[Industrialization condition and development strategy of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix].

Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix, the underground part of Notopterygium incisum and N. franchetii, is used as a classical traditional Chinese medicine, and as raw materials for 262 Chinese patent drugs production in 694 pharmaceutical factories currently. It plays an important role in the whole Chinese medicine industry with irreplaceable important economic and social values. However, wild resource of was abruptly depleted, and large-scale artificial cultivation has been inapplicable. In this study, Utilization history and the industrialization status of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix were summarized. Resource distribution, ecological suitability of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix and core technologies for seeds production, seedling breeding, large-scale cultivation has been reported by current studies, and basic conditions are already available for industrialization production of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix. However, there still some key technical problems need to be solved in the further research, and some policy dimensions need to be focused on in the coming industrialization cultivation of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix.

[Endemic plants for medicine use in China].

Based on plant species databases, species lists and literature records, general situation of the Chinese medicinal endemic plant (vascular plant) has been systematically summarized, and its quantity and distribution characteristics of Chinese medicinal endemic plants are presented in this paper. The results showed that 3 150 endemic species are Chinese medicinal plants belonging to 785 genera in 153 families, which includes 38 species of 22 genera in 12 families of pteridophyta, 42 species of 14 genera in7 families of gymnosperms, and 3 070 species of 749 genara in 134 families of angiosperms. The top four families involving medicinal endemic species are Asteraceae (218 species), Ranunculaceae (182 species), Labiatae (151 species), and Liliaceae (133 species). The top four provincial administration distributed medicinal endemic species are Sichuan (1 568 species), Yunnan (1 533 species), Guizhou (955 species) and Hubei (930 species).On the regional scale, the most abundant one is the southwest region (2 465 species), followed by the central region (1 226 species) and the northwest region (949 species). Localization characteristics for domestication and artificial cultivation of medicinal endemic species are more prominent due to their narrower and limited distribution areas, indicating it is possible for these species acting as local potential resource for reasonable economic development.

Health risk assessment of PCDD/F emissions from municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) in China.

The objectives of this study were to determine the environmental impacts of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDD/Fs) emitted from two typical municipal solid-waste incinerators (MSWIs), named M and L, in China. The main differences between the two MSWIs relate to incineration technologies, treatment capacities, emission standards and meteorological conditions. The distribution of PCDD/Fs in the surrounding ambient air and soils of the MWSIs were monitored and compared. In addition, air dispersion models and health risk assessments were combined to determine the behaviour and transport of PCDD/Fs. The results indicated that higher PCDD/F emission levels resulted in higher concentrations in the surrounding environment. The average PCDD/F levels emitted from the M MSWI was about seven times higher than those emitted from the L MSWI and about 10 times and 2 times higher in air and soils, respectively. The simulation results were similar to the trend of the monitored results. Both the observed and the simulation results suggested that the atmospheric pollution by PCDD/F surrounding the M MSWI was relatively serious; the environmental impact of the L MSWI was not significant.

[A retrospective study of amphotericin B treatment for invasive fungal infection].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety, efficacy and economics of amphotericin B for the treatment of deep fungal infection. METHODS: Retrospectively analyze the data from 113 cases with invasive fungal infection, who were treated with amphotericin B. RESULTS: The total efficacy of amphotericin B is above 76%. The incidence of hypokalemia, creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) elevation were 33.6%, 29.0% and 27.4%, respectively. The instant side effect such as fever and etc. was seen in 15.0%. No dead cases and irreversible renal function impairment could be attributed to amphotericin B. The incidence of allergic reaction and other instant reaction declined after amphotericin B manufacture techniques improved. For standard recommended duration from major guidelines, such as infective endocarditis, osteomyelitis and meningitis, the management with amphotericin B should last at least 12 weeks. The cost for treatment with different agents, such as amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, liposomal amphotericin B (LamB), voriconazole and caspofungin acetate were RMB 4600, 38,000, 99,100, 190,000, 250,000 and 270,000 yuan, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Amphotericin B is still the most effective agent for anti-fungal treatment. The incidence of allergic reaction and other instant reaction declined after amphotericin B manufacture techniques improved. Most patients can finish the treatment and be cured. Among all the anti-fungal agents, amphotericin B is still the most cost-effective medicine, especially for the patients who need long time treatment.

[Study on quantitative assessment of Siraitia grosvenorii germplasms by general index].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a weight-marking method and evaluate Siraitia grosvenorii germplasms. METHOD: The characters of 21 kinds of S. grosvenorii germplasms in the field and the lab were analyzed, seven important characters were selected to weight the marks. A general evaluation index was made and used to evaluate S. grosvenorii germplasms. RESULT: The evaluation result of 21 kinds of S. grosvenorii germplasms by the weight-marking method was consistent with production practice. Meanwhile, the new variety Yongqing No. 1 and major cultivars were the superior germplasms. CONCLUSION: A rational technique system of evaluating S. grosvenorii germplasms was established, and the superior germplasms were selected.

[Analysis and quality assessment standard of heavy metals and arsenic in Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii from different localities].

OBJECTIVE: Five heavy metals (Hg, Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr) and arsenic (As) contents in 57 samples of from 19 localities in Sichuan, Qinghai and Gansu of Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii sourcing from two plants Notoperygium incusum and N. forbesii has been analyzed to evaluate the content standard of heavy metal and arsenic for drafting the herbal medicine quality. METHOD: ICP-AES method was applied to determine As, Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr and CAAS method was applied to determine Hg. RESULT: Hg can not be determined through CAAS, and little Pb was determined except in limited N. forbesii samples from certain sites, while the contents of Cu in most samples are higher than 20 mg x kg(-1). As in N. forbesii samples, and Cd in N. incisum samples are higher or approximate the limitation of related standard of medicinal plants and production. Cr varies from different localities, ranging from 0.48 to 8.36 mg x kg(-1) for N. incisum and 1.44-8.03 mg x kg(-1) for N. forbesii. CONCLUSION: Referring to the related standards of medicine and vegetable, the heavy metals and arsenic contents of Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii samples from traditional producing areas are confirmed the propositional standard, i. e., Pb < or = 5.0 mg x kg(-1), Cd < or = 0.3 mg x kg(-1), Hg < or = 0.2 mg x kg(-1), Cu < or = 28.0 mg x kg(-1), As < or = 2.0 mg x kg(-1), and Cr < or = 1.0 mg x kg(-1). Of these five heavy metals, Cu is much over the limitation standard, which suggested that GAP base of Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii must be selected in lower Cu environmental condition in main producing area.