To optimize the traditional refining process of Hydrargyrum Chloratum Compositum(HCC) and explore the change law of substances before and after refining, this study applied the hierarchical analysis method(AHP)-entropy weight method, using appearance, yield, and mercuric chloride content as evaluation indexes. The temperature and time of mild and strong fire were examined as single factors, and an L_9(3~4) orthogonal experiment was used to optimize the refining process. An infrared thermal imaging platform was set up to record the temperature changes on the surface of the tank, aiming to establish a standardized operating procedure for the refining process. Elemental changes, physical phase changes, and thermal property changes of the materials before and after refining were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry(AAS), X-ray diffraction(XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC). The results showed that the average overall score of the finished product obtained from the optimized HCC refining process(with mild fire temperature of 102 ℃, mild fire refining time of 30 min, strong fire temperature of 178 ℃, and strong fire refining time of 68 min) was 91.59, with an RSD of 0.076%, indicating that the process is stable and feasible. Combined with thermal imaging data and related research results, it was found that, at the strong fire temperature, mercury ions and nitrate ions generated mercuric chloride under the catalysis of other ions. The mercury content of mercurous chloride, mercuric chloride synthesized from nitric acid, HCC, and the pre-refined sample was 84.535%, 72.376%, 70.838%, and 41.334%, respectively. The highest intensity of the(120) diffraction peak for HCC appeared around 20.36°, but the residual fit value was larger. The synthesis of mercuric chloride from HCC and nitric acid showed an exothermic peak at 190-204 ℃, with the peak shape exhibiting a rightward trend. This study optimized the traditional refining process of HCC and analyzed the elemental changes, physical phase changes, and thermal property changes before and after refining. The findings provide experimental data for exploring the changing patterns in the refining process of HCC and its pharmacological value, as well as for standardizing the traditional refining process in clinical practice.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; X-Ray Diffraction ; Temperature ; Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Mercuric Chloride/chemistry*

Objective: To explore the expulsion effect of sodium dimercaptopropanesulfonate (DMPS) on mercury in different organs of mercury poisoning and the therapeutic effect of glutathione (GSH) combined with antioxidant therapy on mercury poisoning. Methods: In February 2019, 50 SPF male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, 10 rats in each group: A (saline negative control group) , B (HgCL2 positive control group) , treatment group (C: intramuscular injection of DMPS 15 mg/kg treatment, D: intramuscular injection of DMPS30 mg/kg treatment, E: intramuscular injection of DMPS 15 mg/kg and intraperitoneal injection of GSH200 mg/kg treatment) . Rats in group B, C, D and E were subcutaneously injected with mercury chloride solution (1 mg/kg) to establish a rat model of subacute mercury poisoning kidney injury. Rats in group A were subcutaneously injected with normal saline. After the establishment of the model, rats in the treatment group were injected with DMPS and GSH. Rats in group A and group B were injected with normal saline. At 21 d (treatment 7 d) and 28 d (treatment 14 d) after exposure, urine and blood samples of 5 rats in each group were collected. Blood biochemistry, urine mercury, urine microalbumin and mercury content in renal cortex, cerebral cortex and cerebellum were detected. Results: After exposure to mercury, the contents of mercury in renal cortex, cerebrum and cerebellum of rats in group B, C, D and E increased, and urine microalbumin increased. Pathology showed renal tubular injury and renal interstitial inflammation. Compared with group B, urinary mercury and renal cortex mercury in group C, D and E decreased rapidly after DMPS treatment, and there was no significant decrease in mercury levels in cerebellum and cerebral cortex of rats, accompanied by transient increase in urinary albumin after DMPS treatment (P<0.05) ; the renal interstitial inflammation in group E was improved after GSH treatment. There was a positive correlation between urinary mercury and the contents of mercury in renal cortex, cerebral cortex and cerebellum (r=0.61, 0.47, 0.48, P<0.05) . Conclusion: DMPS mercury expulsion treatment can significantly reduce the level of metal mercury in the kidney, and there is no significant change in the level of metal mercury in the cortex and cerebellum.
Animals ; Brain/drug effects* ; Glutathione ; Inflammation ; Kidney/drug effects* ; Kidney Diseases/chemically induced* ; Male ; Mercuric Chloride/therapeutic use* ; Mercury/urine* ; Mercury Poisoning/drug therapy* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saline Solution/therapeutic use* ; Unithiol/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Zhusha Anshen pill, cinnabar, HgS, HgCl2 and MeHg on the gene expression of renal transporters in mice.

METHODHealthy male mice were given equivalent physiological saline, Zhusha Anshen pill (1.8 g · kg(-1), containing 0.17 g · kg(-1) of mercury), cinnabar (0.2 g · kg(-1), containing 1.7 g · kg(-1) of mercury), high dose cinnabar (2 g · kg(-1), containing 1.7 g · kg(-1) of mercury), HgS (0.2 g · kg(-1), containing 0.17 g · kg(-1) of mercury), HgCl2 (0.032 g · kg(-1), containing 0. 024 g · kg(-1) of mercury), MeHg (0.026 g · kg(-1), containing 0.024 g · kg(-1) of mercury), once daily, for 30 d, measuring body mass gain. 30 days later, the mice were sacrificed. The mercury accumulation in kidneys was detected with atomic fluorescence spectrometer. Expressions of Oat1, Oat2, Oat3, Mrp2, Mrp4, Urat1 were detected with RT-PCR.

