Inhibitory effect of baicalein on mice tremor induced by oxotremorine and mechanisms / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE To investigate the anti- tremor effect and mechanism of baicalein on oxotremorine- induced muscle tremor in mice. METHODS The acute model of muscular tremor was induced by intraperitoneal injection of oxotremorine, and the latency, duration and frequency of muscle tremor in mice were measured immediately; the saliva of mice was measured to reflect the correlation between tremor and peripheral nerve function; the aim of this study was to determine the content of MDA and the activity of GSH-PX, and to investigate the anti-oxidation of mice with tremor model. The activity of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and acetylcholine transferase (ChAT) can indirectly reflect the level of acetylcholine in the brain. The level of monoamine neurotransmitters in brain tissue was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-ECD). RESULTS The animals in the model group appeared obvious tremoring, salivating and erecting and other symptoms. Compared to the model group, there was no obvious inhibitory effect on the administration of each dose. After 7, 14, 21 and 28 d of continuous administration, the latency, duration and tremor frequency of tremor mice were significantly shortened, the levels of acetylcholine were significantly decreased, the changes of DOPAC and DA neurotransmitters in the brain of model group were recovered, regulate the dynamic balance of acetylcholine and dopamine in the brain. CONCLUSION Long- term administration can improve the tremor behavior of mice, the mechanismmay be related to the regulation of neurotransmittersin brain.

Knowledge and perception of sexual health education and condom use among STI patients in India.

Aims: To explore the knowledge of STI, HIV/AIDS and condom use behaviour among men and women who have been medically treated and not treated for STIs in relation to socio-demographic factors. Furthermore, the study will explore the perceptions of adolescent sexual health education at school in the aforementioned group. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in all Indian member states during 2005-2006. Methodology: Using nationally representative samples, a cross sectional study of 8924 women and 1644 men (2948 women & 745 men received medical treatment for STIs) were used to examine their knowledge, condom use behaviour and perception of adolescent sexual health education at school. Chi-square analysis was performed. Results: Gher proportions of respondents who were urban residents, higher educated and more affluent received medical treatment for STIs compared to their rural, less educated and poorer peers. More women (43%) who reported condom use during their last sexual intercourse received treatment vs. the group not using condoms (32%). Proportionally, more women and men who had heard about STIs and HIV/AIDS answered in favor of girl’s and boy’s sexual health education, condom use and HIV/AIDS education compared to their peers who did not hear about STIs and HIV/AIDS. Even after receiving treatment respondents reported not having enough information about STIs, or HIV/AIDS. STI patients suggested that sexuality education should be added to school curriculum for a better understanding of the diseases in the general population. Conclusion: Indian policy makers should place emphasis on providing necessary preventive information about STIs through different channels such as treatment centers, school curriculums and awareness campaigns.

Characterization of microbial community structure in a hybrid biofilm-activated sludge reactor for simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal.

The microbial communities in a hybrid biofilm-activated sludge reactor (HY) for nitrogen and phosphorus removal were characterized by 16S rRNA-based clone libraries and phylogenetic analysis. The hybrid reactor removed over 90% of COD, 92% of total nitrogen (TN) and 95% of total phosphorus (TP) from the municipal wastewater, respectively. The mean removal rates of COD, TN, and TP in the conventional suspended activated sludge reactor were above 80%, 80% and 94%, respectively. Community structures were determined by phylogenetic analyses of six clone libraries (each nearly 100 clones). The dominant bacterial group with which clones were affiliated to the b subclass of the Proteobacteria (31%~77%), following the Bacteroidetes group (10%~34%). In addition, several clone groups affiliated with unknown bacterial assemblages were identified in the clone libraries. Acinetobacter sp., which was thought to had played an important role in phosphate removal systems, was scarcely represented by clone sequences in both libraries. Differences in community structure were observed between the hybrid reactor and activated sludge reactors. Such differences may account for the differing wastewater treating capabilities of the two different systems.

Characterization of Orientia tsutsugamushi strains isolated in Shandong Province, China by immunofluorescence and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses.

In order to identify the characteristics of the Sta56 gene of the 23 isolates of Orientia (O.) tsutsugamushi isolated in Shandong Province, indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was used to identify the gene type of 23 strains O. tsutsugamushi isolated from scrub typhus patients, chigger mites, and rodents. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was also used to analyze the restriction profiles of the Sta56 gene PCR amplification products of the 23 isolated strains of the O. tsutsugamushi; the results were compared with those acquired by nested PCR. By IFA, 21 of the 23 isolates belonged to the Gilliam type, and 2 to the Karp type. Using RFLP analysis, 21 strains had similar restriction profiles to the Japan Kawasaki strain, but they had no restriction site Hha I, and thus had some difference in gene sequence compared with the Japan Kawasaki strain. The other 2 strains had similar restriction profiles to Karp. These results were identical to that acquired by nested-PCR. In Shandong Province, the gene types of epidemic O. tsutsugamushi strains were similar to the Japan Kawasaki type, but had some differences in gene sequence. In addition, Karp also existed.