Neuroprotective activity of two active chemical constituents from Tinospora hainanensis

OBJECTIVE@#To determine the chemical structure of the new compound and investigate the protective effects of Tinosporaic acid A and B towards in-vitro neuro.@*METHODS@#The structures of two new compounds were established by analyzing its 1D and 2D NMR spectra as well as HRESIMS. Their neuroprotective effects with respect to the antioxidant properties were evaluated by radical scavenging tests and hydrogen peroxide-injured oxidative stress model in PC12 cell lines. Cell morphology of treated PC12 cells was observed by phase contrast microscopy. In-vitro MTT assay, lactate dehydrogenase activity assay and oxidative stress markers (intracellular ROS production, MDA level, and caspase-3 activity) were used to evaluate the protective effects against hydrogen peroxide induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells.@*RESULTS@#The two new compounds, named Tinosporaic acid A and B, were isolated and identified from the stem bark of Tinospora hainanensis. Cell viability studies identified a representative concentration for each extract that was subsequently used to measure oxidative stress markers. Both extracts were able to reverse the oxidative damage caused by hydrogen peroxide, thus promoting PC12 cells survival. The concentration of Tinosporaic acid A and B were 86.34 μg/mL and 22.06 μg/mL respectively, which is neuroprotective for EC50. The results indicated that both of them significantly attenuated hydrogen peroxide-induced neurotoxicity.@*CONCLUSION@#The two new compounds isolated from ethanol extracts of Tinospora hainanensis are the promising natural ones with neuroprotective activity and needed for further research.

Neuroprotective activity of two active chemical constituents from Tinospora hainanensis

Objective To determine the chemical structure of the new compound and investigate the protective effects of Tinosporaic acid A and B towards in-vitro neuro. Methods The structures of two new compounds were established by analyzing its 1D and 2D NMR spectra as well as HRESIMS. Their neuroprotective effects with respect to the antioxidant properties were evaluated by radical scavenging tests and hydrogen peroxide-injured oxidative stress model in PC12 cell lines. Cell morphology of treated PC12 cells was observed by phase contrast microscopy. In-vitro MTT assay, lactate dehydrogenase activity assay and oxidative stress markers (intracellular ROS production, MDA level, and caspase-3 activity) were used to evaluate the protective effects against hydrogen peroxide induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells. Results The two new compounds, named Tinosporaic acid A and B, were isolated and identified from the stem bark of Tinospora hainanensis. Cell viability studies identified a representative concentration for each extract that was subsequently used to measure oxidative stress markers. Both extracts were able to reverse the oxidative damage caused by hydrogen peroxide, thus promoting PC12 cells survival. The concentration of Tinosporaic acid A and B were 86.34 μg/mL and 22.06 μg/mL respectively, which is neuroprotective for EC50. The results indicated that both of them significantly attenuated hydrogen peroxide-induced neurotoxicity. Conclusion The two new compounds isolated from ethanol extracts of Tinospora hainanensis are the promising natural ones with neuroprotective activity and needed for further research.

Mortality of HIV infected clients treated with methadone maintenance treatment in Yili Kazakh autonomous prefecture / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the mortality of HIV infected clients from methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinics in Yili Kazakh autonomous prefecture as well as the factors associated with mortality of HIV infected clients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective cohort study was performed. Data of 860 cases were collected from National Methadone Maintenance Treatment database, National AIDS/HIV database and antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatment database for adults. Information collected included demographic information of HIV infected clients, methadone daily treatment information, CD4 testing information, ART treatment information and death information. Recruiting began from August, 2005 through May, 2011. Cox proportional regression was used to identify factors associated with mortality. The proportional hazard assumption was assessed using Schoenfeld's residuals test. Missing values were imputed using the multiple linear regression method. R software (version 2.13.0) was used to perform data analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 860 HIV positive MMT clients were analyzed. The methadone dose for study subjects was (38.2 ± 20.7) mg/d. 27.8% (239/860) of study subjects participated in ART treatment, 38.7% (333/860) had never tested for CD4 count. The age for study subjects was (32.9 ± 6.4) years old. Among all these subjects, 67.3% (579/860) were married. During the observation period, 151 deaths were observed in 2192.9 person years. The average observation time was 2.6 year for each subject. The all-cause mortality rate was 68.9‰. Cox proportion model showed that ART treatment (HR = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.32 - 0.88), baseline CD4 count at 200 - 350 cells/µl (HR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.20 - 0.60), baseline CD4 count more than 350 cells/µl (HR = 0.16, 95%CI: 0.09 - 0.29), and marriage (HR = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.37 - 0.82) were associated with less mortality compared with control group. Age (more than 45 years old) (HR = 5.20, 95%CI: 2.60 - 10.20) and sharing needles (HR = 1.40, 95%CI: 1.02 - 2.00) were risk factors associated with death.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High mortality rate was observed among HIV infected clients. Methadone clinic should provide ART treatment or ART referral services.</p>

