Effectiveness of amendments on re-acidification and heavy metal immobilization in an extremely acidic mine soil.

Previous studies have shown that the application of soil amendments is efficient in reducing acidity and heavy metal bioavailability in mine soils. However, it remains a challenge for environmentalists to predict accurately and control economically the re-acidification in re-vegetated mine soils. In this study, net acid generation (NAG) test and bioassay technique were employed to assess the effectiveness of the amendments [including lime, N-P-K (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) fertilizer, phosphate and river sediment] on re-acidification and heavy metal immobilization in an extremely acid (pH < 3) mine soil. Our results suggested that NAG test was a rapid and accurate approach to assess the effectiveness of the amendments on re-acidification potential of the mine soil. Interestingly, it was found that phosphate and river sediment played quite specific roles in preventing the re-acidification in the mine soil. In addition, the results also indicated that the addition of 25 t ha(-1) lime combined with river sediment (30%) might be an economical method to successfully control the acidification and re-acidification in the extremely acid mine soil, allowing the re-establishment of the plants. Collectively, our results implied that the combined use of NAG test and bioassay assessment was effective in evaluating a reclamation strategy for extremely acidic mine soils.

[Comparison of lipoperoxidative damage in plasma and platelet with the ratio of thromboxane A2 and prostaglandin I2 in blood stasis syndrome with coronary heart disease].

In order to study the biochemical and pathophysiological mechanism of the Blood Stasis Syndrome (BSS) or Non-BSS of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients, the activities of SOD, Selenium-glutathione peroxidase, the content of LPO in plasma and platelets and the contents of TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in plasma were determined in 109 BSS and Non-BSS of CHD patients compared with 98 healthy controls. It was discovered that the contents of TXB2, LPO, PL-LPO, and the ratio of TXB2/6-keto-PGF1 alpha were significantly increased in BSS-CHD patients compared with controls and Non-BSS-CHD patients. It was also discovered that the SOD activities and the contents of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha decreased significantly in Non-BSS-CHD patients. The results suggested that the injury of platelets by oxygen free radicals might be one of the primary injury factors in BSS-CHD patients. Our conclusion is that PGI2, SOD belong to the category of Heart-Qi, while TXA2, LPO to the Blood category. Therefore TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, SOD, LPO should serve as some of the objective indexes for BSS patients of CHD.

[Experimental study on kidney invigorating and lipid reducing decoction-yishen jiangzhi tang in the treatment of chronic renal failure].

In exploring the effect of treatment of supporting the body resistance on chronic renal failure, a chronic renal failure model of rat was created by gastroperfusion of adenine and evaluation was made on the therapeutic effect of Kidney Invigorating and Lipid Reducing Decoction (KILRD). The mental state and body weight of the treated group have recovered well with polyuria and proteinurea improving, BUN and Creatinine decreasing, which appeared to be superior to the naturally recovered group. Renal pathological examination showed that: although the renal parenchymal damage was not reversed but its compensation was satisfactory with compensatory hypertrophy appearing in unaffected nephron. The dominant reaction in the affected area was polynucleomacrocytosis, foreign body granulamatosis, and interstitial lymphocytic infiltration, the fibrosis was inevident, while the above-mentioned condition in the naturally recovered group was relatively more serious, with fibrosis being observed. It was indicated that KILRD could increase the compensatory capacity and immunity, promote protein synthetization and improve renal function. The study on KILRD proved to be a significant conservative medical treatment for chronic renal failure.

[Dammarane-type saponins in leaves of Panax collected in Sichuan].

Three saponins have been isolated from the leaves of Panax japonicus ssp. elegantior var. major (Burkill) Wu et Feng collected in Sichuan, China. They were identified as ginsenoside-Rd (0.5%), ginsenoside-Rg2 (0.025%) and ginsenoside-Rg1 (0.016%), respectively, based on the chemical and spectral analytical data obtained.