RESULTCompared with the normal control group, a significant accumulation of Hg in kidney in HgCl2 and MeHg groups was observed (P <0.05), but these changes were not found in other groups. Compared with normal control group, mRNA expressions of Oat1 and Oat2 were evidently lower in HgCl2 and MeHg groups, but mRNA expressions of Mrp2 were apparently higher in HgCl2 group (P <0.05), mRNA expression of Mrp4 was significant higher in HgCl2 and MeHg groups, and mRNA expression of Urat1 was apparently lower in MeHg group.

CONCLUSIONHgCl2 and MeHg groups show significant difference from the normal group in mercury accumulation in kidneys and gene expression of kidney transporters, but with no difference between other groups and the normal group. Compared with HgCl2 and MeHg, cinnabar and its compounds could cause lower renal toxicity to mice.

Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; toxicity ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Mercuric Chloride ; toxicity ; Mercury Compounds ; toxicity ; Methylmercury Compounds ; toxicity ; Mice ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; Organic Anion Transport Protein 1 ; genetics ; Organic Anion Transporters, Sodium-Independent ; genetics

Koreans have repeatedly experienced societal traumas, of which Korean Peninsula division and 6.25 are the greatest sources of trauma. Such division and the Korean War have destroyed the concept of "nation community," "town community," and "rational community" in the Korean people. Thus, Korean people have come to 1) live in a society with no recognition of community, 2) obsession with extreme ideologism, 3) lower ability to resolve conflict making societal dissension more serious. For the healing of this trauma, the following projects are needed : 1) foreign case analysis of societal trauma healing, 2) analysis of each subject and healing, 3) rebuilding of nation, town, and ration community in Korean society, 4) creation of artwork that gives introspection to division and its sublimation, 5) take the challenge to sublimate suffering in order to create a higher mental state of individual and society. Thus, the professional role of a psychiatrist is important. First, administer professional treatment to those in need of medical psychiatric help who are suffering from societal trauma resulting from division. Second, grasp the mental and societal difficulties and special help needed for the various traumas. Third, help in creation of artwork dealing with the pain of division. Fourth, create a more culturally sensitive and appropriate psychiatric support method for North Korean Refugees in South Korea. Fifth, help in sublimating pain and finding meaning and maturation through it. It is important to acknowledge that "Unification is Healing."
Hand Strength ; Humans ; Korea ; Korean War ; Mercuric Chloride ; Obsessive Behavior ; Professional Role ; Psychiatry ; Refugees ; Sublimation

To study the effect of Wansheng Huafeng Dan (WSHFD) and mercuric chloride on renal mercury (Hg) extraction transporters (Oat1, Oct2), renal mercury excretion transporters (Mrp4, Mate2K), renal mercury accumulation and kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1). The ancient prescription of WSHFD containing 10-fold Hg caused much lower renal mercury accumulation and renal toxicity than HgCl2 in rats, with less effect on renal transporters than HgCl2. The above indicators had no significant difference in WSHFDO, WSHFD2 and WSHFD3 groups, indicating no effect of WSHFD with reduced or no cinnabar.
Animals ; Ardisia ; chemistry ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Mercuric Chloride ; metabolism ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Psychological resilience in children preventing them from being overwhelmed by traumatic events and nurture their healthy development is universal and powerful. Movies about fairy tales provide children with the notion of the existence of the power and various manifestations. Even though the traumatic event affects the development of the child, with a good supporting system and by providing healthy internal and external factors to reconstruct the event, the traumatized child may accept the event objectively, develop the healthier part of the ego, and even sublimate the traumatic events. As the children participate in movies or plays, several protectors can be devised. The child prepares the role under a "promise" of virtual reality, performs the role recognizing that the traumatic event is not real, and returns to real life as the role or play ends. When these protectors are provided, it is considered that resilience can function properly and the role does not have a negative influence on the development of a child.
Child ; Collodion ; Ego ; Humans ; Mercuric Chloride ; Resilience, Psychological

Extracellular accumulation of amyloid beta protein (Abeta) plays a central role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Some metals, such as copper, lead, and aluminum can affect the Abeta accumulation in the brain. However, the effect of mercury on Abeta accumulation in the brain is not clear. Thus, this study was proposed to estimate whether mercury concentration affects Abeta accumulation in PC12 cells. We treated 10, 100, and 1000 nM HgCl2 (Hg) or CH3HgCl2 (MeHg) for 48 hr in PC12 cells. After treatment, Abeta40 in culture medium increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Hg and MeHg increased amyloid precursor protein (APP), which is related to Abeta production. Neprilysin (NEP) levels in PC12 cells were decreased by Hg and MeHg treatment. These results suggested that Hg induced Abeta accumulation through APP overproduction and reduction of NEP.
Aluminum ; Alzheimer Disease ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases ; Amyloid* ; Animals ; Brain ; Copper ; Mercuric Chloride ; Metals ; Neprilysin ; PC12 Cells*

OBJECTIVETo compare sub-acute toxic effects of cinnabar and Wansheng Huafeng Dan with mercury chloride and methyl-mercury.

