The conservation of precious source of medicinal herb from traditional medicine phyllathus amarus (= P. niruri L.) was effectively conducted by in vitro propagation. The process of in vitro propagation of this culture consists of main following stages: (1) Start budding: suitable materials are meristems, apical buds and auxiliary buds; Rapid propagation: The medium for highest propagation coefficient is MS; creating complete plantlets: rapid root differentiation with good quality roots is observed in the medium MS+ NAA; in nurseries: the suitable substrate for ex-vitro stage is black sandy soils; (2) The medium able to form potassium at highest rate is MS + 2.4D; (3) The analysis of mineral compositions shows low contents of heavy metals and rare earth elements (REE), but considerably high in potassium, that may be due to diuretic activity of P. amarus.
Neutrons ; Minerals

The quantitative determination was performed on atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Herbal remedy Codonopsis pilolusa (Franch.) Nannf., yeast extract and SMC preparations (liquid and powdered) were proved to contain calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese and copper. Selenium was also found in yeast extract and SMC preparations. The quantative results were given
Codonopsis ; chemistry ; Biochemistry ; Minerals

In this paper, Chrysanthemum morifolium was used as the experimental object, eight different planting periods were set up in field plot experiment from April to August, which were 04-15, 05-19, 05-30, 06-09, 06-19, 07-20, 07-31, 08-15. The effects of different treatments on the occurrence of root rot, agronnmic traits, mineral element absorption and content of effective components of Ch. morifolium in Macheng country of Hubei province were studied. The results showed that delaying the planting time could effectively reduce the diseases occurrence of root rot of Ch. morifolium. With the advance of transplanting period, the plant height, the weight of one hundred flowers and the number of flowers of Ch. morifolium showed a trend of gradual decrease, while the number of primary branches and the thickness of main stem and the primary branch increased first and then decreased. The yield of Ch. morifolium per plant and per mu increased with the advance of the planting period, and the yield per mu increased during the planting period on June 19, which was 91.96% higher than that on April 15. And with the delay of the planting period,the absorption and accumulation of potassium(K) elements was promotes. The content of active ingredients such as chlorogenic acid, rutin, luteolin, and 3,5-O dicoffeoacy lquinic acid in the Ch. morifolium increased significantly and then gradually decreased with the delay of the planting period, which indicates that late planting can significantly improve the quality of Ch. morifolium. Considering factors such as the occurrence of root rot disease, yield and active ingredient content, combined with climatic conditions in the Dabie Mountains in eastern Hubei, the optimum planting period of Ch. morifolium was determined from mid-late June to early July.
Chlorogenic Acid ; Chrysanthemum ; Flowers ; Minerals

In this study, 24 copies of samples of Chrysanthemum morifolium and soil from two main production towns in Macheng city were collected, and the contents of 13 mineral elements, 5 effective components and 14 soil nutrient factors in Ch. morifolium were determined. The enrichment characteristics of available soil nutrients by mineral elements were analyzed and the dominant factors affecting the effective components of Ch. morifolium were screened. The results showed that the content of mineral elements and soil nutrients and effective components are very different, and variation of soil fertility was much greater than that of inorganic elements in chrysanthemum plants. In general, the level of element content in Ch. morifolium from different producing areas is K>N>P>Mg>Ca>Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu>Ni>Cr>Pb>Cd. The content of K, N and Mg is higher than that of common crops, and the content of Cu, Cd and Pb in Ch. morifolium from various producing areas does not exceed the relevant standards. The N, P and K enrichment capacity in soil was stronger than that of other elements, and the Ca enrichment ability was the worst. The content of AvCu in the soil was positively correlated with the contents of N, Mg, K, Fe and Cu elements in Ch. morifolium. The contents of chlorogenic acid, luteolin, 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid reached the pharmacopoeia standard. The percentage of chlorogenic acid and 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid in Ch. morifolium that from Huangtugang town in the active components were generally higher than that from Futianhe town, and the diffe-rences of luteolin contents in the two producing areas were relatively small. The correlation and regression analysis showed that the contents of Cu, Zn and Cr in Ch. morifolium were positively correlated with the active components, while the contents of Fe, Mn and Ni were negatively correlated with the contents of AvP, AvK, TK, AvMn and AvCu in soil. In general, Zn and Ca fertilizer should be added to the ecological planting of Ch. morifolium, K fertilizer should be added, and N and P fertilizer should be applied appropriately.
Chrysanthemum ; Fertilizers ; Minerals ; Nutrients ; Soil

Dental enamel biomimetic mineralization is a process to form the enamel-like mineral structures, which possess unique microstructure and exceptional physic-chemical properties, by mimicking the mechanism of natural enamel formation and biomineralization. Varieties of techniques such as molecular mimetic synthesis and molecular self-assembling were used to accomplish the microenvironment and molecular conditions similar to that of natural tooth enamel within human body. Early remineralization and biomineralization is the future of restoration for enamel defect, research on such products have huge potential in clinical applications, with speedy advancement in recent two decades. This review summarizes the major advances in researches on enamel biomimetic mineralization in recent years.
Biomimetics ; Dental Enamel ; Humans ; Minerals

