Ecosystem service tradeoff and synergistic relationship in the Yellow River Delta High-Efficiency Eco-Economic Zone.

Exploring the tradeoff and synergy relationship among ecosystem services in the Yellow River Delta High-Efficiency Eco-Economic Zone is of great practical significance for regional ecosystem service function zoning and high-quality development. Using the InVEST model, spatial auto-correlation and trade-off synergism (ESTD) model, we analyzed the spatial and temporal variations of five ecosystem services (habitat quality, carbon storage, soil conservation, water conservation, and water purification), as well as their trade-off and synergistic relationships at the township scale from 2000 to 2020. The results showed that habitat quality, carbon storage, and nitrogen and phosphorus output decreased as a whole from 2000 to 2020, and soil conservation and water purification increased. Habitat quality showed a distribution pattern of high in the north and low in the south, and carbon sto-rage, nitrogen and phosphorus output, soil conservation and water purification showed a pattern of low in the north and high in the south. During the study period, synergistic relationships among the five ecosystem services were predominant in both time cross-section and time period, but there were still differences, with synergistic relationships mainly between carbon storage and other services in time cross-section, and between habitat quality and other ser-vices in time period. Our results can provide theoretical guidance and practical reference for the enhancement of ecosystem services and the zoning of ecosystem functions, as well as basic support for the optimization of spatial patterns of national territory.

Synergistic application of atmospheric and room temperature plasma mutagenesis and adaptive laboratory evolution improves the tolerance of Escherichia coli to L-cysteine.

L-Cysteine production through fermentation stands as a promising technology. However, excessive accumulation of L-cysteine poses a challenge due to the potential to inflict damage on cellular DNA. In this study, we employed a synergistic approach encompassing atmospheric and room temperature plasma mutagenesis (ARTP) and adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) to improve L-cysteine tolerance in Escherichia coli. ARTP-treated populations obtained substantial enhancement in L-cysteine tolerance by ALE. Whole-genome sequencing, transcription analysis, and reverse engineering, revealed the pivotal role of an effective export mechanism mediated by gene eamB in augmenting L-cysteine resistance. The isolated tolerant strain, 60AP03/pTrc-cysEf , achieved a 2.2-fold increase in L-cysteine titer by overexpressing the critical gene cysEf during batch fermentation, underscoring its enormous potential for L-cysteine production. The production evaluations, supplemented with L-serine, further demonstrated the stability and superiority of tolerant strains in L-cysteine production. Overall, our work highlighted the substantial impact of the combined ARTP and ALE strategy in increasing the tolerance of E. coli to L-cysteine, providing valuable insights into improving L-cysteine overproduction, and further emphasized the potential of biotechnology in industrial production.

Therapeutic potential of natural compounds from herbs and nutraceuticals in spinal cord injury: Regulation of the mTOR signaling pathway.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a disease in which the spinal cord is subjected to various external forces that cause it to burst, shift, or, in severe cases, injure the spinal tissue, resulting in nerve injury. SCI includes not only acute primary injury but also delayed and persistent spinal tissue injury (i.e., secondary injury). The pathological changes post-SCI are complex, and effective clinical treatment strategies are lacking. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) coordinates the growth and metabolism of eukaryotic cells in response to various nutrients and growth factors. The mTOR signaling pathway has multiple roles in the pathogenesis of SCI. There is evidence for the beneficial effects of natural compounds and nutraceuticals that regulate the mTOR signaling pathways in a variety of diseases. Therefore, the effects of natural compounds on the pathogenesis of SCI were evaluated by a comprehensive review using electronic databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Medline, combined with our expertise in neuropathology. In particular, we reviewed the pathogenesis of SCI, including the importance of secondary nerve injury after the primary mechanical injury, the roles of the mTOR signaling pathways, and the beneficial effects and mechanisms of natural compounds that regulate the mTOR signaling pathway on pathological changes post-SCI, including effects on inflammation, neuronal apoptosis, autophagy, nerve regeneration, and other pathways. This recent research highlights the value of natural compounds in regulating the mTOR pathway, providing a basis for developing novel therapeutic strategies for SCI.

[High performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of active components in lithospermum oil and its application to process optimization of lithospermum oil prepared by supercritical fluid extraction].

