[Association between tea drinking and stroke in adults in Zhejiang province: a prospective study].

Objective: To prospectively explore the association between tea drinking and incidence of stroke of adults of Zhejiang province. Methods: After excluding participants with heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes at baseline study, 53 916 participants aged 30-79 years in the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) study from Tongxiang were included for final analysis. Cox regression model was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) for the association of tea drinking with incident stroke. Results: The main type of drinking tea was black tea (79.78%), followed by green tea (20.08%). Of the 53 916 participants, the proportion of participants who drank tea at least once per week was 31.27%. The corresponding proportions for men and women were 60.24% and 10.30%, respectively. Among 391 512 person-years of the follow-up program (median 7.26 years), a total of 1 487 men and 1 769 women were diagnosed with stroke. After adjusting for socio-demographic status, lifestyle, BMI, waist circumference, and systolic blood pressure, HR for incident stroke decreased with the increase of daily average tea consumption amount (P=0.000 6). Compared with participants who did not drink tea weekly, the HRs for incident stroke in those consuming tea 0.1-, 3.0- and ≥5.0 g/d were 0.93 (95%CI: 0.85-1.00), 0.88 (95%CI: 0.77-0.99) and 0.79 (95%CI: 0.69-0.89), respectively. The HRs for incident stroke in smokers and non-smokers who consumed tea ≥5.0 g/d were 0.71 (95%CI: 0.59-0.86) and 0.97 (95%CI: 0.77-1.21), respectively, compared with current smokers and non-smokers who did not drink tea weekly (P=0.040 0). The corresponding HRs for alcohol drinkers and non-drinkers were 0.96 (95%CI: 0.76-1.22) and 0.70 (95%CI: 0.58-0.84), respectively (P=0.040 0). The corresponding HRs for central obese persons and non-central obese persons were 0.60 (95%CI: 0.44-0.81) and 0.86 (95%CI: 0.73-1.01), respectively (P=0.040 0). Conclusion: Tea drinking had an effect on reducing the possibility of incident stroke, especially among those who were current smokers, non-alcohol drinkers and central obese.

[Factors influencing the quality of Peucedanum Praeruptorum Dunn and "assessment of quality based on its features"].

The factors influencing the evaluation of the quality of Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn, called "Qianhu" in Chinese, include the botanical origin, places of production, harvesting time and its nature of "Ci Xiong" (bolting and unbolting) etc. The orthodox products are derived from Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn in successive dynasties, especially the unbolting one produced in Anhui and Zhejiang Provinces picked up during the Beginning of Winter. The "assessment of quality based on its features" includes the "Earthworm head" , "black skin of the root" , "gold inlaid with white jade" , "soft texture like sweet rice" and "strong fragrant smell" . Therefore, the "assessment of quality based on its features" is the summary of all its properties, including the morphology, color, flavor, and property, and it's also the background for evaluating its quality and embodying the wisdom of distinguishing experiences of ancient herbologists.

An integrated method of therapeutic lifestyle change for older adults with dyslipidaemia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of therapeutic lifestyle change with a non-pharmacological intervention method in older adults with dyslipidaemia. STUDY DESIGN: Stratified randomized trial. METHODS: Participants with dyslipidaemia (n = 214) aged ≥60 years were randomized to the conventional guide group, the educational course (EC) group, the telephone call (PC) group or the PC + EC group for 24 weeks. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the knowledge, attitude and practice score for serum lipids were measured at baseline (T1), mid-intervention (week 12, T2) and post-intervention (week 24, T3). RESULTS: Except the conventional guide group (n = 62), the PC group (n = 56), the EC group (n = 49) and the PC + EC group (n = 47) showed significant intra-group differences in serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and knowledge, attitude and practice score after the intervention. The improvements were most prominent and sustained over time in the PC + EC group at post-intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The PC + EC method is more efficient for improving serum lipids and enhancing health awareness than any single programme in older adults with dyslipidaemia. This overlapped therapeutic lifestyle change method may serve as a cost-effective adjunct and ensure the continuity of high-quality health services for patients with dyslipidaemia.

Sorbic acid improves growth performance and regulates insulin-like growth factor system gene expression in swine.

Sorbic acid (SA) is a PUFA with a conjugated double bond. The conjugated fatty acids, including CLA, are multifunctional bioactive fatty acids with the ability to improve growth performance. The effect of SA on pig growth performance was examined to determine its mechanism of action. The ADG, ADFI, and serum IGF-I concentration were examined, as were IGF-I secretion and IGF system gene expression in hepatocytes. Two hundred forty 21-d-old Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire weaned piglets (6.86 ± 0.02 kg) were randomly divided into 4 groups, each consisting of 3 pens of 20 piglets (10 female and 10 male). The 4 groups of piglets were kept in a temperature-controlled room (26 to 28 °C), and feed and water were provided to the pigs ad libitum. Weanling piglets were fed diets that included 0, 0.5, 2, or 4 g of SA/kg for 42 d. The diet supplemented with 0.5 g/kg of SA improved (P < 0.05) ADG, BW, and G:F, whereas supplementation with all 3 SA doses increased (P < 0.05) ADG and G:F at 21 to 42 d of age. The greatest concentration of plasma triglycerides was observed (P < 0.05) in the 4 g/kg of SA group. The SA increased (0.5 g of SA/kg, P > 0.05; 1 g of SA/kg, P < 0.05; and 2 g of SA/kg, P < 0.05, respectively) plasma total serum protein and globulin concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. It was noted that the smallest SA treatment dose (0.5 g/kg) dramatically increased (P < 0.05) serum IGF-I concentration but decreased (P < 0.05) the concentrations of blood urea N and cortisol. The SA increased (P < 0.05) IGF-I, IGF-II, IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR), and PPARα gene mRNA expression and IGF-I secretion, but not (P > 0.05) IGFBP or PPARγ mRNA expression, in pig primary hepatocytes. These results indicate that SA improves growth performance by regulating IGF system gene expression and hormone secretion.

