Structural and functional analyses of three purified polysaccharides isolated from Chinese Huaishan-yams.

The extraction, purification and structural of Chinese Huaishan-yams polysaccharides and their function were investigated in this study. Three water-soluble polysaccharides, designated as CYZ, CYS-1, CYS-2, were purified and the molecular weight were found to be 22 KDa, 41 KDa and 23 KDa, respectively. The HPLC results showed that they were composed of different monosaccharides and the content of monosaccharides varied significantly. 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra showed that CYS-1 contained two α-type and four ß-type glycosidic linkages and backbone of CYS-1 has two types of linkages, ß-1 → 2 and ß-1 → 4. CYS-2 contained two α type and three ß-type glycosidic linkages, and the backbone has three types of linkages, ß-1 → 2, ß-1 → 4, and ß-1 → 6. The antioxidant activities increased in the order of CYS-1 < CYZ < CYS-2 < crude polysaccharide. Further, crude polysaccharide CYS-1 (≥80 µg/mL) had a good ability of inhibiting α-glucosidase and significant inhibition on the relative proliferation rate of B16 murine melanoma cells middle dose (≥200 µg/mL).

Prevalence and risk factors of posttraumatic stress disorder among teachers 3 months after the Lushan earthquake: A cross-sectional study.

Teachers and students often suffer from the same disaster. The prevalence of PTSD in students has been given great attention. However, in acting as mentors to students and their families, teachers are more likely to have vicarious and indirect exposure via hearing stories of their aftermath and witnessing the consequences of traumatic events. There are limited data pertaining to the prevalence of PTSD and its risk factors among teachers. A total of 316 teachers from 21 primary and secondary schools in Baoxing County were administered a project-developed questionnaire which included the items regarding demographic characteristics, earthquake-related experiences, somatic discomforts, emotional reactions, support status, and everyday functioning 2 weeks after the Lushan earthquake, and they finished a 1-to-1 telephone interview for addressing the PTSD criteria of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) 3 months after the earthquake. The prevalence of PTSD was 24.4% among teachers. Somatic discomforts (odds ratio [OR] 1.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-3.37) were positive risk factors of PTSD. Perceived social support (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.14-0.62) and being able to calm down (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.09-0.75) in teaching were negative risk factors. PTSD is commonly seen among teachers after an earthquake, and risk factors of PTSD were identified. These findings may help those providing psychological health programs to find the teachers who are at high risk of PTSD in schools after an earthquake in China.

[Prevalence and Risk Factors of Major Depression Disorders in Local Teachers Three Months after Lushan Earthquake].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of major depression disorder (MDD) in local teachers at an early stage post Lushan earthquake. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was undertaken, with 319 local teachers receiving diagnostic MDD assessment using MINI 14-22 d and 85-95 d after the earthquake, respectively. Possible predictive factors were identified using a self-developed questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the predictors of MDD. RESULTS: Fifteen (4. 70%) local teachers were diagnosed with MDD. Those who had an injured direct relative [odds ratio (OR) = 6. 26], with inhabitable house (OR=4. 26), and felt easy to get sad 14-20 d weeks post earthquake (OR= 11. 45) were more likely to suffer from MDD than others. An anxious emotion 14-20 d post earthquake was a protective factor (OR=0. 14) of MDD. CONCLUSION: Post earthquake MDD in local teachers deserves concerns, especially for those who have injured relatives, with an inhabitable house, and who feel easy to get sad 14-20 d post earthquake.

In vivo evaluation of early disease progression by X-ray phase-contrast imaging in the adjuvant-induced arthritic rat.

PURPOSE: To study the early change of bone matrix and soft tissue around articulation in adjuvant-induced arthritic (AIA) rats non-invasively by X-ray phase-contrast imaging (XPCI), a new imaging method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adjuvant-induced arthritis was established in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (n=6, age 40 days) by subcutaneous injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) into the left hindpaw. In vivo XPCI evaluation of the early soft tissue and bone changes in AIA rats was consecutively performed and correlated with changes in volumes of right hindpaws and body weights. In comparison, the changes in the AIA rats were also evaluated with absorption-contrast imaging using the same X-ray source as XPCI and conventional radiography at the same time. After the imaging evaluation, AIA rats were subjected to histological examination. RESULTS: There was significant difference between the score of XPCI and the other two methods in demonstrating soft tissue (P<0.01), bone details (P<0.01) and lesions (P<0.001). By day 10 after subcutaneous injection of FCA, bone changes in the right hindpaw were not obvious, but swelling of soft tissue appeared. By day 12, bone erosion in the articular facet and the area around the articular facet, was detected, along with osteoporosis, and swelling of soft tissue was aggravated. By day 14 bone erosions became fused and expanded, especially in the margin area around the articular facet. At day 16 bone erosion still existed. Joint interspaces seemed wider than normal, and swelling of soft tissue was significant. By day 18 periosteal new bone formation was seen definitely, destruction of bone decreased, bone density around the articular was enhanced, and swelling of soft tissue was relieved. XPCI could clearly distinguish all these alterations, which could not be demonstrated by absorption-contrast imaging and conventional radiography. During the test period, the volume of the right hindpaw and the body weight of the AIA rats also changed significantly compared with the normal rat. Histological examination confirmed that adjuvant-induced arthritis had occurred in all rats of the adjuvant group. CONCLUSION: Osteoporosis, bone erosion and periosteal new bone formation take place at the early stage of adjuvant-induced arthritis. XPCI can evaluate non-invasively these subtle bone changes that are "blind areas" for conventional radiography.

X-ray diffraction-enhanced imaging of uterine leiomyomas.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the microstructures of a uterine leiomyoma using a synchrotron-based imaging technique. MATERIAL/METHODS: The tissues of different regions of a uterine leiomyoma were imaged using X-ray diffraction-enhanced imaging. RESULTS: Compared with optical microscopy and conventional X-ray, X-ray diffraction-enhanced imaging can show not only the surface, but also the internal structure of organs or soft tissues with better contrast. Internal hyaline degeneration and the cavum of liquefied uterine leiomyomas are shown very clearly. Some microstructures, such as the myomatous burble, rupture and conglomeration of muscle fiber, and the cavum resulting from red degeneration, can be displayed in X-ray diffraction-enhanced images. These microstructures can show the developmental progress of necrosis in uterine leiomyomas and indicate their potential canceration. CONCLUSIONS: X-ray diffraction-enhanced imaging can clearly show internal microstructures of uterine leiomyomas, making the complex procedure of doing this with a large number of pathology slices avoidable.