RESUMEN
The copper pestle and mortar from "Eunuch Pharmacy" (Huan Zhe Yao Fu), unearthed in the pit for bathing in the tomb of the King Chu in the Shi Zi Mountain, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, was a medical device used for "Eunuch Pharmacy" (Huan Zhe Yao Fu) in the Palace of the King Chu in the Western Han Dynasty. The appearance of copper pestle and mortar with the amount of copper, and the bath apparatus indicates that there was a practice of medical bathing at that time. According to archaeological findings and relevant literature, "Eunuch Pharmacy" (Huan Zhe Yao Fu) was a medical institution which was in charge of eunuchs in the Palace of the King Chu. These findings show that two medical systems existed in the Palace of the King Chu in the Western Han Dynasty. One was the medical system headed by medical officials, another was a medical administrative service organization and mainly implemented by eunuchs, managing the palace medicine and related instruments, processing and using medicine, and testing medicine.
Asunto(s)
Medicina , Farmacias , China , Medicina Tradicional ChinaRESUMEN
The selenium (Se) level in barley and maize from 43 communes of Qidong county, a high risk area of liver cancer in China, were assayed. An inverse correlation between the Se level and the liver cancer incidence was observed. An inverse correlation was also observed between the blood Se level and liver cancer incidence of the local residents. When selenite solution was sprayed on the crops during their preflowering, the content of Se in barley and maize was increased by 6 fold over the control. It is suggested that the increase of blood Se level of the residents who live in the low-Se areas by this method be useful in the prevention of liver cancer.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias Hepáticas/epidemiología , Selenio/análisis , China , Hordeum/análisis , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/sangre , Neoplasias Hepáticas/prevención & control , Selenio/sangre , Zea mays/análisisRESUMEN
The epidemiological relationship between selenium level and age-adjusted human cancer mortality (incidence) was studied in 24 regions located in eight provinces of China. Statistically significant inverse correlation was found between age-adjusted total cancer death rates and selenium levels in whole blood from local residents. In the areas with high selenium levels, there was significantly lower mortality in both males and females from cancer of the stomach and esophagus. In addition, an inverse correlation between regional distribution of liver cancer incidence and selenium contents in blood and grains in Qidong county, an area with high risk of hepatoma, was observed. With the intention of providing selenium supplements to residents living in low selenium regions, the selenium content in grains was raised by means of foliar spraying of crops with Na2SeO3 solution.