[Spatial and Temporal Distributions of Nitrogen and Phosphate in the Chaohu Lake].

In order to determine the concentrations, spatial and temporal distributions of nitrogen ( N) and phosphorus (P) nutrients in Chaohu Lake, the surface water samples were collected systemically in different flood seasons by grid sampling methods. Meanwhile, the predominant pollution factors and priority control area were confirmed. The results showed that the concentrations of TP, TN and NO3- -N in the inflowing rivers were higher than the V class water standard, the concentrations of nutrients in wet season were lower than those in normal season and dry season in Nanfei River and Shiwuli River, while the levels of nutrients in the other selected rivers were higher in wet season. The variations of spatial and temporal of nutrients were observed in the Chaohu Lake. The concentrations of N and P nutrients in the western part of Chaohu Lake were higher than those of the eastern part. The elevated concentrations of TP, TN and NH4+ -N were found in the dry season, while the elevated content of NO3- -N was observed in the wet season. The predominant pollution factors in Chaohu Lake were TN and NH4+ -N, the concentrations of these nutrients were decreasing from the western part of the Chaohu Lake to the eastern part of the Chaohu Lake.

Serum proteomes of hypertension patients with abundant phlegm-dampness.

OBJECTIVE: To study the serum proteomes of essential hypertension (EH) patients with abundant phlegm-dampness, and try to find special proteins associated with abundant phlegm-dampness syndrome. METHODS: Fifty-nine hypertension patients were included, and the patients were divided into abundant phlegm-dampness syndrome group (39 cases) and non-phlegm-dampness syndrome group (20 cases). To find the special proteins associated with abundant phlegm-dampness, the EH patients with non-phlegm-dampness and another 30 healthy persons were regarded as control. Weak cation nano-magnetic beads were used to capture proteins in serum, and proteomic fingerprint was made by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). All the proteomic fingerprints were analyzed by Biomarker Wizard 3.1 Software. Then Biomarker Patterns Software (BPS) 5.0 was used to identify the differentiated proteins, which could induce phlegm-dampness. RESULTS: There were 102 differentiated protein peaks between abundant phlegm-dampness and the control group. The best markers of abundant phlegm-dampness were protein peaks with the mass to charge ratio (m/z) of 9,334.958 m/z (the expression increased), 9,280.191 m/z (the expression decreased), 8,030.794 m/z (the expression increased), and 2,941.551 m/z (the expression increased). These four protein peaks found by BPS could induce abundant phlegm-dampness. They could be used to separate the abundant phlegm-dampness syndrome from the healthy persons and the hypertension patients with non-phlegm-dampness. The sensitivity of the model was 93.103% (27/29), specificity was 92% (23/25), false positive rate was 8% (2/25), false negative rate was 6.897% (2/29) and Youden's index was 85.103%. Blind test data indicated a sensitivity of 90% (9/10) and a specificity of 88% (22/25), and the false positive rate was 12% (3/25), false negative rate was 10% (1/10), and Youden's index was 78%. CONCLUSION: The differentiated proteins between the abundant phlegm-dampness group and the control group are the material foundation of abundant phlegm-dampness. The selected differentiated proteins can be used to distinguish the EH patients with abundant phlegm-dampness from the healthy persons and the EH patients with non-phlegm-dampness. The molecular biology diagnosis model can offer an objective and accurate way for TCM syndrome differentiation.