A case of occupational allyl alcohol inhalation poisoning / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Allyl alcohol is an intermediate widely used in industrial production activities, which has caused many occupational damage in China. In this paper, the data of a case of skin damage and clinical cure of inhalation pneumonia caused by occupational allyl alcohol exposure were analyzed and summarized. The patient accidentally inhaled large amounts of allyl alcohol at work and had skin exposure, which was mainly manifested as aspiration pneumonia, respiratory failure, eye damage and skin bullae. After short-term hormone shock therapy, mechanical ventilation, infection prevention, local treatment and other comprehensive treatment, the patient was clinically cured. This case suggests that chemical pneumonia and respiratory failure may be caused by inhalation of allyl alcohol, and skin bullae may be caused by skin contact. Early treatment and hormone use should be emphasized.

Phytochemical progress made in investigations of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels / 中国天然药物

The phytochemical progress on Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels over the past decades is summarized. Since 1970s, 165 chemical constituents, including phthalides, phenylpropanoids, terpenoids and essential oils, aromatic compounds, alkaloids, alkynes, sterols, fatty acids, and polysaccharides have been isolated or detected from the various parts of the title plant.

Phenylpropanoid enzymes, phenolic polymers and metabolites as chemical defenses to infection of Pratylenchus coffeae in roots of resistant and susceptible bananas (Musa spp.).

Activity differences of the first (phenylalanine ammonia lyase, PAL) and the last (cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, CAD) enzymes of phenylpropanoid pathway in the roots of resistant (Yangambi Km5 and Anaikomban) and susceptible (Nendran and Robusta) banana cultivars caused by root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus coffeae, were investigated. Also, the accumulation of phenolics and deposition of lignin polymers in cell walls in relation to resistance of the banana cultivars to the nematode were analyzed. Compared to the susceptible cultivars, the resistant cultivars had constitutively significantly higher PAL activity and total soluble and cell wall-bound phenolics than in susceptible cultivars. The resistant cultivars responded strongly to the infection of the nematode by induction of several-time higher PAL and CAD enzymes activities, soluble and wall-bound phenolics and enrichment of lignin polymers in cell wall and these biochemical parameters reached maximum at 7th day postinoculation. In addition, profiles of phenolic acid metabolites in roots of Yangambi Km5 and Nendran were analyzed by HPLC to ascertain the underlying biochemical mechanism of bananas resistance to the nematode. Identification and quantification of soluble and cell wall-bound phenolic acids showed six metabolites and only quantitative, no qualitative, differences occurred between the resistant and susceptible cvs. and between constitutive and induced contents. A very prominent increase of p-coumaric, ferulic and sinapic acids, which are precursors of monolignols of lignin, in resistant cv. was found. These constitutive and induced biochemical alterations are definitely the chemical defenses of resistant cvs. to the nematode infection.

Cinnamyl alcohol attenuates vasoconstriction by activation of K+ channels via NO-cGMP-protein kinase G pathway and inhibition of Rho-kinase

Cinnamyl alcohol (CAL) is known as an antipyretic, and a recent study showed its vasodilatory activity without explaining the mechanism. Here we demonstrate the vasodilatory effect and the mechanism of action of CAL in rat thoracic aorta. The change of tension in aortic strips treated with CAL was measured in an organ bath system. In addition, vascular strips or human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used for biochemical experiments such as Western blot and nitrite and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) measurements. CAL attenuated the vasoconstriction of phenylephrine (PE, 1 microM)-precontracted aortic strips in an endothelium-dependent manner. CAL-induced vasorelaxation was inhibited by pretreatment with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 10(-4) M), methylene blue (MB; 10(-5) M) and 1 H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazolole-[4,3-a] quinoxalin-10one, (ODQ; 10(-6) or 10(-7) M) in the endothelium-intact aortic strips. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP; 10(-8) or 10(-9) M) did not affect the vasodilatory effect of CAL. The phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and generation of nitric oxide (NO) were stimulated by CAL treatment in HUVECs and inhibited by treatment with L-NAME. In addition, cGMP and PKG1 activation in aortic strips treated with CAL were also significantly inhibited by L-NAME. Furthermore, CAL relaxed Rho-kinase activator calpeptin-precontracted aortic strips, and the vasodilatory effect of CAL was inhibited by the ATP-sensitive K+ channel inhibitor glibenclamide (Gli; 10(-5) M) and the voltage-dependent K+ channel inhibitor 4-aminopyridine (4-AP; 2 x 10(-4) M). These results suggest that CAL induces vasorelaxation by activating K+ channels via the NO-cGMP-PKG pathway and the inhibition of Rho-kinase.

