);relative recovery rate was 97.32%-102.15%(n=6);extraction recovery rate was 84.63%-90.02%;t1/2α of magnolin in rats was(0.48±0.22)h,t1/2β was(7.96±2.57)h,CL/F was(0.09±0.032)L/(h·kg),and AUC0-20 h was(944.43±212.83)mg·h/L. CONCLUSIONS:This method conforms to the requirements for the determination of bio-logical samples with respect to precision,stability and accuracy. Magnolin demonstrates a good linear relationship between AUC0-20 h and the dose in rats,with the process compatible with two-compartment model.

The angioarchitecture of both anterior and posterior central gyri of thirty human brains was studied by means of scanning electron microscopy, double injection method and alkaline phosphatase method. The study was divided into two parts. (a) Pial vessels: The branching pattern of pial arteries on the gyrus surface could be classified into 4 types. Type Ⅰ (bilateral branching type) accounted for 44.44% of the total, type Ⅱ (unilateral branching) 17.99%, type Ⅲ (comb-like) 16.93% and type Ⅳ (irregular) 20.63%. Each gyrus was supplied by several main branches, forming various areas separated by poorly vascularized lines. Two types of anastomoses (general and straight anastomoses) were found. (b) Intracerebral vessels: based on the degree of their penetration, intracerebral arteries and veins were divided into 5 groups, respectively. They were short, intermediate and long cortical, subcortical and medullary vessels. Arteries gave off forward, horizontal and recurrent branches. There were more long cortical arteries in the anterior central gyrus and more intermediate arteries in the posterior. The arteries were not accompanied by veins. Though rich blood supply was found in layer Ⅲ-Ⅳ, there was a broad vascular network with large meshes in layer Ⅴ and Ⅵ in the anterior central gyrus. Problems in distinguishing arteries from veins and particular vascular features were discussed.

Objective To compare the hypnotic effect of propofol administered by target-controlled infusion (TCI) during day-time and night-time,in order to explore the effect of circadian rhythms on the sedative effect of propofol.Methods Sixty-five male ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients aged 18-55 yr undergoing emergency minor hand surgery were divided into 2 gorups according to the time of the day when they received propofol TCI:day-time group (from 7:01 to 19:00) and night-time group (from 19:01 to 7:00).The pharmacokinetic parameters proposed by Schnider which predict effect-site concentration (Ce) were used.Four effect-site concentrations of propofol were set:0.8,1.2,2.0 and 4.0 μg/ml.Ce was increased step by step and each Ce was maintained for 5 min.The level of sedation at each Ce was assessed by BIS and OAA/S scores.BIS value and Ce of propofol were recorded and compared between the 2 groups when the patients lost consciousness (OAA/S score =2).Results There was 28 and 30 patients in day-time and nighet-time groups respectively.When Ce =1.2 and 2.0 μg/ml,the BIS values were significantly lower in night-time group than in day-time group.There was no significant difference in BIS value between the 2 groups when Ce =0.8 and 4.0 μg/ml.When the patients lost consciousness (OAA/S =2),the BIS value was comparable between the 2 groups,but Ce was significantly lower in night-time group than that in daytime group.Conclusion The hypnotic effect of propofol is greater during night-time than during day-time.