METHODHealthy SD rats were orally administered with Wansheng Huafeng Dan (0.42 g x kg(-1)), cinnabar (0.15 g x kg(-1)), HgS (0.15 g x kg(-1)), HgCl2 (0.02 g x kg(-1)), MeHg (0.001 g x kg(-1)) and saline for 21 days under observed and their weights were monitored. After the final administration, they were decapitated and their blood, liver, kidney and brain tissues were collected for calculating hepatic and renal indexes and detecting the contents of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, urea nitrogen and creatinine and the mercury accumulation in liver, kidney and brain tissues. Besides, relative expressions of liver metallothionein-1 (MT-1) and cytochrome P450 gene subtypes (Cyp1a1, Cyp2b1, Cyp2e1, Cyp3a2, Cyp4a10) mRNA.

RESULTHgCl2 caused obvious weight lose in rats. Mercury contents in liver and kidney were markedly increased by HgCl2 and MeHg, and MeHg markedly increased mercury contents of brain either, but these advent effects were not notable in Wansheng Huafeng Dan and cinnabar groups. However, blood biochemistry and histopathology did not show significant changes in all groups. The expression of rat hepatic MT-1 mRNA was remarkably induced by both HgCl2 and MeHg. The expression of hepatic Cyp3a2 was increased by Wansheng Huafeng Dan and cinnabar, while the expression of Cyp2e1 was inhibited by HgCl2 and MeHg.

CONCLUSIONThe administration of Wansheng Huafeng Dan with equivalent dose for three weeks shows a much low sub-acute toxicity than HgCl2 and MeHg in rats.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; Male ; Mercuric Chloride ; toxicity ; Mercury Compounds ; toxicity ; Methylmercury Compounds ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to investigate the protection of procyanidins and lycopene from the renal damage induced by mercuric chloride.

METHODSRats were treated with either procyanidins or lycopene 2h before HgCl(2) subcutaneously injection, once daily treatment for 2 successive days.

RESULTSIn comparison with HgCl(2) group, markers of renal function such as blood urea nitrogen in serum and urinary protein were decreased to (18.45±11.63) mmol/L and (15.93±9.36) mmol/L, (4.54±0.78) g/(g·Cr) and (4.40±1.12) g/(g·Cr). N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase in urine were depressed to (125.49±11.68) U/(g·Cr), (103.73±21.79) U/(g·Cr), (101.99±12.28) U/(g·Cr), and (113.19±23.74) U/(g·Cr), (71.14±21.80) U/(g·Cr), (73.64±21.51) U/(g·Cr) in procyanidins and lycopene groups. Indicators of oxidative stress, for example, Glutathion was reduced to (45.58±9.89) μmol/(g·pro) and (45.33±5.90) μmol/(g·pro), and antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione-peroxidase were enhanced to (43.07±10.97) U/(mg·pro) and (39.94±6.04) U/(mg·pro), (83.85±18.48) U/(mg·pro), and (85.62±12.68) U/(mg·pro). Malondialdehyde was lowered to (0.95±0.12) (μmol/g·pro) and (1.03±0.12) μmol/(g·pro) in procyanidins and lycopene groups. ROS generation was decreased by 27.63% and 16.40% and apoptosis was also decreased in procyanidins and lycopene groups respectively. Pathological changes were much better as well.

CONCLUSIONProcyanidins and Lycopene play some protective role against mercury kidney damage.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; urine ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; urine ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; therapeutic use ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Carotenoids ; therapeutic use ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; urine ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mercuric Chloride ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; urine ; Mercury ; metabolism ; Proanthocyanidins ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Mercuric chloride, a model nephrotoxicant was used to elucidate time- and dose-dependent global gene expression changes associated with proximal tubular toxicity. Rat kidney cell lines NRK-52E cells were exposed for 2, 6 and 12 hours and with 3 different doses of mercuric chloride. Cell viability assay showed that mercuric chloride had toxic effects on NRK-52E cells causing 20% cell death (IC20) at 40micrometer concentration. We set this IC20 as high dose concentration and 1/5 and 1/25 concentration of LC20 were used as mid and low concentration, respectively. Analyses of microarray data revealed that 738 genes were differentially expressed (more than two-fold change and p<0.05) by low concentration of mercuric chloride at least one time point in NRK-52E cells. 317 and 2,499 genes were differentially expressed at mid and high concentration of mercuric chloride, respectively. These deregulated genes showed a primary involvement with protein trafficking (CAV2, CANX, CORO1B), detoxification (GSTs) and immunity and defense (HMOX1, NQO1). Several of these genes were previously reported to be up-regulated in proximal tubule cells treated with nephrotoxicants and might be aid in promoting the predictive biomarkers for nephrotoxicity.
Animals ; Cell Death ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Gene Expression ; Kidney ; Mercuric Chloride ; Protein Transport ; Rats ; Biomarkers