Protective effects of baicalin against bromocriptine induced abortion in mice.

The Chinese herbal medicine Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae) had been used for restless fetus for hundreds of years in China, however, little attention had been given to the components of the herb, specifically its ability to exert abortion-preventing effects at the maternal fatal interface. The present study was carried out to investigate the protective effects of baicalin and the possible mechanisms on pregnancies. Baicalin (at 10, 20, and 50 mg/kg BW respectively) was gavaged to bromocriptine-treated mice from gestation day (GD) 1 through GD 7. Abortion rates were calculated and the changes of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and progesterone were assayed on different gestation days. Results showed that the embryonic death rates were significantly decreased in groups supplemented with 20 or 50 mg/kg BW of baicalin, accompanied with reduced IFN-gamma and enhanced progesterone contents. Moreover, the highest levels of IFN-gamma appeared on GD 5 both in the control and in baicalin treated groups. It is concluded that baicalin can exert an anti-abortive effect by cutting down the production of IFN-gamma and elevating the levels of progesterone in a dose dependent manner and IFN-gamma is involved in an inflammatory reaction which is beneficial for a successful implantation.

Species-specific diagnostic marker for rapid identification of Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacterial pathogen that has emerged as an increasingly important health concern. Following the recent publication of the genome sequences of 9 S. aureus strains (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/lproks.cgi), a gene of S. aureus that relates signal transduction as a target for rapid detection and identification of the pathogen has been investigated. By sequence analysis of S. aureus signal transduction genes from the complete genome of S. aureus ATCC N315 and their comparison with other DNA sequences using GenBank BLAST searches, we identified a unique gene, vicK. Polymerase chain reaction primers (vicK1 and vicK2) derived from this gene allowed amplification of a 289-bp DNA fragment only from S. aureus and not from other Staphylococcus species and other common bacteria tested. Besides offering an additional target for specific confirmation of S. aureus, further analysis of the signal transduction gene vicK and its related protein product may lead to new insights into the molecular mechanisms of S. aureus maintenance and pathogenicity.

[Enrichment and release of uranium during weathering of sedimentary rocks in Wujiang catchments].

Thirteen weathering profiles of typical rocks such as limestone, dolomitic limestone, dolomite, sillcalite, black shale and purple sandrock from Wujiang catchments were selected for discussing enrichment and release behavior of uranium (U) during rock weathering, and studying its impact on riverine U distribution in the catchments during weathering of these rocks with methods of correlation analysis and mass balance calculation. The purpose of this study is to improve our understanding on biogechemical cycling of U and set a basis for catchment protection against U pollution. The results show that the enrichment extent of U in soils from the Wujiang catchments is usually higher than that of upper continental crust (UCC), China soil (CS) and world soil (WS). The ability of enrichment and release of U is partly controlled by content of U in bedrocks, contents and adsorption ability of clay minerals and Fe-oxides/hydroxides in weathering profiles. Our study also reveals that release of U mainly from weathering of limestone and partly from weathering of dolomite and clastic rocks exerts an important control on riverine U distribution.

[Production of functional lipids by lipase-catalyzed acidolysis of lard in solvent free system].

China has richly and inexpensive fat and oils from animal and plants, but these resources could not get effectively utilization. In order to make the best of these resources, lipase-catalyzed acidolysis of lard with caprylic acid to produce functional lipid in solvent free system was investigated. Of the five lipases that were tested in the initial screening, immobilized lipase TL IM fromca T. languginosa resulted in the highest incorporation of capry lic acid into lard. This enzyme was further studied for the effect of enzyme load, substrate ratib, reaction time, reaction temperature and added water content on the incorporation of caprylic acid into lard. HPLC analyzed the products from the acidolysis reaction. The highest incorporation was attained at 20% enzyme load. Time course studied suggest that the incorporation of caprylic acid into lard was increased up to 38.77 mol% after 24h. Desirable mole ratio of substrates was 1:2 (lard: caprylic acid), caprylic acid incorporation up to 30.95 mol%. In the range of 45 - 60 degrees C , temperature had no significant effect on enzyme activity and caprylic acid incorporation changed little. When temperature was above 60 degrees C, incorporation of caprylic acid into lard was decreased. The highest incorporation of caprylic acid into lard 35.76 mol% was attained when added water content was 2.5%.