Impact of methadone maintenance treatment on HIV risk behaviors of heroin drug users / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate HIV risk behaviors among heroin drug users who were treated in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinics.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A prospective cohort study recruited and followed up clients of eight MMT clinics treated no more than two and half months in Guizhou province, China. Through face-to-face interviews, the baseline and following up informations were collected. And the baseline information included both demographic information and HIV risk behaviors, the following up informations included only HIV risk behaviors. The baseline investigation started in June, 2006 and the following up investigation finished in June, 2007. A total of 1003 heroin drug users were recruited at baseline, among them 666 (66.4%) were still at treatment by the end of follow up and 469 (70.4%) clients participated in the follow up interview. Wilcoxon two sample test and McNemar test were used to test for changes in HIV risk behaviors between baseline and following up investigation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 469 MMT clients who were followed up, the average days of reported heroin use decreased from 26.4 to 0.9 in the past 30 days (Z = 27.21, P < 0.05). Average days of alcohol use at baseline were 3.3 but 3.7 at follow up (Z = 0.45, P = 0.96). Needle-sharing behavior reported in the past 30 days decreased from 1.3% at baseline to 0.2% at follow up (χ(2) = 5.00, P = 0.025). At baseline, 5.5% (26/469) subjects reported having multiple sex partners in the past 30 days compared to 3.4% (16/469) at following up (χ(2) = 3.18, P = 0.08).6.4% (30/469) subjects reported casual sex with non-regular sex partners in the past 30 days at baseline compared to 5.1% (24/469) at following up (χ(2) = 0.95, P = 0.33). Of those who reported having casual sex relationship in the past 30 days 56.7% (17/30) reported using condoms at baseline but 58.3% (14/24) reported using condoms at follow up (χ(2) = 1.96, P = 0.16).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MMT was observed to decrease needle-sharing HIV risk behavior. However, decreased HIV sexual risk behaviors were not observed at statistical significant level.</p>

Effect of Erzhi Pill (二至丸) on improving cerebral nerve cell apoptosis in aging rats / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of Erzhi Pill (二至丸,EZP) on nerve cell apoptosis in senescence model rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The rats model of senescence was established by peritoneal D-galactose injection combined with thymusectomy. Forty SD rats were randomized into four groups, the normal control group, the senescence model group, the EZP treated group, and the vitamins treated group, 10 in each group. The rats were made into senescence model except those in the normal group. In the same time of D-galactose injection, the rats were treated respectively with distilled water, EZP 4.32 g/kg, and vitamins E and C 0.06 g/kg daily for 6 weeks via intragastric infusion. The index of main viscera (as brain, testis, etc.), serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and total anti-oxidation capacity (T-AOC) were measured after a 6-week treatment. Meanwhile, the cerebral cortex neuronal apoptosis proportion and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were detected by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both EZP and vitamins E and C treatments showed effects on increasing testis index and serum level of T-AOC, reducing the percentage of neuronal apoptosis in the cerebral cortex, and elevating MMP in the aging rats model.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>EZP could inhibit the cerebral cortex neuron apoptosis and maintain the mitochondrial function in the senescent process of rats induced by peritoneal D-galactose injection combined with thymusectomy. It also shows antioxidation effect to some extents.</p>

