In the 18th century, the trade of medicinal materials in East Asia showed a trend of rapid development, and by the second half of the 18th century, it became the largest commodity category in East Asia's international trade. The growth of medicinal material trade during this period was not a simple trade issue, but was closely related to a series of changes in economic fields, such as the market network, trade balance and production. The changes in the international trade environment from the 17th to the 19th centuries greatly increased the demand for medicinal materials. It also affected the production of medicinal materials. The medicinal material industries in East Asian countries were characterised by specialisation and marketisation, and provided the market with abundant and high-quality medicinal materials. In turn, the development of the medicinal material industry promoted international trade, making medicinal materials the largest traded commodity in East Asia. In the 18th century, the development of medicinal material trade promoted the recalibration of international trade, and changed the commodity structure of East Asian trade. It is a result of the transformation of international trade and economic relations, and an important participant in the development of East Asian economy. Trade of medicinal materials in the 18th century expanded the market network and formed a positive interaction between trade and production, and reshaped the international trade structure of East Asia.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Selenomethionine ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

AIM:To study the type, degree and axial distribution of low vision astigmatism in preschool children.METHODS:A group of 3-6 years old children were selected for astigmatism screening, and statistical analysis was performed on the detected 445 eyes of 308 people.RESULTS:With more than 0.50D astigmatism criteria, astigmatism examination of 308 people, accounting for 36.2%, of which 137 eyes astigmatism, astigmatism 171 monocular.The five types of astigmatism were compound hyperopia 40.7%, mixed 35.5%, compound myopia 8.5%, myopia 8.3%, simple hyperopia astigmatism degree 7.0%;69.0% were mild, 16.6% moderate, 14.4% severe.Astigmatism axial distribution was with the rule for 54.9%, against the rule 28.8%, oblique 16.6%.In binocular astigmatism eyes, axial symmetry was in 35.8%, asymmetry in 64.2%.CONCLUSION:The main type of astigmatism in preschool children are compound hyperopia and mixed astigmatism.Astigmatism degree is mainly mild.With the increase of age, the detection rate of moderate and high astigmatism increased.

OBJECTIVETo observe mainfestations of syndrome and biochemical indices of hypertensive model rats with excessive accumulation of phlegm-dampness syndrome (EAPDS), and to explore its possible pathological mechanism.

METHODSEAPDS rat model was prepared in 50 Wistar rats by feeding with high fat forage. Meanwhile, a normal control group consisting of 10 Wistar rats was set up by feeding with normal forage. After 25-week continuous feeding, 22 rats with body weight (BW) and blood pressure (BP) exceeding 25% those of the control group were selected as a model group. BW, BP, blood lipids, and related serological indicators were detected in all rats. Morphological changes of target organs were observed. mRNA expression levels of leptin receptor (LepR), Janus kinase2 (Jak2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3), suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (Socs3), angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1), angiotensin II receptor type 2 (AT2), phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (P13K), serine threonine kinase (Akt), nuclear factor of kappa B (NF-κBp65), inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase α (IKKα), NF-kappa-B inhibitor β (lKKβ), NF-kappa-B inhibitor α (IKBα), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Expression levels of AT1 and LepR in aorta were detected by immunohistochemical assay and Western blot respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, BW, BP, and blood lipids increased; serum levels of leptin (Lep) , Ang II, Hcy, ET-1, TNF-α, IL-6, and p2-MG increased, but NO decreased in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Aortal endothelial injury and smooth muscle cell proliferation occurred in the model group, accompanied with heart and renal injury. Compared with the control group, mRNA expression levels of LepR, Jak2, Stat3, Socs3, AT1 , PI3K, Akt, NF-κB p65, IKKβ, IKBα, and AMPK in aorta were up-regulated significantly (P < 0.05), while the expression of IKKa decreased (P < 0.05). Immunohistochem- ical staining showed, brownish yellow deposit of AT1 and LepR was obviously increased, with more extensively positive distribution. Western blot results showed, as compared with the control group, protein expression levels of AT1 and LepR obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSModel rats exhibited typical syndromes of EAPDS. They put up weight with fat abdomen, gloomy hair, poor appetite, hypersomnia, lowered activities , reduced food intake, loose stool, dark red tongue, white tongue with white, thick, greasy fur. Lep could be taken as one of objective indicators for evaluating hypertension rat model with EAPDS.