Lithospermum erythrorhizon has the functions of cooling blood, activating blood, as well as detoxifying and penetrating rash. Lithospermum oil extracted from Lithospermum erythrorhizon can prevent and treat diaper rash, skin ulceration, eczema, and other skin diseases. Supercritical fluid extraction is the optimal method for the extraction of active components from lithospermum. In this study, an analytical method was established for simultaneously determination of six active components in lithospermum oil with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the contents of the active components as the evaluation index were used to investigate several important factors in the preparation of lithospermum oil by supercritical fluid extraction. The optimized HPLC conditions were as follows: separation column, Diamonsil C18 (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 µm); mobile phases, acetonitrile containing 0.1% (v/v) formic acid-0.1% (v/v) formic acid aqueous solution containing 5 mmol/L ammonium formate (75∶25, v/v); flow rate, 1 mL/min; injection volume, 15 µL; room temperature; photodiode array detector (PAD); detection wavelength, 275 nm. The supercritical fluid extraction was optimized for ensuring stability of the amounts of effective components and the reliability of the quality of lithospermum oil. This will serve as the basis for preparation and quality control processes. Three factors and three levels orthogonal tests were adopted to investigate the important factors, viz. the pressure, temperature and CO2 flow rate in the preparation of lithospermum oil. The results showed that the developed HPLC-PAD method can be used for the simultaneous determination of shikonin, acetylshikonin, ß-acetoxyisovaleryl akanin, isobutyryl shikonin, ß,ß-dimethylacryl shikonin, and 2-methylbutyryl shikonin in 30 min. The method has good precision, accuracy and repeatability. The contents of the active components were the highest when the extraction pressure, extraction temperature, and CO2 flow rate were 23 MPa, 40 ℃, and 27 L/h, respectively. The optimized conditions are suitable for the preparation and actual production of lithospermum oil. The HPLC-PAD method is simple, feasible, accurate, and reliable. It can be used for the preparation and quality control of lithospermum oil by supercritical fluid extraction. Thus, with this method, the stability of the contents of active ingredients and the reliability of the quality of lithospermum oil can be ensured; moreover, safe and effective drug use can be realized. The established method has obvious advantages over the traditional process and is a good candidate for widespread use.

Biotransformation of Huperzine A by Irpex lacteus-A fungal endophyte of Huperzia serrata.

The biotransformation of huperzine A (hupA), one of the characteristic bioactive constituents of the medicinal plant Huperzia serrata, by a fungal endophyte of the host plant was studied. Two previously undescribed compounds 1-2, along with a known analog 8α,15α-epoxyhuperzine A (3), were isolated and identified. The structures of all the isolates were established by spectroscopic methods including NMR, MS, IR, and UV spectra. In particular, the absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were elucidated by CD spectra comparison and theoretic NOE strength calculation. In the LPS-induced neuro-inflammation injury assay, 1-3 exhibited moderate neuroprotective activity by increasing the viability of U251 cell lines with EC50 values of 35.3 ±â€¯0.9, 32.1 ±â€¯0.9, and 50.3 ±â€¯0.8 nM, respectively.

Biotransformation of Huperzine B by a Fungal Endophyte of Huperzia serrata.

The biotransformation of huperzine B (hupB), one of the characteristic bioactive constituents of the medicinal plant Huperzia serrata, by a fungal endophyte of the host plant was studied. One new compound, 8α,15α-epoxyhuperzine B (1), along with two known oxygenated hupB analogs, 16-hydroxyhuperzine B (2) and carinatumin B (3), was isolated and identified. The structures of all the isolates were deduced by spectroscopic methods including NMR, MS, IR, and UV spectra. The known compounds 2 and 3 were obtained from a microbial source for the first time. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first report on the microbial transformation of hupB and would facilitate further structural modification of hupB by chemo-enzymatic method. In the LPS-induced neuro-inflammation injury assay, 8α,15α-epoxyhuperzine B (1) exhibited moderate neuroprotective activity by increasing the viability of U251 cell lines with an EC50 of 40.1 nm.

In-depth serum proteomics reveals biomarkers of psoriasis severity and response to traditional Chinese medicine.

