Baseline blood levels of manganese, lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc in residents of Beijing suburb.

Baseline blood concentrations of metals are important references for monitoring metal exposure in environmental and occupational settings. The purpose of this study was to determine the blood levels of manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) among the residents (aged 12-60 years old) living in the suburb southwest of Beijing in China and to compare the outcomes with reported values in various developed countries. Blood samples were collected from 648 subjects from March 2009 to February 2010. Metal concentrations in the whole blood were determined by ICP-MS. The geometric means of blood levels of Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd were 11.4, 802.4, 4665, 42.6, and 0.68 µg/L, respectively. Male subjects had higher blood Pb than the females, while the females had higher blood Mn and Cu than the males. There was no gender difference for blood Cd and Zn. Smokers had higher blood Cu, Zn, and Cd than nonsmokers. There were significant age-related differences in blood levels of all metals studied; subjects in the 17-30 age group had higher blood levels of Mn, Pb, Cu, and Zn, while those in the 46-60 age group had higher Cd than the other age groups. A remarkably lower blood level of Cu and Zn in this population as compared with residents of other developed countries was noticed. Based on the current study, the normal reference ranges for the blood Mn were estimated to be 5.80-25.2 µg/L; for blood Cu, 541-1475 µg/L; for blood Zn, 2349-9492 µg/L; for blood Pb, <100 µg/L; and for blood Cd, <5.30 µg/L in the general population living in Beijing suburbs.

[Comprehensive Review on Environmental Biogeochemistry of Nonylphenol and Suggestions for the Management of Emerging Contaminants].

In recent years, China's air environment, water environment, and soil environmental quality have been improved, and a "clear water blue sky" has become a normal state. However, as persistent organic pollutants, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, antibiotics, microplastics, and other emerging contaminants are continuously detected in the environment, these emerging contaminants have gradually been attracting wide attention. Nonylphenol, as a typical endocrine disrupting chemical, has also attracted the attention of researchers. The environmental behaviors and exposure levels of nonylphenol in Chinese water bodies were summarized systematically, and the ecological risks caused by nonylphenol were evaluated based on the risk quotient method and joint probability curve method. The results showed that the toxic effects of nonylphenol on aquatic organisms mainly included acute toxicity, growth and development toxicity, and estrogenic effect and reproductive toxicity. Nonylphenol was commonly found in the water bodies of major drainage areas in China, and the average concentration of nonylphenol ranged from 60 to 1000 ng·L-1, with the highest concentration being as high as 4628 ng·L-1. The results of risk assessment based on the risk quotient method and joint probability curve method showed that nonylphenol had certain risks to aquatic life in the major basins of China. Finally, the commonly used nonylphenol treatment, disposal, and risk management and control technologies were summarized, and the international supervision methods of endocrine-disrupting chemicals were compared. Aiming at addressing the problems existing in China's environmental management, targeted policy suggestions were put forward. The research results can provide reference for the management and control of emerging contaminants in China.

ARISTOLOCHIA BRACTEOLATE RETZ. ATTENUATES HYPERURICEMIA IN A METABOLIC ARTHRITIS RAT MODEL.

BACKGROUND: The leaves of Aristolochia bracteolata Retz. has been documented in the folk medicine literature for its anti-arthritic activity. The target of the research envisaged was to elucidate the activity of A. bracteolata extract on hyperuricemic condition in arthritis rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dried and powdered plant leaves were extracted using ether and chloroform. Potassium oxonate was injected intra-articularly to produce arthritis. The hyperuricemic effect, of A. bracteolate was analyzed by studying levels of uric acid in serum as well as in urine of arthritis induced rats. Effects of plant extracts were also studied on BUN (blood urea nitrogen) levels and fraction of uric acid excreted. RESULTS: Results indicate that administration of A. bracteolata presented substantial change in uric acid concentration, augmented by potassium oxonate administration in rats. The reduction in levels of uric acid levels was nearly same as allopurinol. The investigation also revealed that the primary plant extract has nephroprotective effect by enhancing the production of Prostaglandin E2 and Interleukin-1. Histological studies of rat kidney slices indicated the safety of the present plant extract. CONCLUSION: The crude extract of A. bracteolate can be used to reduce hyperuricemia in metabolic arthritis produced in rat model, without inducing any potential damaging effects.

[Screening of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors from Salvia miltiorrhizae].

OBJECTIVE: To screen angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) from traditional Chinese medicine, Salvia miltiorrhiza. METHOD: Hydrophilic and lipophilic fractions of S. miltiorrhiza were isolated, and their effective components were screened by a fluorimetric assay for inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). RESULT: Water-soluble fractions, total salvianolic acids and salvianolic acid B markedly decreased ACE activity of rabbit lung tissue. Their IC50 value were (2.45 +/- 0.07), (0.24 +/- 0.02), (0.02 +/- 0.01) g x L(-1) respectively. Lipophilic components or phenanthraquinones including tanshinone I and II showed no changes on the activity of ACE. CONCLUSION: S. miltiorrhiza inhibits angiotensin converting enzyme and its active components are in aqueous extract, in which the main were salvianolic acids including salvianolic acids B.