Objective To compare the hypnotic effects of propofol administered by target-controlled infusion (TCI in daytime and nighttime,in order to explore the effect of circadian rhythm on the sedative effect of propofol.Methods Sixty-five male ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients,aged 18-55 years,with the body mass index (BMI) of 18.5-24.9 kg/m2,undergoing emergency minor hand surgery were divided into two groups according to the time of the day when they received TCI of propofol:daytime group (from 07:01 to 19:00) and nighttime group (from 19:01 to 07:00).The pharmacokinetic parameters proposed by Schnider et al.which suggested the effect-site concentration (Ce) was used.Four Ces of propofol were set at 0.8,1.2,2.0 and 4.0 μg/ml,respectively.Ce was increased step by step and each Ce was maintained for 5 minutes.The level of sedation at each Ce was assessed by bispectral index (BIS) and observer's assessment of alertness/sedation (OAA/S) scores.BIS values and Ces of propofol were recorded and compared between the two groups when the patients lost consciousness (OAA/S score =2).Results There were 28 and 30 patients in daytime and nighttime groups,respectively.When Ces were 1.2 and 2.0 μg/ml,the BIS values were significantly lower in the nighttime group than in the daytime group.There was no significant difference in BIS values between the two groups when Ces were 0.8 and 4.0 μg/ml.When the patients lost consciousness (OAA/S =2),the BIS value was comparable between the two groups,but Ce was significantly lower in the nighttime group than in the daytime group.Conclusion The hypnotic effect of propofol is greater during night time than during day time.

Objective To evaluate (1,3)-β-D-glucan (BG) assay as an aid for invasive fungal infection (IFI) diagnosis in severe pneumonia patients (diagnosis followed 2007 American Thoracic Society (ATS) and Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) severe pneumonia standard).Methods BG antigenemia was measured by BG Assay Box.IFIs was classified according to the blood fungal laboratory reports.Results 558 patients (185 females,373 males,mean age 64.7) were included.41 patients were proven to be fungal infected to be classified in exposure group.BG assay mean value in exposure group and unexposure group were (568.53 ±796.57) pg/mL,(51.4 ±63.27) pg/mL,respectively.Patients in the exposure group had significantly higher BG assay value than patients in the unexposure group (P ＜0.05).For the cutoff 100 pg/mL recommended by manufacturer,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predict value and negative predict value of the BG assay were 92.7％,92.5％,49.4％ and 0.6％,respectively.Conclusion BG assay has positive clinical value in invasive fungal infection diagnosis in severe pneumonia patients.

The paper is aimed to study the difference in yield and quality at different harvest time and determine the optimum harvest of planting Gentiana in Ludian traditional harvest period. The authors analyzed the variation in fresh weight, dry weight, dry discount rate, length, diameter, volume and the content of gentiopicroside, loganin acid, alcohol-soluble extract and total ash and made a comprehensive appraisal of yield, appearance quality and intrinsic quality by gray relational distance ideal Comprehensive Evaluation method. The results showed that there is a big difference in yield and quality both 2-year-old and 3-year-old Gentiana harvested in traditional harvest period and the comprehensive evaluation more better when harvested more later. It can be seen, Gentiana harvested the later had a better yield and quality in Ludian traditional harvest period. The harvest of Gentiana can be appropriate delayed depending on the particular circumstances of production.
Agriculture ; methods ; China ; Gentiana ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Iridoid Glucosides ; metabolism ; Organ Size ; Quality Control ; Time Factors

Objective To compare the advantages and values of several special staining methods of chondrocytes . Methods Twelve 7-day old healthy C57BL/6J mice were killed to obtain the cartilage tissue of the knee joint in order to isolate the chondrycytes .Type II collagen was used to assess the chondrocytes .Then the chondrocyte climbing slices were prepared.The materials were fixed, and HE staining, Safranin O-fast green staining, SA-β-gal staining and immunohistochemical staining of Type II collagen were performed and compared .Results HE staining showed clear morphology of the chondrocytes .The cell nuclei were stained blue and the cytoplasm was pink .Safranin O-fast green staining showed that the nuclei were pink and the cytoplasm green .SA-β-gal staining showed that the aging cells were green while the young cells were colorless .Immunohistochemical staining of type II collagen showed the distribution of type II collagen and they were stained brown while the cell nuclei were blue .Conclusions HE staining and safranin O-fast green staining can provide more information than the other staining techniques .SA-β-gal staining is useful in the analysis of aging chondrocytes .Immunohistochemical of type II collagen can be used to study type II collagen .

OBJECTIVETo study the scientific evidence of the traditional preparation of Dachengqi: "Boiling Aurantii Immaturus and Magnoliae Officinalis first, and then adding Rhei to decoct together. Discarding the dregs, adding Natrii Sulfas into the decoction and drinking the upper solution when the Natrii Sulfas has dissolved completely".