UPLC simultaneous determination of five active components in Cinnamomi Ramulus / 中国中药杂志

A rapid UPLC method for simultaneous determination of protocatechuic acid, coumarin, cinnamic alcohol, cinnamic acid and cinnamaldehyde in Cinnamomi Ramulus was established. The optimal conditions of separation and detection were achieved on an HSS T3 Column (2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.8 microm) eluted with a gradient of acetonitrile and 0.05% aqueous phosphoric acid, at a flow rate of 0.5 mL x min(-1), detected at 254 nm. The linear response ranges of protocatechuic acid, coumarin, cinnamic alcohol, cinnamic acid and cinnamaldehyde were 0.359-3.59 mg x L(-1) (r = 0. 999 3), 2. 834-28.34 mg x L(-1) (r = 0.999 8), 0.574-5.74 mg x L(-1) (r = 0.999 8), 2.400-24.00 mg x L(-1) (r = 0.999 9), 32.57-325.7 mg x L(-1) (r = 0.999 8), respectively (n = 6). The mean recoveries (n = 9) of the five components were 96.7%-101.0%, RSD < 2.3%. The assay demonstrates that the method has adequate accuracy and selectivity to measure the concentration of protocatechuic acid, coumarin, cinnamic alcohol, cinnamic acid and cinnamaldehyde in Cinnamomi Ramulus.

Density and speed of sound of sodium nitroprusside with aqueous alcohols

Studies on apparent molar volumes for the solutions of sodium nitroprusside in aqueous solutions of methanol, ethanol and propanol in the temperature range 298.15 to 313K at 5K intervals have been determined from the density measurements of the solutions. Speed of sound of solutions of sodium nitroprusside in aqueous solutions of alcohols has also been experimentally determined at 304.15K. Molar insentropic compressibilities and apparent molar isentropic compressibilities have been calculated from the speed of sound data. These results have been used to calculate the following partial molar quantities: V[phi], E[0][phi], K[0][s][phi] Various acoustic parameters and salvation number have been evaluated for sodium nitroprusside in different aqueous solutions of alcohols. The results are discussed in the light of solute-solvent and solute-solute interactions

Acute liver injury after sevoflurane anesthesia: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Halothane, isoflurane and desflurane are metabolized to hepatotoxic trifluoroacetyl proteins. But sevoflurane is metabolized to hexafluoroisopropanol. Hexafluoroisopropanol has a low binding affinity for liver protein and is therefore rapidly converted to glucuronidate that are excreted in the urine. Thus sevoflurane has been considered to have a very low potential for hepatotoxicity. We report a case of a 67 years old woman who developed acute hepatic dysfunction after sevoflurane anesthesia.

Optimization of enzymatic resolution technique of glycidyl butyrate via response surface methodology / 生物工程学报

Our previous work has indicated that enzymatic resolution of glycidyl butyrate are strongly affected by many factors, including concentration of substrate, amount of lipase, the temperature, pH, shaking speed and reaction time. In this study, Plackett-Burman design was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the six factors. By regression analysis, concentration of substrate, amount of lipase and the temperature were found to be important for enzymatic resolution of glycidyl butyrate. In the second phase of the optimization process, a response surfacemethodology (RSM) was used to optimize the above critical factors, and to find out the optimal concentration levels and the relationships between these factors. By solving the quadratic regression model equation using appropriate statistic methods, the optimal parameter of the variables were determined as: 0.499 mol/L glycidyl butyrate, 30.23 mg/g lipase and 29.68 degrees C. In the optimum condition, the value of enantiomeric excess(ee%) was 93.28%. Compared to 84.65% which was the maximum ee% under the non-optimized condition, this study has a significant advancement. The experimental data under various conditions have validated the theoretical values.

Design and in vitro evaluation of self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems for piroxicam / 药学学报

Self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) were developed to overcome the problems of delivery and administration of piroxicam, a drug with low bioavailability and gastrointestinal irritation, The in vitro properties of it were assessed. The solubility of piroxicam in several oils and surfactants was determined, and the compatibility of various oils and surfactants was investigated. Ternary phase diagrams were constructed to optimal area of microemulsion, and the influence of different oily phases, surfactants and co-surfactants was studied. The droplet size and dissolution of optimal formulation were determined to prove that the dosage form is a useful delivery system for piroxicam. In the optimized piroxicam SMEDDS, cinnamic alcohol was selected that gave the maximal solubility to piroxicam. Labrafil M 1944CS, Cremophor EL and Transcotol P were used as oils, surfactant and co-surfactant, respectively. Droplet size and distribution of three piroxicam SMEDDS formulations were (32.2 +/- 5.0), (40.1 +/- 6.4), (81.9 +/- 12.2) nm individually. And the releasing of piroxicam was rapid and complete. The optimized SMEDDS for piroxicam was obtained.