Serum and plasma contain abundant biological information that reflect the body's physiological and pathological conditions and are therefore a valuable sample type for disease biomarkers. However, comprehensive profiling of the serological proteome is challenging due to the wide range of protein concentrations in serum. Methods: To address this challenge, we developed a novel in-depth serum proteomics platform capable of analyzing the serum proteome across ~10 orders or magnitude by combining data obtained from Data Independent Acquisition Mass Spectrometry (DIA-MS) and customizable antibody microarrays. Results: Using psoriasis as a proof-of-concept disease model, we screened 50 serum proteomes from healthy controls and psoriasis patients before and after treatment with traditional Chinese medicine (YinXieLing) on our in-depth serum proteomics platform. We identified 106 differentially-expressed proteins in psoriasis patients involved in psoriasis-relevant biological processes, such as blood coagulation, inflammation, apoptosis and angiogenesis signaling pathways. In addition, unbiased clustering and principle component analysis revealed 58 proteins discriminating healthy volunteers from psoriasis patients and 12 proteins distinguishing responders from non-responders to YinXieLing. To further demonstrate the clinical utility of our platform, we performed correlation analyses between serum proteomes and psoriasis activity and found a positive association between the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score with three serum proteins (PI3, CCL22, IL-12B). Conclusion: Taken together, these results demonstrate the clinical utility of our in-depth serum proteomics platform to identify specific diagnostic and predictive biomarkers of psoriasis and other immune-mediated diseases.

SIRT3 restricts hepatitis B virus transcription and replication through epigenetic regulation of covalently closed circular DNA involving suppressor of variegation 3-9 homolog 1 and SET domain containing 1A histone methyltransferases.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major health problem worldwide. Maintenance of the covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which serves as a template for HBV RNA transcription, is responsible for the failure of eradicating chronic HBV during current antiviral therapy. cccDNA is assembled with cellular histone proteins into chromatin, but little is known about the regulation of HBV chromatin by histone posttranslational modifications. In this study, we identified silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 3 (SIRT3) as a host factor restricting HBV transcription and replication by screening seven members of the sirtuin family, which is the class III histone deacetylase. Ectopic SIRT3 expression significantly reduced total HBV RNAs, 3.5-kb RNA, as well as replicative intermediate DNA in HBV-infected HepG2-Na+ /taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide cells and primary human hepatocytes. In contrast, gene silencing of SIRT3 promoted HBV transcription and replication. A mechanistic study found that nuclear SIRT3 was recruited to the HBV cccDNA, where it deacetylated histone 3 lysine 9. Importantly, occupancy of SIRT3 on cccDNA could increase the recruitment of histone methyltransferase suppressor of variegation 3-9 homolog 1 to cccDNA and decrease recruitment of SET domain containing 1A, leading to a marked increase of trimethyl-histone H3 (Lys9) and a decrease of trimethyl-histone H3 (Lys4) on cccDNA. Moreover, SIRT3-mediated HBV cccDNA transcriptional repression involved decreased binding of host RNA polymerase II and transcription factor Yin Yang 1 to cccDNA. Finally, hepatitis B viral X protein could relieve SIRT3-mediated cccDNA transcriptional repression by inhibiting both SIRT3 expression and its recruitment to cccDNA. CONCLUSION: SIRT3 is a host factor epigenetically restricting HBV cccDNA transcription by acting cooperatively with histone methyltransferase; these data provide a rationale for the use of SIRT3 activators in the prevention or treatment of HBV infection. (Hepatology 2018).

Recombinant Pseudorabies Virus (PRV) Expressing Firefly Luciferase Effectively Screened for CRISPR/Cas9 Single Guide RNAs and Antiviral Compounds.

A Pseudorabies virus (PRV) variant has emerged in China since 2011 that is not protected by commercial vaccines, and has not been well studied. The PRV genome is large and difficult to manipulate, but it is feasible to use clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 technology. However, identification of single guide RNA (sgRNA) through screening is critical to the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and is traditionally time and labor intensive, and not suitable for rapid and high throughput screening of effective PRV sgRNAs. In this study, we developed a recombinant PRV strain expressing firefly luciferase and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) as a reporter virus for PRV-specific sgRNA screens and rapid evaluation of antiviral compounds. Luciferase activity was apparent as soon as 4 h after infection and was stably expressed through 10 passages. In a proof of the principle screen, we were able to identify several PRV specific sgRNAs and confirmed that they inhibited PRV replication using traditional methods. Using the reporter virus, we also identified PRV variants lacking US3, US2, and US9 gene function, and showed anti-PRV activity for chloroquine. Our results suggest that the reporter PRV strain will be a useful tool for basic virology studies, and for developing PRV control and prevention measures.