Factors influencing the rate oil retention to methadone maintenance treatment program among heroin addicts in Guizhou,China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To understand the situation of client-retention to methadone maintenance treatment(MMT)program and related factors.Methods A Cohon study was adopted.In toml,1003 heroin addicts who were treated at 8 local MMT clinics with less than one month period.were recruited under nominal informed consent from Guizhou province.southwest part of China.during June to October 2006.Face-to-face interview and questionnaire administered to collect relevant information from the clients who were also followed nntil June 2007 to understand the situation on retention.Data were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier method to estimate the retention rate at different time spans while factors related to retention were analyzed with Cox proportional hazard regression model.Results All the clients were followed-up for 14 months,with an average retention of ten months.The retention rates of the clients were 68.8%and 57.4%at 6th-month and 12th-month of the treatment program.estimated by Kaplan-Meier method.Results of Cox regression analysis showed that factors influencing retention rate on MMT among the clients,including their awareness on MMT,dailv dose of methadone intake,and difierent MMT clinics which they were attached to.Risk influencing the withdrawal from MMT had a 20%decrease along with the increase when the daily dose of methadone intake reached 25 mg,with a hazard ratio of 0.80(P＜0.01).If the clients were aware that methadone was a life-time treatment when they began the MMT program.the risk for withdrawal would be lower than those who were not and the hazard ratio became 0.66(P＜0.05).Conclusion Our data showed that about half of the clients who were at the MMT program would still stick to it after 12-months.suggesting that the retention rate was not satisfactory and need to be improved.Factors as the MMT clinics themselves that the clients visited,(Laily methadone dosage they took,and the awareness on MMT etc.were important predictors to the rate of retention on MMT program.

Effect of dimethoate on primary cultured rat cortical neuron / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect and mechanisms of dimethoate on the primary cultured cortical neuronal cell injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cortical neuronal cells were isolated and cultured in serum free medium for 6 days in vitro, and 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 micromol/L dimethoate were added to the medium and intracellular SOD, MDA and GSH. The content of excitatory amino acid was measured after 48 hours. Flow cytometry was used to detect the neuronal cell apoptosis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 48 h, the activity of SOD and the content of GSH decreased [(1.04 +/- 0.02), (0.99 +/- 0.02), (0.96 +/- 0.02), (0.91 +/- 0.02) U/mg pro] [(219.35 +/- 6.79), (205.6 +/- 6.29), (194.06 +/- 2.63), (93.68 +/- 7.56) mg/g pro], and the content of MDA increased obviously with 5, 10, 50 and 100 micromol/L dimethoate [(21.22 +/- 0.29), (24.01 +/- 0.34), (27.15 +/- 1.02), (32.91 +/- 1.39) nmol/mg pro]; The content of Asp from 10 to 100 micromol/L dose group was higher than the control group and the content of Glu from 1 to 100 micromol/L dose group was higher than the control group. The apoptosis rate had great significance between 1 to 100 micromol/L dose groups and control group. When treated with dimethoate, MDA content in neuron was positively correlated with the content of EAAs with the increase of dimethoate. The correlative coefficient was 0.937 and 0.759 respectively (P < 0.01), while it was negatively correlated with the content of GSH. The correlative coefficient was -0.868 and -0.801 respectively (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The oxidative damage and changes of excitatory amino acid content induced by Dimethoate contribute to the primary cultured rat cortical neuron apoptosis.</p>

Reliability and validity of addiction severity index in drug users with methadone maintenance treatment in Guizhou province, China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of addiction severity index (ASI)-5th version (ASI-C-5), in illegal drug users receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and eighty-six heroin addicts (144 men and 42 women) receiving MMT at three clinics in Guizhou province, southwest China, were recruited. They were all interviewed with a questionnaire of ASI-C-5 and 35 were re-interviewed at an interval of seven days to assess its test-retest reliability.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency of CSs varied from 0.60 to 0.81 in all domains. Test-retest reliability of composite scores (CSs) of ASI-C-5 were satisfactory (r=0.38-0.97). Based on item analysis and expert's suggestions, five items were deleted and one item was modified in ASI-C-5. Criterion validity of ASI-C-5 was found acceptable, as compared to addicts' self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) (r=0.59 and 0.45) except for social support rating scale (SSRS).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>ASI-C-5 can be used for heroin addicts receiving MMT with acceptable reliability and validity.</p>