Structure-activity relationship of phenylallyl compounds inhibiting PGE2 release in mouse cerebral microvascular endothelial cells induced by IL-1beta / 药学学报

To observe the effects of phenylallyl compounds on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release in mouse cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (bEnd. 3) stimulated by IL-1beta, and to analyze their structure-activity relationship. Different concentrations of phenylallyl compounds were added separately, and the content of PGE2 induced by IL-1beta in the culture media was measured by ELISA assay. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of PGE2 was calculated. Studies showed that phenylallyl compounds could affect the PGE2 release differently in bEnd. 3 cells induced by IL-1beta. Close relationships were shown between the inhibitory activities and the location and number of the substituent groups. In conclusion, phenylallyl compounds exhibited inhibitory activities at different extent on PGE2 release in bEnd. 3 cells stimulated by IL-1beta and presented certain structure-activity relationship.

Differentiation of bone marrow derived Thy-1+ beta2M- cells into liver cells in AA induced liver injury micro-environment / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the differentiation of bone marrow derived Thy-1+ beta2M- cells (BDTCs) into liver cells in allyl alcohol (AA) induced liver injury micro-environment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>BDTCs of male F344 rats were isolated by two-step magnetic separation system (MACS) technique, and infused intraportally into female recipients after labeling with PKH26. Thirty recipients were divided randomly into 3 groups: (1) AA-injured liver + BDTCs infusion, (2) normal liver + BDTCs infusion and (3) AA-injured liver + NS infusion (control). Blood biochemical examination, fluorescence labeled cellular localization, Y-chromosome sry gene in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were carried out to evaluate BDTCs distribution, differentiation and proliferation in recipients's livers after different intervals.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fluoromicroscopy and in situ hybridization suggested that BDTCs of donors were interspersed in pieces and cords among the necro-periportals induced by AA; immunohistochemistry indicated that those implanted cells expressed OV-6, AFP, CK19 and albumin successively, while positive cells were hardly seen in the normal liver + BDTCs infusion group. Compared with the controls, the blood biochemical restitution was more rapid in group (1), (9.8 d +/- 3.1 d vs. 13.7 d +/- 4.2 d).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The injury micro-environment induced by AA facilitates BDTCs integration with hepatic cell plates and differentiation into mature liver cells. BDTCs differentiation into liver cells might accelerate endogenous liver cell regeneration and reparation.</p>

Differentiation of rat bone marrow derived Thy-1+ beta2M- cells into hepatocytes / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the differentiation of bone marrow derived Thy-1(+)beta(2)M(-) cells (BDTC) into mature and functional liver cells and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>BDTC were cocultured with allyl alcohol (AA)-injured hepatocytes and cultured alone in conditional medium containing HGF and bFGF, respectively. BDTC morphologic transformation was observed with phase-contrast and electron-microscopy. Hepatocyte-specific gene expression in cultured BDTC was identified by immunocytochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Indocyanine green (ICG) ingestion/excretion and urea, albumin production were carried out to evaluate hepatocyte-related function.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Some BDTC derived hepatocyte-like cells with high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio containing mono- or multi-nuclei and abundant mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and glycogenic granules appeared after 7-day culture in both the two culture systems. These cells expressed hepatocyte-specific genes (AFP, OV-6, CK18, etc.), and possessed functions of ICG uptake, albumin production and ammonium metabolism.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rat BDTCs could differentiate into mature and functional liver cells in special stimulation systems. Moreover, these differentiations were realized by "transdifferentiation", and might dispense with "cell fusion".</p>

Biological microemulsions: Part IV--Phase behaviour and dynamics of microemulsions prepared with vegetable oils mixed with aerosol-OT, cinnamic alcohol and water.

Microemulsification of vegetable oils (ricebran, saffola, soyabean, sesame, palm and linseed) with water using aerosol-OT and cinnamic alcohol as mixed amphiphiles was studied. The biological microemulsions formed covered on the average approximately 27% of single phase area in the triangular phase diagram. The multiphasic zone for saffola was studied in detail, two- and three-phase zones were identified with patches of thick gel. The effect of temperature on the multiphase formation in the range 29-55 degrees C was also studied. The formation of multiphase and their proportions found to depend on the type of oil. The biological microemulsions at reasonable water/AOT mole ratio showed moderate increase in conductance with temperature. The viscosity of the microemulsions was high. Of the studied systems (sesame, saffola and ricebran) the viscosity of the first two decreased with the rate of shear whereas that of ricebran increased. When cinnamic alcohol was used as the oil, the trend of viscosity was similar to that of sesame and saffola.