Association of the levels of heavy metals and trace elements during pregnancy with congenital heart defects in offspring: a prospective cohort study / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To study the association of the levels of heavy metals and trace elements during pregnancy with congenital heart defects (CHD) in offspring, and to establish a model for predicting the probability of CHD based on the levels of heavy metals and trace elements during pregnancy.@*METHODS@#Based on the prospective birth cohort study in Gansu Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital in 2010-2012, a nested case-control study was conducted for the follow-up observation of 14 359 pregnant women. Among the pregnant women, 97 pregnant women whose offspring were diagnosed with CHD during follow-up were enrolled as the CHD group, and 194 pregnant women whose offspring had no CHD were selected as the control group. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to measure the levels of heavy metals and trace elements in maternal blood samples and fetal umbilical cord blood samples. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between heavy metal and trace elements and CHD in offspring. A nomogram model for predicting the probability of CHD in offspring was established based on the levels of heavy metals and trace elements during pregnancy.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the control group, the CHD group had significantly higher levels of aluminum (Al), natrium (Na), calcium (Ca), titanium (Ti), selenium (Se), strontium (Sr), stannum (Sn), stibium (Sb), barium (Ba), and thorium (Th) in maternal blood samples (P<0.05), as well as significantly higher levels of Al, zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), kalium (K), Ca, Ti, chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), Se, Sr, argentum (Ag), cadmium (Cd), Sn, and plumbum (Pb) in umbilical cord blood (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the increase in the Sb level in maternal blood was associated with the increase in the risk of CHD in offspring [adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=4.81, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.65-14.07, P=0.004], while in umbilical cord blood, the high levels of Al (aOR=4.22, 95%CI: 1.35-13.16, P=0.013), Mg (aOR=8.00, 95%CI: 1.52-42.08, P=0.014), and Pb (aOR=3.82, 95%CI: 0.96-15.23, P=0.049) were significantly associated with the risk of CHD in offspring. The levels of Al, Th, and Sb in maternal blood and levels of Al, Mg, and Pb in umbilical cord blood were included in the predictive model for CHD in offspring based on the levels of heavy metals and trace elements during pregnancy, and the calibration curve of the nomogram predictive model was close to the ideal curve.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Increases in the levels of Al, Th, Sb, Mg, and Pb during pregnancy may indicate the increase in the risk of CHD in offspring, and the nomogram predictive model based on these indices can be used to predict the probability of CHD in offspring.

Limb characteristics of Yangshao residents in Wanggou site in Zhengzhou / 解剖学报

Objective To research the physical development of ancient inhabitants in the Neolithic Age. Methods Referring to Anthropometric Method , the main projects including humerus, tibia and femur of 108 human bone specimens unearthed from Wanggou site have been measured respectively. The limb bone index, sexual dimorphism and height have been compared and analyzed by Excel software. Results The overall development level of humerus and femur was higher than that of the control group in the same period and weaker than that of the Inner Mongolian group. The development of the middle femur was weaker than that of the control groups, with less muscle attachment. The difference in the brawniness of humerus between the genders was statistically significant (i = 0. 811, P>0. 05) , while the difference in the brawniness of femur was just the opposite (t = 0. 63, P>0. 05 ). The maximum variation range of the male femur was 40. 6 to 49. 4 cm, which was at a moderate low level in the control group. The average height of male was 166. 22 cm, ranging from 164. 47-167.68 cm. The average height of female was 158.06 cm, ranging from 154.02-160.34 cm; There was a significant difference in height between the genders (i = 4. 96, P<0. 01).The height of male is close to the south China group, lower than the comparison group in the same region and the north region, and that of female is at a higher level in the south region. The sexual dimorphism index of Wanggou formation was 5. 7 %. Conclusion The humerus, tibia and femur of the male in Wanggou group are stronger than that of the female, while the upper limbs of the male were stronger than that of the female, and there was no significant difference in the strength of the lower limbs. We suggest that there is no significant difference in nutrition between male and female of Wanggou site during their growth.

Expression of pituitary tumor transforming gene and C-myc gene in patients with multiple myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

The study was purposed to explore the expressions of pituitary tumor transforming gene and c-myc gene in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and its relationship with pathogenesis of MM. Expressions of pituitary tumor transforming gene and c-myc gene mRNA in BMMNC from 33 patients with MM and 10 normal controls were detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results showed that the expressions of pituitary tumor transforming gene and c-myc gene mRNA were significantly higher in MM patients those that in normal controls (p<0.05). The expression of pituitary tumor transforming gene mRNA was significantly correlated with the expression of c-myc gene (r=0.801, p<0.05). In conclusion, the overexpressions of pituitary tumor transforming gene and c-myc gene may be related to the pathogenesis and progression of MM.