Influence of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on expression of transforming growth factor beta(1), matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitor-1 of metalloproteinase in rats with pulmonary damage induced by paraquat / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on the expression of transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor-1 of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) in rats with pulmonary damage induced by paraquat (PQ).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-four healthy male SD rats were randomly assigned into the control group (normal saline), the PQ-treatment groups (4 groups) and the PDTC treatment groups (4 groups). Except the rats in the control group, the rats in the PQ group were gavaged only with 40 mg/kg PQ, and PDTC group with 40 mg/kg PQ plus immediate injection 120 mg/kg PDTC (i.p). On the 3rd, the 7th, the 14th and 28th day after treatments, one group rats of each treatments were sacrificed and lung and blood samples were collected. The level of TGF-beta(1) protein in the plasma, the mRNA expression of TGF-beta(1), MMP-2 and TIMP-1 were evaluated using RT-PCR and real-time quantitative PCR, while pathological changes of lung were examined under optical microscope and electrical microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The TGF-beta(1) protein, TGF-beta(1) and MMP-2 mRNA expression were increased significantly in the earlier stage and then decreased after PQ administration (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while the mRNA level of TIMP-1 was augmented continuously (P < 0.01) throughout the study compared to the control group. In comparison with the PQ group, in the PDTC treatment group, the TGF-beta(1) mRNA expression on the 3rd and the 14th day, 0.54 +/- 0.08 and 0.72 +/- 0.04 respectively, the MMP-2 mRNA expression on the 7th and 14th day, 1.62 +/- 0.50 and 1.97 +/- 0.34 respective-ly, and the TIMP-1 mRNA on the 7th and 21st day, 1.79 +/- 0.21 and 2.00 +/- 0.34 respectively, were significantly decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PDTC could attenuate paraquat-induced up-regulation of TGF-beta(1) and its mRNA expression, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 mRNA levels, which indicates that PDTC may exert its protective effects on paraquat-induced pulmonary damage by alleviating the earlier inflammation damage and adjust-ing the balance between MMPs and TIMPs. However, further studies are still warranted to investigate and clarify the underlying mechanisms involved in this complicated process.</p>

Risk factors associated with continued heroin use during methadone maintenance treatment in Guizhou province, China / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the proportion of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clients continuing to use heroin and to explore its associated risk factors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>All 1003 heroin addictive patients were recruited from eight MMT clinics in Guizhou province and followed up for 14 months. During the 14 months, each MMT client received random urine tests. MMT clinics, gender, marital status, employment, ethnicity, religion, previous drug using method, having a history being in detoxification program, age, methadone dosage, education level and length of drug use were treated as potential predicting variables into the GEE model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average age of the 1003 clients was (33.3 +/- 6.1) years old, the average length of drug use was (8.0 +/- 4.0) years, and the average daily methadone dosage was (38.0 +/- 16.6) mg. Among the 1003 clients, 26.0% were female drug users, 15.5% were divorced and 35.8% had a full time job. The rate of positive urine samples was approximately 30% for the first 10 months of follow-up, after which the positive rate decreased. The model found that different MMT clinics, the average daily methadone dosage (RR = 0.98, P = 0.003), treatment duration (RR = 0.95, P = 0.029) and years of education (RR = 0.94, P = 0.014) were associated with patients positive urine test.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Continued heroin use was common in MMT clinics in Guizhou province; increasing the dosage of methadone and the duration in the treatment program might decrease the continued use of heroin among clients in MMT clinics.</p>