Animals ; Aorta ; Cell Proliferation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; I-kappa B Proteins ; Interleukin-6 ; Leptin ; blood ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; NF-kappa B ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins ; Transcription Factor RelA ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVETo study the survival and developmental morphology of Parachlamydia (BN9) within Acanthamoeba.

METHODSThe morphology of BN9 within Acanthamoeba was studied by inverted phase contrast microscope, electron microscope, Gimenez and AO-staining with amoebal co-culture.

RESULTSThe endosomal maturation-blocked were formed after the egress of BN9. Two developmental stages-elementary and reticulate bodies, were both observed within the vacuoles. The reticulate bodies, multiplicated by binary fission, were located mainly within the vacuoles, while the elementary bodies can also be located in the plasma individually. The naked cluster particles were observed after the trophozoites cytolysis with Gimenez-staining. The light infectious trophozoites could encyst, and elementary bodies could survive within the mature cysts.

CONCLUSIONThe egress of BN9 could form the endosomal maturation-blocked, which was presented in two developmental stages-elementary and reticulate bodies. It exhibited the cytolysin activity that could lyse the infectious trophozoites and were expelled in the vesicles. A few light infected amoeba could encyst with survival elementary bodies in the plasma.

Acanthamoeba ; microbiology ; ultrastructure ; Animals ; Chlamydiales ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Coculture Techniques ; Humans ; Inclusion Bodies ; ultrastructure ; Life Cycle Stages ; Microscopy, Electron

Autopsy ; Eye Injuries ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and iron status using serum ferritin (SF) as a marker for total iron and to identify the related factors of iron nutritional status among preschool children.

METHODSBy cluster sampling, we recruited 475 preschool children aged 2 to 7 years. A structured questionnaire and diet form were sent to the parents of these children to obtain related information about the socioeconomic level and dietary intakes. After collecting blood samples, the following indexes were measured. Hp IgG antibodies were measured with a dot enzyme-linked immunoassay; hemoglobin, Hct, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red blood cell distribution width index (RDW) with automatic Complete Blood Count; SF with an immunoradiometric assay. Stool Hp antigen and occult bleeding were measured with ELISA among individuals who were Hp seropositive. Hp status was defined as positive when both serum and stool antigen tests were positive, Hp status was defined as negative when serum antigen test was negative; 24-hour weighting and recording methods were used to dietary survey for three days in May and December 2001, respectively, dietary intakes including energy, protein and micronutrient were calculated using nursery school nutrition software and evaluated by Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). Mann-Whitney test was used to compare mean ranks of SF in Hp-positive and Hp-negative children. To obtain an adjusted estimate of the impact of Hp infection on SF, a multivariate analysis of covariance was done to evaluate the different level of SF between Hp infected and non-infected status. The relationship between iron deficiency and gender, age, socioeconomic condition, iron intake, and calcium intake was assessed by univariate analysis. An unconditional multivariate logistic regression analysis was also performed. Iron deficiency status was dichotomized and placed as the dependent variable. Hp infection status was incorporated together with possible confounding factors as independent variables in a final logistic regression model. All the data were managed by EPI Info 5.01a and analyzed by SAS (Version 6.12).

RESULTSTotally 64 children were diagnosed as Hp-positive and 305 as Hp-negative. Mann-Whitney test and multivariate analysis of covariance both showed that SF concentration was significantly lower in Hp infected individuals than non-infected individuals. Adjusted mean level and 95% confidence interval of SF in infected and non-infected children was 23.62 microg/L (7.13 microg/L-78.26 microg/L), 33.48 microg/L (10.28 microg/L-109.06 microg/L), respectively. The relationship between Hp infection and iron deficiency status persisted in logistic regression analysis after adjusting for possible confounding factors (OR: 7.95; 95% CI 2.56 - 24.67).