Chemical constituents from the tuber of Cremastra appendiculata / 药学学报

To study the chemical constituents of "Shan-Ci-Gu" (the tuber of Cremastra appendiculata (D. Don) Makino), the compounds were isolated with silica gel and reverse phase silica gel as well as Sephadex column chromatographic method. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of modern spectra technology. Seven compounds were isolated and identified as 5-methoxybibenzyl-3, 3'-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), militarine (2), loroglossin (3), protocatechuic acid (4), succinic acid (5), gastrodin (6), and daucosterol (7). Compound 1 is a new compound. Compounds 2 -6 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Studies on flavones in of Lavandula augustifolia / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study on the chemical constituents of Lavandula augustifolia.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The compounds were extracted with 95% ethyl alcohol, isolated by various column chromatography and identified by spectroscopic methods.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Seven flavanoids were isolated and identified as apigenin (1), ladanein (2), apigenin-7-O-beta-D-(6'-p-hydoxy-cinnamoyloxy) -mannoside (3), luteolin (4), apigenin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (5), luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (6), 5, 4'-dihydroxy flavonoid-7-O-beta-D-pyranglycuronate buthyl ester (7).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All of these seven compounds were obtained from this plant for the first time.</p>

Preliminary study of multivariable model in predicting response to immunosuppressive therapy in patients with aplastic anemia / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the potential usefulness of a multivariable model in predicting the response to immunosuppressive therapy (IST) in patients with aplastic anemia (AA), and its application to the clinical practice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PB T cells subpopulation and BM T cells intracellular IFN-gamma and IL-4 were serially analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM) before and during treatment. HLA-DRB1 * 1501 phenotype was analyzed by PCR-SSP. The predictive potentials of different parameter combinations for clinical responsiveness were statistically assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In all evaluated parameters, CD8+ cell intracellular IFN-gamma had the relatively best diagnostic value with sensitivity and specificity of 94.3% and 62.5%, and positive and negative predictive value of 84.6% and 83.3% respectively. Positive CD8+ cell intracellular IFN-gamma plus Tc1/Tc2 < 50 could increase the positive predictive value to 92.3%. A multivariable model consisting of absolute neutrophil count (ANC), BM T cell intracellular IFN-gamma, Tc1/Tc2 ratio and HLA-DRB * 1501 phenotype of the patients was finally established.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The multivariable model is superior to each of the single parameters in terms of predictive power of IST therapeutic outcome, and its higher accuracy and the clinical application make it potentially useful in practice.</p>

Study on drug release in vitro and rat intestinal absorption of resveratrol nanoliposomes / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the release feature of Res-nanoliposomes in vitro and clarify the difference in absorption of Res-nanoliposomes from varied intestinal segments and the absorptive mechanism in vivo.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Dialytic method was used to determine resveratrol release rate of Res-nanoliposomes in vitro. An in situ rat perfusion method was used to investigate the intestinal absorption of Res-nanoliposomes.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Resveratrol release from nanoliposomes in vitro fitted the log-normal distribution equation and had a property of sustained release. Compared with other intestinal segments, significantly high percentage of Res-nanoliposomes was absorbed in ileum (P < 0.001). The absorption rate constants (ka) of Res-nanoliposomes in intestine were not significantly different.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Res-nanoliposomes could sustain to release drug in vitro. The absorption was a first-order process with the passive diffusion mechanism. The Res-nanoliposomes could promote the absorption of Res in rat small intestine.</p>

Protective effect of epimedium flavonoids injection on experimental myocardial infarction rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effect of epimedium flavonoids Injection (EFI) on experimental acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, the acute myocardial infarction model was established by ligating left anterior descending branch of coronary artery (LAD). After operation, the rats in the sham-operation and model group were intravenous injected with 5% glucose injection, those in the positive medicine group were intravenous injected with nitroglycerin 0.3mg/kg, while rats in the low-, middle- and large-dose EFI group were intravenous injected with TFE in a dose of 10, 20, 40 mg/kg respectively. ECG was monitored before and after coronary artery ligation, and after treatment at different time points. At the same time, the millivolt of ST and ST-T segment were measured. The changes of serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were determined, and the myocardial infarcted area was detected by MTT respectively 3 h after LAD. Results After intravenous injection of EFI in a dose of 10, 20, 40 mg/kg, the myocardial infarcted area of AMI rats could be decreased in different degree, the activity of serum CPK, LDH and the content of MDA decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while the activity of serum SOD increased significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). It could began to lower the elevated ST-T segment 5 min after medication and the action could last for 3 h (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EFI has a protective effect against acute myocardial ischemia caused by LAD, and the effect is quickly initiated.</p>

Studies on the flavonoids in herb from Scutellaria barbata / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study flavonoids in Scutellaria barbata and elucidate their structures.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Compounds were isolated and purified by normal column chromatography, paper thin layer chromatography and Sephadex chromatography. The chemical structures were elucidated by ESI mass and NMR spectra.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Five flavonoids were isolated from S. barbata and identified as apigenin (1), luteolin (2), ethyl-7-O-apigenin-glucuronate (3), apigenin-7-O-beta-glucoside (4), and apigenin-7-O-neohesperidoside (5), in addition to benzyaldehyde (6).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Flavonoidglycoside (3), (4) and (5) were isolated from S. barbata for the first time.</p>