Protective effects of vigabatrin and atropine against dimethoate induced-intoxication in mice / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effects of vigabatrin and atropine against the acute toxicity of dimethoate in male Kun-min mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The therapeutic schedules of vigabatrin (50 or 100 mg/kg) and (or) atropine (2.5 or 5.0 mg/kg) were performed according to the L(9) (3(4)) orthogonal test table. The survival time, the righting reflex and the onset of muscle fasciculations were observed after the administration of dimethoate.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>First, the main effects of vigabatrin, atropine and the interaction between them were statistically significant in the Univariate analysis of the survival time at the alpha level of 0.05 (F(V)= 4.73, P(V)= 0.015, F(A)= 50.88, P(A)= 0.000, F(VxA)= 4.17, P(VxA)= 0.007). The range of atropine was more than double of that of vigabatrin or their interaction (R(A)> 2RV or 2R(VxA)). So not only atropine and vigabatrin but also their combination interaction protected mice against dimethoate lethality. The atropine played the major role in diminishing the lethality induced by dimethoate. Second, only vigabatrin, while not atropine, delayed the mice from dimethoate-induced muscle fasciculation according its statistical results (F(V)= 6.87, P(V)= 0.003, F(A)= 0.03, P(A)= 0.968, F(VxA)= 1.134, P(VxA)= 0.356). It should be noted that vigabatrin could not completely prevent dimethoate induced-muscle fasciculation in the test. At last, both atropine and vigabatrin could maintain the righting reflex in the intoxication, however there was no interaction between them (F(V)= 5.81, P(V)= 0.006, F(A)= 9.05, P(A)= 0.001, F(VxA)= 1.34, P(VxA)= 0.257).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combined treatment with atropine and vigabatrin in the organophosphates intoxication seems reasonable and acceptable.</p>

Effects of 90-day oral dimethoate exposure on glutamatergic system and neurobehavioral performance in rats / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the spatial learning and exploration along with the CNS excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters profiles in adult rats subchronically exposed to the anticholinesterase organophosphorus insecticide dimethoate.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rats were gavaged daily with dimethoate (0, 5, 10 or 20 mg/kg via oral) in NS. for 90 days. Morris water maze tasks were used to test the spatial learning and memory in the rats after the dimethoate exposure. Simultaneously, rats were decapitated for the determination of brain cholinesterase AChE activities, glutamate concentrations, and the NMDA receptor NMDA-R densities and affinities in hippocampus.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Latencies to find a hidden escape platform were significantly longer in dimethoate dosed groups than that of the control group in the place navigation tests. Subsequently, the times of crossing the location of platform which had been removed obviously decreased in the highest dose group compared with that of the control in the spatial probe tests (P < 0.05). AChE activity was significantly reduced 42% approximately 78% by all three doses of dimethoate (P < 0.05). Glutamate concentrations were increased significantly 132.9% approximately 134.5% by the two highest doses of dimethoate (P < 0.05). In addition, the NMDA receptor bindings were reduced 21.2% approximately 23.2% with the statistical significance at the same two highest doses (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the receptor affinities was reduced 33.1% by the highest dose group (P < 0.05). The lesions of spatial memory were statistically corrected with the decrease of the NMDA-R affinities (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The cholinergic lesion as well as the excitatory amino acid system alteration might attribute to the inferior ability in spatial learning and memory in dimethoate subchronically exposed rats.</p>

