Total Flavonoid Extract from Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medic Flowers Attenuates d-Galactose-Induced Oxidative Stress in Mouse Liver Through the Nrf2 Pathway.

Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medic is an edible hibiscus that is rich in flavonoids, and its use as Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of diseases and health maintenance dates back to ancient times. The chemical compositions of total flavonoid of A. manihot (L.) Medic flower extract (TFAE) were identified and determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The effects of TFAE on antioxidative activities in a d-galactose (d-gal)-induced mouse model and Nrf2-mediated antioxidant responses were evaluated. Male Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal control group, d-gal aging model group, d-gal+ascorbic acid group that served as a positive control, and d-gal+TFAE (40, 80, and 160 mg TFAE/kg) group. After 42 days, the antioxidant effects of these treatments were determined by biochemical studies, Western blotting, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and histological analysis. The results showed that the groups administered TFAE exhibited significant elevation in liver activities of antioxidant enzymes, including catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) production in a dose-dependent manner compared with the d-gal-induced model group. Expression of Nrf2 and its target antioxidants (HO-1 and NQO1) was manifestly increased by TFAE treatment. TFAE also increased mRNA expression of GPx, SOD, and CAT and decreased tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß). Furthermore, the microstructure of livers in TFAE-administered mice was obviously improved as compared with the d-gal model group. These results suggest that TFAE protects mice against d-gal-induced oxidative stress, and the effect is related to the activation of Nrf2 signaling.

[Influence of combined ecological floating bed on nitrogen and phosphorus between overlying water and sediment].

A new type of combined ecological floating bed was developed on Swan Lake. It was combined with aquatic and hydrophilous plants and ancillary equipments that included floating controllers, water-cycling aerator systems and wave-making systems. Combined ecological floating bed changed the physical and chemical environment of Swan Lake and had an effect on the transportation and transformation of TN, NH4(+) -N and TP between overlying water and sediment during the experiment. The concentration change of TN, NH4(+) -N and TP and the effect of DO, Eh and pH on the nutrient in the overlying water and sediment were investigated. The results indicated that: in overlying water, the removal efficiencies of TN, NH4(+) -N and TP were 61.92%, 63.09% and 80.0%, respectively; the removal efficiencies of TN and NH4(+) -N were 23.79% and 37.04%, respectively; the concentration of TP increased by 43.71% in sediment during the experiment. The combined ecological floating bed influenced environmental factors such as DO, Eh and pH in overlying water in some degree. DO concentration rose from 8.7-8.9 mg x L(-1) to 9.3-10.4 mg x L(-1), and Eh concentration was from 163-178 mV to 191-198 mV. Both of them were higher than those in the contrast area. Phosphorus release was inhibited, and phosphorus adsorption was promoted through improving DO and Eh of the overlying water. The pH volatility was less and maintained between 7.51 and 8.32, and did not promote phosphorus release in sediment. TN, TP and NH4(+) -N in overlying water and TN and NH4(+) -N in sediment were significantly positively correlated with each other and with TP in sediment. The pH had no significant correlation with TN, TP and NH4(+) -N in overlying water and sediment. DO was significantly positively corrected with Eh in overlying water and was significantly negatively corrected with TP in sediment.

[Study on chronic health conditions and its related risk factors in recipients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chronic health conditions (CHC) in long-term survival recipient after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). METHODS: The CHC of 101 cases survived for more than 1 year after HSCT were collected according to Bone Marrow Transplant Survivor Study (MBMTSS) questionnaire. The differences of the incidence and severity of CHC between auto-HSCT and allo-HSCT, HLA-matched and HLA-mismatched family donors HSCT were compared, and risk factors related to chronic health conditions were analyzed retrospectively in family donor HSCT. RESULTS: Of the 101 HSCT survivors, 48.5% reported one or more chronic health conditions, and 83.7% of which were mild to moderate. The CHC in HLA-matched related donors HSCT were more serious than in HLA-mismatched related donors HSCT. The percentage of CHC total score above 3 in allo-HSCT recipients (32.1%) was higher than that in auto-HSCT ones (10.0%). The percentage of CHC total score 1-2, 3-4, and above 5 in HLA-matched family donors HSCT were 23.5%, 29.4%, and 14.7%, respectively, being significantly higher than those in HLA-mismatched ones (15.6%, 15.6%, and 6.2%, respectively). CHC was mainly related to chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). Single variable analysis showed that younger age at time of transplantation, HLA fully matched, the use of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) in the conditioning regimens were favorable for CHC. COX-regression Model showed that age was the only independent risk factor for predicting the CHC in family donor HSCT. CONCLUSION: The chronic health conditions after HSCT is mild to moderate, these complications in HLA-matched related donor HSCT are more serious than those in HLA-mismatched related donor HSCT. The age at transplantation is the only independent risk factor for chronic health conditions.

[Determination of nutrition elements in Yak milk powder by atomic absorption spectrometry].

In the present paper, orthogonal design test was planed by changing cinefaction temperature, cinefaction time, and the concentration of hydrochloric acid. Yak milk powder and milk powder were digested by dry method. The contents of elements Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, K and Na were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The best conditions for the digestion were obtained as follows: the temperature was 510 degrees C, cinefaction time 4 hours, and hydrochloric acid concentration 1 : 5. Meanwhile, under the best experimental conditions, the recovery ratio of the method in the range of 95.2%-107.3%, and the relative standard deviations were 0.38%-3.86% (n=6). The experimental results proved that Yak milk powder is valuable and nutritious food, and has rich nutrition elements.