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, although its clinical value remains controversial institutions utilize hair mineral analysis. Arguments about the reliability of hair mineral analysis persist, and there have been evaluations of commercial laboratories performing hair mineral analysis. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the reliability of intra-laboratory and inter-laboratory data at three commercial laboratories conducting hair mineral analysis, compared to serum mineral analysis. METHODS: Two divided hair samples taken from near the scalp were submitted for analysis at the same time, to all laboratories, from one healthy volunteer. Each laboratory sent a report consisting of quantitative results and their interpretation of health implications. Differences among intra-laboratory and interlaboratory data were analyzed using SPSS version 12.0 (SPSS Inc., USA). RESULTS: All the laboratories used identical methods for quantitative analysis, and they generated consistent numerical results according to Friedman analysis of variance. However, the normal reference ranges of each laboratory varied. As such, each laboratory interpreted the patient's health differently. On intra-laboratory data, Wilcoxon analysis suggested they generated relatively coherent data, but laboratory B could not in one element, so its reliability was doubtful. In comparison with the blood test, laboratory C generated identical results, but not laboratory A and B. CONCLUSION: Hair mineral analysis has its limitations, considering the reliability of inter and intra laboratory analysis comparing with blood analysis. As such, clinicians should be cautious when applying hair mineral analysis as an ancillary tool. Each laboratory included in this study requires continuous refinement from now on for inducing standardized normal reference levels.
Hair ; Hematologic Tests ; Minerals ; Reference Values ; Scalp

OBJECTIVEThe alveolar bone density quantitative measuring system was established on the basis of grey level measuring on standardized-exposed direct digital periapical radiograph by referring to an aluminum step wedge with the aid of computer technique. We tested it's accuracy and sensibility by measuring a series of specimens and made it possible to estimate the area density of hydroxyl-phosphorite (HP) in the alveolar bone with the system.

METHODSThe average grey level intensity of 19 specimens containing different amount of HP within certain area was measured with the system. The equivalent aluminum thickness (EAT) and corrected grey level intensity (CGL) of each specimen were calculated according to known grey level intensity of the aluminum step wedge and it's corresponding thickness. The liner regression equations between EAT, CGL and HP density (mg/mm2) were established. We put the values of EAT and CGL into the equations and calculated the corresponding values of estimated HP density. The bias ratios of estimation were then calculated. We measured two randomly chosen specimens 10 times respectively to calculate the system's measurement error range, then the sensibility of the system for measuring HP density was calculated according to the regression equations.

RESULTSEAT and CGL were significantly correlated with HP density. When EAT was larger than 0.67 mm or CGL larger than 41, the system's bias ratio of estimated HP density was lower than 5%. When we estimated the HP density with the use of EAT, the system could effectively check out a HP density change larger than 0.17 mg/mm2, with the use of CGL, a HP density change larger than 0.18 mg/mm2 could be effectively checked out.

CONCLUSIONThe accuracy and sensibility of the quantitative alveolar bone density measuring system are acceptable, it can be widely used to compare alveolar bone density longitudinally and cross-sectionally.

Animals ; Crowns ; Dogs ; Humans ; Minerals ; Tooth ; Transplants

Selenium is a micronutrient mineral found mainly in soils. Studies on selenium have increased rapidly worldwide especially after it has been shown to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer in humans and animals. The exact mechanism of action on how selenium inhibits diseases, in particular cancer, is still unknown. To date, the use of selenium in preventing or treating diseases is limited. However, many aspects about the biochemistry of selenium have been identified. This article reviews a number of key clinical, experimental and epidemiological studies on selenium as an anti-carcinogenic agent for some types of cancers. Some nutritional information on selenium and its recommended intake are also included. More clinical and experimental studies are needed to confirm previous findings on the role of selenium as an anticarcinogenic agent.
Selenium ; Selenium measurement ; Minerals ; experiment ; Clinical

By analyzing the shift of microbial communities under different iron/sulfur ratios, the response of metallurgical microorganisms to energy substrates was investigated based on molecular ecological networks. High-throughput sequencing of microbial samples from different domesticated batches was conducted to analyze the changes in community composition, alpha and beta diversity. Based on the molecular ecological network, the interactions between microorganisms under different iron/sulfur ratios were explored. Keystones were identified to analyze the community response to energy substrates. In the process of domestication based on different energy substrates, the dominant species in the in iron-rich and sulfur-less community were Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and A. ferriphilus. A. thiooxidans accounted for up to 90% in the sulfur-rich and iron-less community after 3 domesticating batches. The results of alpha and beta diversity analysis show that the domestication process of sulfur-rich and iron-less substrates reduced the diversity of microbial communities. Molecular ecological network analysis shows that the keystones were all rare species with low abundance. During the domestication by sulfur-rich and iron-less energy substrates, the bacterial species had a closer symbiotic relationship and the community was more stable. Through this domestication experiment, the impact of different energy substrates on microbial aggregation was clarified. Domesticating metallurgical microorganisms by using sulfur-rich and iron-less energy substrates made the microbial colonies to be more stable, which was conducive to the oxidation of iron and sulfur, promoting the dissolution of sulfide minerals. Our findings provide a reference for the directional domestication of metallurgical microorganisms.
Acidithiobacillus/genetics* ; Iron ; Minerals ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Sulfur