Carboxylic esterase and its associations with long-term effects of organophosphorus pesticides / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine a) the effect of organophosphorus pesticide exposure on activity of carboxylic esterases, namely butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), carboxylesterase (CarbE) and paraoxonase (PonE); and b) the association of polymorphisms of BChE and PonE with individual genetic susceptibility to organophosphorus pesticide exposure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A cross-sectional study was conducted in 75 workers exposed to organophosphorus pesticides and 100 non-exposed controls. The serum activity of these enzymes was measured. Variant forms of BCHE-K, PON-192, and PON-55 were detected. A symptom score was developed as a proxy measure of clinical outcomes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Activities of both BChE and CarbE were lower in exposed workers (27.3+/-21.65 nmolxh(-1)xmL(-1) and 235.6+/-104.03 nmolxmin(-1)xmL(-1)) than in non-exposed workers (78.313+/-30.354 nmolxh(-1)xmL(-1) and 362.681+/-194.997 nmolxmin(-1)xmL(-1)). The activity of PonE was not associated with exposure status. The AChE activity in the exposed workers with BCHE-K genotype UU (61 cases), genotype UK (12 cases) and genotype KK (2 cases) was 105.05, 84.42 and 79.00 mmolxh(-1)xmL(-1), respectively and the accumulative symptom scores were 3.74, 9.17, and 12.50 accordingly. The AChE activity in the exposed workers with PON-192 genotypeBB (37), genotype AB (27) and genotype AA (11) was 116.8, 91.2, and 72.3 mmolxh(-1)xmL(-1), respectively and the symptom scores were 2.00, 6.74, and 9.73 accordingly. The AChE activity in those with PON-55 genotype LL (70) and genotype LM (5) was 102.4 and 82.8 mmolxh(-1)xmL(-1) and the symptom scores were 4.53 and 9.20. The symptom score was the highest in individuals with abnormal homozygote for each of the three gene loci.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Long-term exposure to organophosphorus pesticides can inhibit BChE and CarbE activity, but exerts no inhibitory effect on PonE activity. Different genotypes of BCHE-K, PON-192, and PON-55 may be related to the severity of adverse health effects of organophosphorus pesticide exposure. Implications of potentially higher susceptibility of workers with mutant homozygotes should be evaluated to reduce health risks.</p>

Therapeutic effects of curcumin treatment on hepatic fibrosis / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of curcumin treatment on hepatic fibrosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A model of hepatic fibrosis was established using carbon tetrachloride intraperitoneal injections in rats. Curcumin was administered to one group of the model rats (curcumin group) and the other rats were used as controls (control group). Serum levels of ALT, AST, HA, LN, PCIII, and NO were measured, and Hyp, MDA, and SOD in liver tissues were measured. Liver tissue slides were stained with HE and Masson staining to study the pathological changes in the livers. Grades of hepatic fibrosis were evaluated according to a semiquantitative scoring system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the curcumin group, serum levels of ALT, AST, NO, HA, LN, PCIII, MDA, and Hyp, were (218.50+/-48.89) U/L, (376.60+/-79.13) U/L, (47.96+/-6.53) micromol/L, (289.96+/-60.43) mg/L, (107.35+/-27.24) mg/L, (148.95+/-28.63) microg/L, (236.10+/-30.54) nmol/g, (478.40+/-75.74) microg/g and all were lower than those of the control group (693.75+/-117.57) U/L, (892.50+/-105.69) U/L, (70.95+/-10.23) micromol/L, (468.22+/-93.45) mg/L, (346.44+/-75.08) mg/L, (279.82+/-54.00) microg/L, (402.25+/-39.16) nmol/g, and (752.50+/-77.62) microg/g. The differences were significant. In the curcumin group, the level of SOD (90.39+/-21.23) in the liver tissues was significantly higher than that of the control group (46.52+/-20.01). The hepatic fibrosis scores in the curcumin group were significantly lower than those of the control group. These effects were dose-dependent.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Curcumin reduces rat hepatic fibrosis. Anti-peroxidation and regulation of collagen metabolism in liver tissues may be involved in the therapeutic effectiveness of curcumin on hepatic fibrosis.</p>

Clinical study of 231 cases of radical excision with sphincter preservation by casing anastomosis in low rectal cancer / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical efficacy, feasibility and safety of sphincter-preserving procedure by casing anastomosis of colon and rectal mucosa in low rectal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective analysis was carried out in 231 cases of low rectal cancer performed casing anastomosis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One hundred and ninety-seven (197/231, 85.3%) cases were followed up, the median time of the follow up was 5.9 years (range, 2 months-14 years). Eight (3.4%) cases of stoma leak and 3 (1.2%) cases of stoma stenosis were found post operation. Defecating function recovered normally (1 - 3 times per day) in 12 - 24 weeks after operation in all patients. Local recurrence was found in 5.1% (10/197) of the cases. Hepatic and lung metastasis was found in 15.2% (30/197) and 2.5% (5/197) of the patients, respectively. The five-year survival rate was 71.6% totally.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The casing anastomosis procedure with sphincter preservation is safe and efficacy for low rectal cancer. With the procedure, the anal function can be preserved well, stoma leak is decreased, and the five-year survival rate is the same as Miles operation.</p>