Ancient Chinese Formula Qiong-Yu-Gao Protects Against Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity Without Reducing Anti-tumor Activity.

Cisplatin is a highly effective anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent; however, its clinical use is severely limited by serious side effects, of which nephrotoxicity is the most important. In this study, we investigated whether Qiong-Yu-Gao (QYG), a popular traditional Chinese medicinal formula described 840 years ago, exhibits protective effects against cisplatin-induced renal toxicity. Using a mouse model of cisplatin-induced renal dysfunction, we observed that pretreatment with QYG attenuated cisplatin-induced elevations in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, ameliorated renal tubular lesions, reduced apoptosis, and accelerated tubular cell regeneration. Cisplatin-mediated elevations in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) mRNA, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) mRNA, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein in the kidney were also significantly suppressed by QYG treatment. Furthermore, QYG reduced platinum accumulation in the kidney by decreasing the expression of copper transporter 1 and organic cation transporter 2. An in vivo study using implanted Lewis lung cancer cells revealed that concurrent administration of QYG and cisplatin did not alter the anti-tumor activity of cisplatin. Our findings suggest that the traditional Chinese medicinal formula QYG inhibits cisplatin toxicity by several mechanisms that act simultaneously, without compromising its therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, QYG may be useful in the clinic as a protective agent to prevent cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.

Antitumor Efficacy and Mechanism in Hepatoma H22-Bearing Mice of Brucea javanica Oil.

Brucea javanica is a traditional herbal medicine in China, and its antitumor activities are of research interest. Brucea javanica oil, extracted with ether and refined with 10% ethyl alcohol from Brucea javanica seed, was used to treat hepatoma H22-bearing mice in this study. The antitumor effect and probable mechanisms of the extracted Brucea javanica oil were studied in H22-bearing mice by WBC count, GOT, GPT levels, and western blotting. The H22 tumor inhibition ratio of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 g/kg bw Brucea javanica oil were 15.64%, 23.87%, and 38.27%. Brucea javanica oil could inhibit the involution of thymus induced by H22 tumor-bearing, but it could not inhibit the augmentation of spleen and liver. Brucea javanica oil could decrease the levels of WBC count and GOT and GPT in H22-bearing mice. The protein levels of GAPDH, Akt, TGF-ß1, and α-SMA in tumor tissues decreased after being treated with Brucea javanica oil. Disturbing energy metabolism and neoplastic hyperplasia controlled by Akt and immunoregulation activity were its probable antitumor mechanisms in hepatoma H22-bearing mice.

Simultaneous determination of five triterpene acids in rat plasma by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and its application in pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of Folium Eriobotryae effective fraction.

Folium Eriobotryae effective fraction (FEA), the extract of Folium Eriobotryae, had been used as anti-hyperglycemia and anti-hyperlipemia medicine in China. A previous study indicated that euscaphic acid, maslinic acid, corosolic acid, oleanolic acid and ursolic acid, the five structurally similar triterpene acids (containing two groups of structural isomers), are the major components of FEA. In the present study, we developed a specific and reliable LC-MS method for simultaneous determination of the five triterpene acids in rat plasma, and further investigated their pharmacokinetic properties after oral administration of FEA. Following a simple sample preparation, chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 column with a mobile phase composed of methanol-0.1% ammonium acetate (80:20, v/v). Quantification was achieved by monitoring the selected ions at m/z 487.6 for euscaphic acid, m/z 471.5 for maslinic acid and corosolic acid, m/z 455.5 for oleanolic acid and ursolic acid and m/z 469.5 for internal standard. The method was validated to be specific, accurate and precise over the concentration ranges of 10-3000 ng/mL with limits of detections of 5 ng/mL for the five triterpene acids. Finally, the method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of the five structurally similar triterpene acids in rats after oral administration of FEA.

Malnutrition, a new inducer for arterial calcification in hemodialysis patients?