[Clinical and experimental studies on preventing and treating anaphylactic asthma with Zusanli point immunotherapy].

We have studied on preventing and treating anaphylactic asthma with Zusanli (S36) point immunotherapy (ZPIT). Sixty-nine patients were observed. The results showed that the clinical curative effect of ZPIT was not only much higher than that of conventional desensitization therapy, but also the patients' total IgE level was reduced, anti-acarid IgE was lowered, SIgA level was raised, the absolute eosinophilic granulocyte level dropped and pulmonary function recovered. Animal experiment results showed that the ZPIT could more effectively suppress the guinea pigs' anaphylactic asthma allergized by albumin and more obviously resist the guinea pigs' bronchial spasm induced by histamine and acetylcholine than the conventional desensitization therapy and injected normal saline. The immunomodulating action of the ZPIT are elucidated from clinical study and animal experiment in the paper.

[Pharmacological actions of hyphae body of Auricularia auricula (L. ex Hook) Underw and its alcoholic extract].

The percent peripheral blood T lymphocytes were elevated and HC50 reduction induced by cyclophosphamide was recovered after the hyphae body of Auricularia auricula had been ip administered in mice. The action of blood platelet agglutination in rats induced by ADP was inhibited and the time of erythrocytic electrophoresis in mice was shortened after the alcoholic extract had been ig administered.

Retroviral gene transfer of epidermal growth factor receptor into HL60 cells results in a partial block of retinoic acid-induced granulocytic differentiation.

HL60 cells are devoid of endogenous epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). They respond to retinoic acid and undergo terminal granulocytic differentiation. EGFR complementary DNA was introduced into HL60 cells by retroviral gene transfer. Scatchard plot showed that the binding characteristics are identical to those of A431 cells. HL60-EGFR cells were estimated to express 34,000 EGFR/cell (Kd = 5 nM). The tyrosine phosphorylation upon ligand binding is the first step of signal transduction. The dominant phosphotyrosyl proteins in epidermal growth factor-stimulated HL60-EGFR cells include a 170 kDa protein (EGFR itself), and 125 and 53 kDa proteins. The EGFR signal results in the induction of 92 kDa gelatinase/matrix metalloproteinase in HL60-EGFR cells, thereby providing evidence of the function of the exogenous EGFR and a semiquantitative measure of the EGFR signal. These HL60-EGFR cells offer a unique opportunity to examine the potentially important role of EGFR (c-erbB) in maintaining homeostasis between self-renewal and differentiation. c-erbB has been shown to play a physiological role in the self-renewal of the very early avian stem cells which do express EGFR. The v-erbB (double truncated EGFR) has been shown to cause avian erythroblastosis. We found that these HL60-EGFR cells responded to retinoic acid differently from the HL60-control cells. A partial block of only 45% granulocytic differentiation and concomitant proliferation was noted, consistent with a shift of balance between self-renewal and differentiation toward the former.

Pentose phosphate pathway alterations in multi-drug resistant leukemic T-cells: 31P NMR and enzymatic studies.

31P NMR studies were carried out on the parental drug-sensitive human T-lymphoblastoid cell line CCRI-CEM (CEM) and its multi-drug-resistant (MDR) CEM-VBL100 variants, to assess the role of the pentose phosphate (PP) in MDR expression. CEM and CEM-VBL100 were incubated in the presence of 2-deoxyglucose, as recently proposed by our group (Clin. Chim. Acta 208: 39, 1992). Accumulation of 2-deoxyglucose 6-phosphate was much lower in the drug-resistant than in sensitive cells, indicating PP shunt activation in the MDR variants. This result was confirmed by enzymatic analyses, which demonstrated that, with respect to the parental line, the MDR variant was characterized by a) unaltered hexokinase activity; b) higher glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity; c) increased levels of reduced glutathione and marked increase of glutathione peroxidase activity after cell exposure to an oxidizing agent (tert-butylhydroperoxide). These results support the view that cell detoxification mechanisms mediated by the pentose phosphate pathway may contribute to the expression of MDR in tumours.

[Efficacy of xiaoxingzhang guttae ophthalmic eye drops in the treatment of experimental herpes simplex keratitis].

The new guttae ophthalmic Xiaoxingzhang (XXZ) was extracted from Radix Actinidiae, a traditional Chinese herbal drug. The 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of XXZ on type I Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1) in virus cell cultures is 165.48-174.73 micrograms/ml. However, XXZ concentrations greater than 400 micrograms/ml did not cause any microscopically visible disruption of vero cells. The efficacy of XXZ in the treatment of experimental Herpes Simplex Keratitis (HSK) in rabbits is higher than that of idoxuridine. The effective doses of XXZ are not toxic to corneal epithelium. The results suggest that XXZ as a new anti-HSV preparation is potentialy useful in the treatment of patients with HSK.

[Studies on the immunoregulative action of polysaccharides isolated from hyphal bodies of Lentinnus edodes (PHL) on hypoimmunity in mice].

PHL possesses significant antagonist action for immunodepression in mice induced by different immunodepressors. It can reverse the hypomacrophage function and the reduction in percentage of T-lymphoid cell induced by hydrocortisone (50 or 80 mg/kg, sc), reverse the reduction of phagocytosis of reticuloendothelial system (RES) induced by hydroprednisone acetate (20 and 40 mg/kg, ip), restore the cyclophosphamide-suppressed delayed anaphylaxis reaction in mice (40 and 80 mg/kg, ip). In vitro PHL at a dose of 1 and 10 micrograms/ml accelerated lymphocyte mitosis induced by conA and PHA.