Clinical analysis of therapeutic effects of sphincter-preserving operation and Miles operation for rectal cancer / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate and compare therapeutic effects of sphincter-preserving operation and Miles operation for rectal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective analysis was carried out in 572 cases of rectal cancer operations performed from January 1980 to December 2006.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sphincter-preserving operation was carried out in 403 cases and Miles procedure in 169 cases. The follow-up rate was 76.2% (436/572) with a period of 0.5 - 25.0 years (median, 9.5 years). Local recurrence occurred in 6.3% (20/317) of sphincter-preserving operation and 7.6% (9/119) of Miles operation, the differences was not significant (chi2 = 1.3942, P > 0.05). Distal metastasis was found in 50 cases (15.7%) of sphincter-preserving operation and 19 cases (16.2%) of the Miles operation with no significant difference (chi2 = 0.6672, P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in five-year survival rate between the two groups, with 67.8% in sphincter-preserving operation and 67.2% in Miles operation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Sphincter-preserving operations can improve the quality of life in rectal cancer although with the same five-year survival rate and recurrence rate as Miles operation. The operation for rectal cancer should be performed individually according to the location, the bionomics and the clinical stage.</p>

Effect of dimethoate on serum monoamines neurotransmitters in rats / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of dimethoate on the monoamine Neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA) and its metabolite (3, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, DOPAC) in the serum of rats and furthermore to explore the non-cholinergic mechanism of organophosphate induced toxicity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Groups of rats were treated with saline and 38.9, 83.7 and 180 mg/kg dimethoate respectively and were decapitated at the different time course from 0.5 to 24 hours after the administration. The monoamines neurotransmitters were determined by the reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with the electrochemical detection.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The serum concentrations of DA (8.42% - 248.42% of the control), DOPAC (17.22% - 68.21% of the control) increased, according with the DM dosage and the exposure time, while the levels of NE (9.65% - 38.26% of the control) and E (11.00% - 32.62% of the control) contents decreased at the same time.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These findings indicate that dimethoate induced toxic effects can alter the monoamine levels at the different dosage and the time exposure in the serum of rats. It suggests that some non-cholinergic mechanisms may be involved in the dimethoate intoxication.</p>

Effect of dimethoate on the expression of heat shock protein 70 in peripheral blood lymphocytes of human beings / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of dimethoate on the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in peripheral blood lymphocytes of human beings and to explore the feasibility of HSP70 in biomonitoring among workers exposed to organophosphorous pesticides.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated from subjects, comprising 11 people of the control group and 35 workers of the exposure group exposed to dimethoate. Flow cytometry was used for detecting both the basic level and the level of the dimethoate-induced expression of HSP70. The activity of whole blood acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was examined at the same time. Then the potential influential factors to HSP70 expression and AChE activity were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The basic level of HSP70 expression in the exposure group and the control group was 41.24% +/- 10.45% and 23.97% +/- 4.29% respectively. The activity of AChE in these two groups were (125.23 +/- 7.97) and (145.36 +/- 8.78) U/ml respectively. Both differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01). Among the exposure group, the basic level of HSP70 expression of the two categories comprising operators and packers, were 47.34% +/- 11.87% and 38.05% +/- 8.20% respectively (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in AChE activity between these two categories. The factors that had significant influence on the HSP70 basic level of the exposure group were the health condition, the environmental concentration of dimethoate and the exposure time in order, according to their significance of influence. At least 88% variance of HSP70 could be explained by these factors. The only factor that could influence AChE activity significantly was the exposure time, and it could only explain about 12% variance of AChE activity. After the treatment of dimethoate in vitro, the level of the induced expression of HSP70 in the control group was significantly higher than that of the exposure group (P < 0.01). The increasing order was the control group, the group of packers and the group of operators according to the increasing extent and there were significant difference among them (P < 0.01). The factors that could significantly influence the change ratio of HSP70 expression were the environmental concentration and the exposure time.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HSP70 is a potential index that can reflect the individual and environmental conditions of workers exposed to dimethoate comprehensively.</p>