METHODThe concentrations of free and combined anthraquinonoids(emodin, rhein, chrysophanol, physcion) in different decoctions were determined with HPLC method respectively.

RESULTWhen Natrii Sulfas, Aurantii Immaturus and Magnolias Officinalis are decocted with Rhei in different schemes, the concentrations of anthraquinonoids were changed regularly.

CONCLUSIONThe scientific evidence of traditional preparation method greatly increased the concentrations of the active components in Dachengqi.

Anthraquinones ; analysis ; Citrus ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Emodin ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Hot Temperature ; Magnolia ; chemistry ; Materia Medica ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rheum ; chemistry ; Sulfates ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the impacts on the cognitive level of the children with mental retardation (MR) treated with JIN's three scalp needling therapy and the training for cognitive and perceptual disturbance so as to seek the more effective therapeutic method for the treatment of MR in children. Methods Sixty-six MR children were randomized into a head-point needle-retaining therapy + training group (group A) and a training after acupuncture group (group B). Seven cases and 12 cases were dropped in the two groups respectively. Twenty-six cases accomplished the treatment in the group A and 21 cases in the group B. In the group A, the points on the head were stimulated and the needles were retained (30 min after the general acupuncture, the needles on the body points were removed; and those on the head points were retained for 1 h, including Sishenzhen, Naosanzhen, Zhisanzhen and Niesanzhen). Simultaneously, the training for the cognitive perceptual disturbance was combined. In the group B, 1 h after needle retaining at the body points and head points, all the needles were removed; the training for the cognitive perceptual disturbance was followed. The treatment was given once a day, and the treatment for 3 months was required. Before and after treatment, the Wechsler intelligence scale for children (WISC) was used for evaluation and observation of verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ) , performance intelligence quotient (PIQ) and full-scale intelligence quotient (TFIQ) and score changes of 11 items such as information, picture vocabu; lary, arithmetic, picture generalization, comprehension, etc.

RESULTSAfter treatment, FIQ, VIQ and PIQ scores were different significantly as compared with those before treatment (all P<0. 01). In the group A, the results of picture vocabulary, animal egg laying, maze, block design and geometric figure were all improved significantly (all P<0. 05). In the group B, the results of information, comprehension, block design and geometric figure were all improved significantly (all P<0. 05). After treatment, concerning the value difference in FIQ and PIQ of the two groups; the changes in the group A were more significant (both P<0. 01). After treatment, the results of picture vocabulary and maze were improved significantly in the group A as compared with the group B (both P<. 01). The IQ categories changed apparently after treatment in the two groups, toward the higher level in tendency generally, but without significant difference (both P>0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe simultaneous treatment with head point retaining of JIN's three needling therapy and the training for cognitive and perceptual disturbance obviously improves children patients' verbal comprehension, expression ability, hand-eye coordination ability, attention, logical reasoning ability and visual perception. The efficacy is better than that in the treatment of the training after acupuncture.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cognition ; Female ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; psychology ; therapy ; Intelligence Tests ; Male ; Perception ; Scalp ; Treatment Outcome

Endothelin (ET) is an endothelium-derived vasoconstrictive peptide. We have developed a sensitive and selective radioimmunoassay for porcine/human endothelin (ET-1). 126I-labled ET was perpared by lodogen method and was purified by HPLC. Its specific activity was about 64.75 TBq(1750Ci)/mmol. The assay has a detection limit of 0.17pg/tube and the assay range was 0.25-1000pg/tube. The procedure was developed for extraction of endothelin from human plasma using C18 Sep-pak extraction cartridges. Human plasma samples were extracted, assayed and the plasma ET values of 17 healthly volunteers was found to be 2.81 ?0.60pg/ml. Both patients with uraemia(n = 20) and acute myocardial infarction(n= 11) had significantly higher plasma values than normal subjects.