BACKGROUND: Arterial calcification is a significant cardiovascular risk factor in hemodialysis patients. A series of factors are involved in the process of arterial calcification; however, the relationship between malnutrition and arterial calcification is still unclear. METHODS: 68 hemodialysis patients were enrolled in this study. Nutrition status was evaluated using modified quantitative subjective global assessment (MQSGA). Related serum biochemical parameters were measured. And the radial artery samples were collected during the arteriovenous fistula surgeries. Hematoxylin/eosin stain was used to observe the arterial structures while Alizarin red stain to observe calcified depositions and classify calcified degree. The expressions of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and matrix Gla protein (MGP) were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot methods. RESULTS: 66.18% hemodialysis patients were malnutrition. In hemodialysis patients, the calcified depositions were mainly located in the medial layer of the radial arteries and the expressions of BMP2 and MGP were both increased in the calcified areas. The levels of serum albumin were negatively associated with calcification score and the expressions of BMP2 and MGP. While MQSGA score, serum phosphorus and calcium × phosphorus product showed positive relationships with calcification score and the expressions of BMP2 and MGP. CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition is prevalent in hemodialysis patients and is associated with arterial calcification and the expressions of BMP2 and MGP in calcified radial arteries. Malnutrition may be a new inducer candidate for arterial calcification in hemodialysis patients.

Fermentation effects of oligosaccharides of Radix Ophiopogonis on alloxan-induced diabetes in mice.

In this study, oligosaccharides extracted from Ophiopogon japonicus vinegar (OOV) by alcoholic and acetic acid fermentation with water extracts from Radix Ophiopogon and oligosaccharides extracted from Radix Ophiopogonis (OOJ) were investigated. Characterization of the extracts indicated that OOV are proteoglycans, whereas OOJ are not. Moreover, compared with OOJ, monosaccharide compositions of OOV only include fructose and galactose and not glucose. MALDI-TOF-mass spectrometric results showed that the molecular weight of OOV was smaller after fermentation. Changes in the characteristics of OOV would inevitably lead to changes in its hypoglycemic properties. The OOV inhibition activity against α-glucosidase was stronger than that of OOJ. The inhibition activity became stronger with higher dosages of OOV. The hypoglycemic effect of OOV on alloxan-induced diabetic mice was stronger than that of OOJ. More important, the ability of OOV to reduce damage on islets in diabetic mice was stronger than that of OOJ. Overall, alcoholic and acetic acid fermentation improved the hypoglycemic activity of OOJ.

The mind-tranquilizing and menstruation-regulating method for acupuncture treatment of delayed menstrual cycle--a clinical controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effects of the mind-tranquilizing and menstruation-regulating acupuncture method with the routine acupuncture method in treating delayed menstrual cycle. METHODS: 40 patients with delayed menstrual cycle were randomly divided into a treatment group of 23 cases (treated by the mind-tranquilizing and menstruation-regulating acupuncture method), and a control group of 17 cases (treated by the routine acupuncture method for delayed menstrual cycle due to stagnation of the liver-qi). The treatment involved three menstrual cycles. The evaluations were done by scoring the symptoms before treatment and at the end of each menstrual cycle. RESULTS: After treatment, significant differences were found between the two groups in the therapeutic effects (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of the mind-tranquilizing and menstruation-regulating acupuncture method is significantly superior to that of the routine acupuncture method for delayed menstrual cycle.

Autoradiographic analysis of ghrelin receptors in the rat hypothalamus.

Ghrelin exerts potent stimulatory effects on food intake. It is assumed to increase feeding by binding at growth hormone secretagogue receptors (GHS-R), the only sites of action for this gastric hormone identified to date. Initially, the distribution of ghrelin binding sites could only be determined from expression patterns of GHS-R mRNA or the use of immunohistochemical techniques to examine c-fos expression. However, the characterisation of a novel radioligand ([(125)I-his(9)]-ghrelin), has enabled the distribution of GHS-R receptor protein to be directly demonstrated. Here, using quantitative autoradiography, we investigate the distribution and density of ghrelin receptors in the rodent hypothalamus. Specific binding was identified in the appetite-regulating arcuate nucleus, ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus and the lateral hypothalamic area corresponding to the previously reported distribution pattern of GHS-R mRNA. Surprisingly, variations in receptor density were not identified in any of these binding sites upon a change in nutritional status, despite relevant alterations in plasma ghrelin levels being identified. We suggest that this may relate to the paradigm employed to modify nutritional status in the study or could indicate that peripheral ghrelin is unlikely to be the major source of ghrelin that acts in many hypothalamic sites.

[Cloning and sequence analysis of cDNA encoding porcine alphav subunit for FMDV receptor].