Activity of esterases and effect of genetic polymorphism in workers exposed to organophosphorus pesticides / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the activity of esterases, including butyrylcholinesterase (BchE), carboxylesterase (CarbE), paraoxonase (PonE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and to explore the effect of genetic polymorphism on the activity of esterase for workers exposed to organophosphorus pesticides (OPs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and forty-one long term OPs directly exposed workers and 151 indirectly exposed workers in the same factory were taken as study group. One hundred and sixty unexposed persons were taken as control group. The activity of serum enzymes was measured and the polymorphic distribution was detected using 7900 genotype detecting system and CMOS Chip technique. The effect of long-term exposure to organophosphorus pesticides was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The activities of BchE, CarbE and PonE were independent on the gender or age in control group. Average values of Carb and BchE activities of directly and indirectly exposed workers were lower than those in control group respectively. PonE activity in directly exposed group was lower than that in control group. AChE activity in directly exposed group was lower than that in indirectly exposed group. All the differences were significant (P < 0.01). In the direct exposure group, the frequency of three variants of butyrylcholinesterase gene K (BCHE-K) polymorphism was 74.3%, 24.1% and 1.6% for UU, UK and KK respectively. Frequency of allele U and K was 0.863 and 0.137 respectively in the same group. Frequency of three variants of PON192 polymorphism was 15.0%, 45.5% and 39.5% for AA, AB and BB respectively in direct exposure group. Gene frequency of low activity (PON*A) and high activity (PON*B) was 0.378 and 0.622 respectively. Frequency of three variants of PON55 polymorphism was 96.2%, 3.8% and 0% for MM, LM and LL respectively in direct exposure group. Frequency of allele M and L was 0.981 and 0.019 respectively in the same group. The activity of PON was different in various genotypes of PON192 and PON55.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The long-term exposure to OPs could inhibit the activities of CarbE, BchE, PonE and ACh E in different level. The genetic polymorphisms of PON192 and PON55 affect the activity of PonE, which is related to the detoxification of OPs and health impact.</p>

Early change of pulmonary ventilation in new coal miners / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the early effects of coal dust on lung function in new underground coal miners.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and eighty-seven male miners were selected from new employees at the Xuzhou Mining Group Company as study group, and 132 male students at a mining technical school were selected as control. Data collection included: individual demographic parameters, family medical history, occupational history, and smoking history, measurement of dust concentrations in work areas, and lung function tests. This prospective cohort study took place over 3 years during which time total dust and respirable dust concentrations in the new coal miners' work areas were measured twice each month. For both miner and student groups, FVC and FEV(1) were tested initially before dust exposure, and then 15 times over the 3 years.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average total dust and respirable dust concentrations in the miners' work areas were 23.8 mg/m(3) and 8.9 mg/m(3) respectively, which greatly exceeded national health criteria. During the first year of dust exposure, the miners's average FVC was higher than that of the controls (5.19 L vs 4.92 L, P < 0.01). During the 2nd and 3rd year the difference in average FVC between miners and control group was not significant (5.14 L vs 5.12 L, P > 0.05). Before dust exposure, the miners' FEV(1) was significantly higher than that of the control group (4.48 L vs 4.28 L). In the miners group, FEV(1) declined rapidly during the first year following dust exposure (from 4.48 L to 4.25 L), and in the 2nd and the 3rd year the average FEV(1) of the miners was significantly lower than that of controls (4.34 L vs 4.56 L, P < 0.01), although there were some fluctuations during the follow-up period. Overall, the average FEV(1) of miners group showed a significant decline during the study. There were significant correlations between FVC or FEV(1) and age, height, weight, and smoking. The three-year total loss of FVC and FEV(1) in smoking miners (154 ml, 184 ml) were greater than in non-smoking miners (83 ml, 91 ml).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There are apparent effects of coal dust on lung function in new underground coal miners, with FEV(1) being more impacted than FVC. Smoking may aggravate the effect of dust exposure on reducing lung function.</p>