CONCLUSIONIron nutritional status was reduced in Hp infected preschool children. Hp infection appears to be an independent risk factor or an added stressor on iron status among preschool children.

Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Female ; Ferritins ; blood ; Helicobacter Infections ; blood ; Helicobacter pylori ; immunology ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nutrition Assessment

OBJECTIVETo observed efficacy differences of acupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) in rats with asthma and asthma with spleen-deficency, so as to investigate the therapeutic mechanism.

METHODSSixty SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups according to their weight, named as an asthma with spleen-deficency group (group A), an acupuncture on asthma with spleen-deficency group (group B), an asthma group (group C), an acupuncture on asthma group (group D) and a control group. The rat models with spleen-deficiency in the first two groups were set up by TCM, then the rats of asthma model in the first four groups were induced by egg albumin, but the control group was treated by the same dose of saline. The group B and the group D were both treated with acupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36), once each day for 8 days, and the other groups remained unhandled. The mRNA expressions of Fas and Bcl-2 in the lung tissues were detected by hybridization in situ and apoptosis was detected by TUNEL (terminal dexynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dutp nick end labeling).

RESULTSCompared with the control group, in both the group A and the group C, the expression of Fas mRNA significantly decreased, but the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA significantly increased (all P < 0.01), and eosinophils (EOS) counts significantly increased, but EOS apoptosis rate significantly decreased (all P < 0.01). Compared with the group C, in the group A, the expressions of Fas mRNA significantly decreased, but the expressions of Bcl-2 mRNA and EOS counts significantly increased (all P < 0.01). At the same time, compared with the corresponding asthma groups, in both acupuncture groups, Fas mRNA expression obviously increased, Bcl-2 mRNA expression was significantly reduced (all P < 0.01), EOS counts remarkably decreased and EOS apoptosis rate significantly increased (all P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the expressions of Fas mRNA and Bcl-2 mRNA between the two acupuncture groups (both P > 0.05), but compared with group B,in the group D, EOS counts significantly decreased and EOS apoptosis rate significantly increased (both P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) can regulate the disorders of Fas mRNA and Bcl-2 mRNA expression in the state of both asthma and asthma with spleen-deficency, promote EOS apoptosis so as to inhibit the development of inflammatory reaction of asthma, showing that acupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) has certain advantages on regulation of related gene of EOS in asthma with spleen-deficency.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Asthma ; genetics ; immunology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Eosinophils ; cytology ; immunology ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; fas Receptor ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo compare antiproliferation effects of vinblastine nanopraticles and vinblastine water solution in human glioma cell lines BT325.

METHODVinblastine nanoparticles were prepared by emulsion polymerization process and using dextran as a stabilizing agent. It was characterized by means of morphology, size, drug entrapment efficiency and loading efficiency. Human glioma cell lines BT325 were treated with different concentrations of vinblastine nanoparticles and vinblastine water solution for 48 h, Antiproliferation effect was measured by MTT method. Morphological changes were observed by inverted microscope, transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope.

RESULTMean diameter of VLB-PBCA-NP was about 74.4 nm, and drug entrapment efficiency and loading efficiency was 78.47% and 39.24%, respectively. Cell growth inhibition rate of vinblastine nanoparticles group and vinblastine water solution group in a concentration range (5-5 000 g x L(-1)) for 48 h was 41%, 49%, 73%, 83% and 28%, 33%, 54%, 60% respectively. Entrapment of VLB in NPS may distinctly degrade absorbency as compared to free drugs. Glioma cell BT325 which treated with VLB water solution were initial stage of apoptosis, and apoptosis body were forming. But VLB NPS-treated BT325 cells were intermediate or end stage, and missed structure integrality.

CONCLUSIONVLB-PBCA-NP and VLB water solution could inhibit the growth of human glioma cell lines BT325, and VLB nanoparticles have stronger inhibition effect compared with VLB water solution in the same dose. PBCA may be effective as promising carrier for the transport of vinblastine into the glioma cells.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nanoparticles ; Vinblastine ; pharmacology