Premna grandipaniculata (Lamiaceae, Premnoideae), a remarkable new species from north Myanmar.

A remarkable new Premna species from Myanmar, P. grandipaniculata Y.H.Tan & Bo Li (Lamiaceae), is here described and illustrated. It differs from all known congeneric taxa by having huge complicated panicles which have tertiary branches formed by spike-like thyrses. In Premna, such a spike-like thyrse is found in P. bracteata and P. interrupta, but those species can be easily distinguished from P. grandipaniculata by their habit, indumentum, leaf size and inflorescence structure.

[Essential Oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides Induced Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis in SMMC-7721 Cells].

Objective: To investigate the inhibition of cell proliferation by essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides on the human liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells and human liver LO2 cells,and to study the mechanism of anti-tumor in vitro. Methods: The inhibition of cell proliferation by essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides was determined by MTT assay; the distribution of cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry( FCM) with PI staining; cell morphology and apoptosis effect of SMMC-7721 cells were observed by microscope; the apoptotic rate was quantified by FCM with Annexin V / PI double staining. Results: Essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides could significantly inhibit the cell proliferation in a concentration-time-dependent manner( P < 0. 05),and the IC50 values on SMMC-7721 cells were lower than human liver LO2 cells at 24,48 and 72 h,respectively( P < 0. 05); cell cycle of SMMC-7721 cells was arrested in G0/G1phase; morphological observation revealed that the cells were wrinkled and the cellular cohesiveness of cells was reduced; nuclear was condensed and in orange colour,of which were the late apoptotic features; and the apoptotic rate increased in a concentration-dependent manner( P < 0. 05),non-viable apoptotic rate was obviously decreased with caspase inhibitor in 100 µg / m L essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides( P < 0. 01). Conclusion: Essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides can inhibit SMMC-7721 cell proliferation, which may be related to inducing cell cycle arrest and caspase-dependent apoptosis.

Association between awareness of harmful effects of smoking and smoking cessation advice provided by hospital chest physicians in Guangzhou, China: a multi-institutional cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: It is unknown which factors are associated with smoking cessation interventions initiated by hospital chest physicians in China. We examined physicians' awareness of negative effects of smoking on smoking cessation advice given. METHODS: A cluster randomized cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to August 2011 in hospital chest physicians (n = 354) in Guangzhou, China. RESULTS: Of those who responded (n = 354, 92%), 63.8% were aware of negative effects of smoking and 64.5% initiated smoking cessation programmes with their patients. Awareness differed among physicians depending on their hospital affiliation (χ(2) = 54.7, P > 0.001), that is, primary (44.9%), secondary (55.1%) and tertiary hospitals (87.0%), (odds ratio = 1.732, 95% confidence interval: 1.072-2.797, P < 0.05). Physicians with less awareness prescribed smoking cessation medication less frequently (χ(2) = 137.71, P < 0.001). Smoking cessation practice by physicians also depended on hospital affiliation (χ(2) = 5.7, P > 0.001), (odds ratio = 4.074, 95% confidence interval: 1.399-11.860, P = 0.010). Smoking status of physicians was related to smoking cessation practice. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians more aware of the health hazards of smoking provided more smoking cessation advice. Awareness correlated with hospital levels and smoking status. Physician's advice correlated with their smoking status and educational background, but not with the levels of hospital, position or department affiliation.

[Association between awareness of smoking-related evidence and smoking cessation treatments provided by hospital chest physicians in Guangzhou, China: a multi-institutional cross-sectional survey].

OBJECTIVE: Factors associated with smoking cessation interventions initiated by hospital chest physicians in China had not been studied. We examined if the physicians' awareness of emerging evidence regarding negative effects of smoking was associated with the initiation of smoking cessation. METHODS: A cluster randomized cross-sectional survey was conducted from July 2011 to August 2011 in hospital-based chest physicians (n = 354) in Guangzhou, China. RESULTS: Of those who responded (n = 354, 92.2%), 63.8% were aware of emerging evidence regarding negative effects of smoking and 64.5% initiated smoking cessation programs with their patients who smoked. Regarding the related awareness on smoking differed across physicians depending on their affiliation to evidence hospitals(χ(2) = 54.7, P > 0.001), i.e., primary (44.9%), secondary (55.1%)and tertiary hospitals (87.0%)was further supported by the related odds ratio (OR = 1.732, 95%CI:1.072-2.797, P < 0.05). Smoking status of physicians was related to their practice on smoking cessation, supported by the odds ratio (OR = 4.251, 95% CI:1.460-12.380, P = 0.008). Smoking cessation practice by physicians also depended on their affiliated hospitals. Physicians working at primary and secondary hospitals were less aware of the fact that smoking could reduce patients' responsiveness to inhaled corticosteroids than those working at the tertiary hospitals(χ(2) = 37.9, P > 0.001). Furthermore, these physicians would less frequently prescribed medication related to smoking cessation(χ(2) = 137.71, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Physicians who were better aware of the health hazards of smoking might more actively provide smoking cessation advice in their clinics. The awareness might correlate with the hospital levels they worked and the smoking status while the the advice they provided might correlate with their educational background, job title, department affiliation and smoking status, but not with the level of hospitals.

Multimodal optical microscopy in combination with gold nanorods for cancer cell imaging.