Receptors play a crucial role in determining the pathogenesis and tissue tropism of virus. Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) has been showed to use four integrins, alphavbeta1, alphavbeta3, alphavbeta6 and alphavbeta8 as receptors to initiate infection. In this study, the porcine integrin alphav gene was cloned by RT-PCR from the lung tissue of healed pig infected experimently with FMDV, and compared its nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence with the av gene of other animals. The 3141bp cDNA of bovine integrin alphav encodes a polypeptide of 1046 amino acids consisting of a 30-residue putative signal peptide, a 955-residue ectodomain, a 29-residue transmembrane domain, and a 32-residue cytoplasmic domain. The ectodomain contains 11 potential N-linked glycosylation sites (NXT/NXS), 2 calcium binding domains (DX[D/N] XDGXXD) and 18 cysteine residues. The nucleotide sequence similarities of integrin alphav between pig and cattle, human, rheses monkey, house mouse, chicken, dog are 93.3%, 91.5%, 91.4%, 85.6%, 73.2% and 89.9% respectively; and the amino acid sequence similarities are 96.3%, 94.6%, 94.1%, 90.8%, 81.6% and 93.8%, respectively. The alphav gene of cattle and pig exhibited the highest sequence homology. It is possible that host tropism of FMDV may related to divergence in receptors among different species.

[Effect of acupoint injection by Astragalus injection on local SIgA and pathomorphology changes in rats with chronic pelvic inflammatory disease].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupoint injection by astragalus injection on local SIgA and pathomorphologial changes in rats with chronic pelvic inflammatory disease (CPID). METHOD: 50 female Wistar rats were randomly devided into 6 groups, in which CPID model was made except the normal group and sham operation group. The astragalus injection group and the 0.9% NaCl injection group were treated by acupoint injection in Guanyuan (RN4) and Zusanli (ST36). The group was fed Qianjinpian solution into stomach. The histopathologic changes of rats' uterus of each group were observed and SIgA in vagina flushing was detected. RESULT: The model group showed inflammatory changes, and astragalus injection group and Qianjinpian group showed little histopathologic changes. The levels of SIgA in astragalus injection group were significantly higher than those in other groups, but that in the model group was the lowest. CONCLUSION: The deficiency of local SIgA lead to repeatedly attack of CPID. The treatment of acupoint injection by astragalus injection can improve the excretion of SIgA, reinforce the local immunity, and prevent the repeatedly attack.

[Experimental treatment of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease in rats with acupoint injection of Astragalus parenteral solution].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupoint injection with astragalus parenteral solution in rat chronic pelvic inflammatory disease (CPID). METHODS: Fifty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: CPID model was induced in 4 groups, in addition to control group and false surgery group. The rats were given acupoint (Guanyuan and Zusanli) injection with astragalus parenteral solution and saline. The drug group was fed with Qianjinpian solutions. The histopathologic changes of uterus were observed and serum IL-2 and TNF-alpha levels detected. RESULT: The rats in the model group showed chronic inflammatory changes, the animals in astragalus parenteral injection group and Qianjinpian group showed little histopathological changes. The serum TNF-alpha levels in the model group were significantly higher than those in the normal group and the astragalus parenteral injection group; while the IL-2 levels in model group were significantly lower than those of other 5 groups. The TNF-alpha and IL-2 levels in astragalus parenteral injection group were similar to those of normal group. CONCLUSION: The treatment of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease with acupoint injection of astragalus parenteral solution might be effective.

PAHs in aquatic sediment in Hangzhou, China: analytical methods, pollution pattern, risk assessment and sources.

Eleven surface sediment samples, from Hangzhou section of Qiantang River and Jinghang Canal, west Lake the inland river were collected to investigate 17 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution in aquatic sediments of Hangzhou. Accelerated solvent extraction(ASE) was used to extract PAHs from sediments with satisfactory recoveries. It was found that the total PAHs in the sediments ranged from 308.4 to 3037 ng/g dw, and PAHs pollution in sediments from Jinghang Canal were the heaviest. Lowest effect level (LEL) and severe effect level (SEL) sediment quality guidelines were introduced to perform risk assessment for PAHs pollution in aquatic sediments. Only one sample in Jinghang Canal had adverse impact on benthic organism. 2-3 ring PAHs had a noticeable contribution to total PAHs, especially NA, PHEN. A quantity method was used to determine the major source, the results showed petroleum origin was the chief source to PAHs pollution in all sediments with the exception of sediments from Jinghang Canal where combustion sources had a larger contribution.