The multimodal optical imaging technique, which utilizes nonlinear and linear optical processes, plays an important role in biological and biomedical research. As second-order nonlinear phenomenon, the two-photon luminescence (TPL) results from the nonlinear excitation of fluorescent molecules, while the second harmonic generation (SHG) depends on the second order nonlinear polarization, orientation, and noncentrosymmetric properties of molecules. In contrast, the linear resonance light scattering (RLS) occurs when the molecules are excited by a light beam with a wavelength close to their absorption bands. Since SHG, TPL, and RLS involve different kinds of optical processes, they might be used in parallel to provide complementary information about the structure and function of cells and tissues. Herein, we develop for the first time a multimodal optical microscopy with the capability of simultaneous SHG, TPL, and RLS imaging. We analyze theoretically and demonstrate experimentally the near-infrared irradiation-induced SHG, TPL, and RLS from the gold nanorods with nanometer spatial resolution. With the gold nanorods as the contrast agents, we further demonstrate the simultaneous SHG, TPL, and RLS imaging of A431 human epithelial skin cancer cells. This multimodal optical microscopy might provide a reliable and complementary approach for biological and biomedical research.

[Applications of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy in detecting chitin, ergosterol and mycotoxins].

The invasion extent and harmfulness of fungi can be determined by chitin, ergosterol and mycotoxins. It is important to monitor chitin, ergosterol and mycotoxins changes to prevent contamination of forage and feed products, and effectively control the sustainable development of the mildew. Predication of these chemical materials was often completed by laboratory analysis, which was time-consuming and cumbersome and could not reflect the results in time in the past. Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) is a rapid, convenient, highly efficient, nondestructive and low-cost analytical technique, which has been widely used in various fields such as food field and feed field for quantitative and qualitative analysis. It has a great potentiality of application in quality analysis. In this paper, the principle and the characteristic of NIRS and its applications in food, forage, feed and other agriculture products quality analysis were introduced. Its applications in fungal biomass (chitin, ergosterol) and mycotoxins were mainly reviewed. NIRS was used to quantify chitin, ergosterol and mycotoxins. Calibration equations and validation equations for these materials were developed. It is also expected that NIRS will play a more and more important role in the field of fungi with the establishment of calibration equation and improvement of model database.

[Etiology and a diagnostic protocol for patients with chronic cough].

OBJECTIVE: The spectrum and frequency of causes and the diagnostic protocol for chronic cough were explored. METHODS: A total of 194 patients with at least 3 weeks of chronic cough and normal chest radiographs were recruited from the outpatient clinic of Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases between July 2003 to June 2004. The causes were investigated using a well-established protocol. The diagnostic protocol included history inquiring and physical examination, pulmonary function tests, induced sputum cell differentials, 24 h esophageal pH monitoring, CT of the paranasal sinuses or chest, fiberoptic rhinoscopy or bronchoscopy. The final diagnosis was made based on clinical manifestation, examination findings and a positive response to therapy. RESULTS: The cause of chronic cough was defined in 95.4% of the patients, with a single cause found in 153 patients (82.7%), and multiple causes in 32 patients (17.3%). The five most important causes of cough were: eosinophilic bronchitis (n = 51, 22.4%), rhinitis and/or paranasal sinusitis (PNDs, n = 39, 17.1%), cough-variant asthma (n = 31, 13.6%), atopic cough (n = 28, 12.3%), and gastroesophageal reflux (n = 27, 11.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The spectrum and frequency of causes of chronic cough in our study is different from the previous reports in western countries. Eosinophilic bronchitis and atopic cough are important causes of chronic cough. A modified diagnostic protocol was established accordingly.

[Characteristics of airway inflammatory cells and mediators in eosinophilic bronchitis patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the features of airway inflammation in patients with eosinophilic bronchitis (EB) by analyzing the inflammatory cells and mediators in induced sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). METHODS: Sputum induced by hypertonic saline aerosol inhalation was collected in 43 patients with EB (EB group), 20 patients with cough variant asthma (CVA, CVA group), 16 patients with bronchial asthma (asthma group) and 21 healthy controls (healthy group). Bronchoalveolar lavage was also performed in 11 patients with EB and 10 patients with CVA. Differential cell count was carried out in sputum and BALF. Levels of eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP), leukotriene C(4) (LTC(4)) and histamine in sputum and BALF were measured. RESULTS: The percentage of sputum eosinophils (EOS) showed significant difference among the four groups; healthy group 0.0020 +/- 0.0050, EB group 0.1130 +/- 0.1470, CVA group 0.1900 +/- 0.1800, asthma group 0.3860 +/- 0.2670 (P < 0.01). The difference between asthma group and CVA group, and the difference between CVA group and EB group were significant (P < 0.05). The percentage of EOS in BALF was (0.011 +/- 0.016) in EB group, (0.053 +/- 0.040) in CVA group, the difference being significant (P < 0.05). The concentration of sputum ECP was (0.62 +/- 0.66) mg/L in EB group, (1.27 +/- 1.74) mg/L in CVA group, (0.07 +/- 0.10) mg/L in healthy group, the difference among the three groups being significant (P < 0.01). The difference of LTC(4) level was also significant when CVA group (0.65 +/- 0.62) microg/L was compared with EB group (0.39 +/- 0.61) microg/L (P < 0.05) and healthy group (0.15 +/- 0.11) microg/L (P < 0.01). The difference of histamine level in the supernatant of BALF was significant between CVA group (3.4 +/- 1.4) microg/L and EB group (1.6 +/- 1.5) microg/L (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EOS infiltration is mainly localized to the central airway in EB, with lower airway levels of LTC(4) and histamine as compared to CVA. These inflammatory features may partly explain the absence of non-specific airway hyperresponsiveness in patients with EB.