[A descriptive analysis of tea consumption in adult twins in China].

Objective: To describe the distribution characteristics of tea consumption in adult twins recruited in the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) and provide clues to genetic and environmental influences on tea consumption. Methods: Enrolled in CNTR during 2010-2018, 25 264 twin pairs aged 18 years and above were included in subsequent analysis. Random effect models were used to estimate tea consumption in the population and regional distribution characteristics. The concordance rate of the behavior and difference in consumption volume of tea within pairs were also described. Results: The mean age of all subjects was (35.38±12.45) years old. The weekly tea consumers accounted for 17.0%, with an average tea consumption of (3.36±2.44) cups per day. The proportion of weekly tea consumers was higher among males, 50-59 years old, southern, urban, educated, and the first-born in the twin pair (P<0.05), and lower among unmarried individuals (P<0.001). Within-pair analysis showed that the concordance rate of tea consumption of monozygotic (MZ) twins was higher than that of dizygotic (DZ) twins and the overall heritability of tea consumption was 13.45% (11.38%-15.51%). Stratified by the characteristics mentioned above, only in males, the concordance rate of MZ showed a tendency to be greater than that of DZ (all P<0.05). The differences in consumption volume of tea within twin pairs were minor in MZ among males (P<0.05), while the differences were not significant in female twins. Conclusion: There were discrepancies in the distribution of tea consumption among twins of different demographic and regional characteristics. Tea consumption was mainly influenced by environmental factors and slightly influenced by genetic factors. The size of genetic factors varied with gender, age, and region, and gender was a potential modified factor.

Association between Ca/Mg/P status and suppurative tonsillitis in children.

Suppurative tonsillitis (ST) is a common respiratory disease in children. This study aims to investigate the association between calcium (Ca)/magnesium (Mg)/phosphorus (P) and the risk of onset of suppuration in tonsillitis in children. Seventy children with ST and 61 age- and sex-matched children with non-ST were enrolled in this study. The association between Ca/Mg/P and suppuration risk in tonsillitis was investigated. The relationship between Ca/Mg/P and the potential risk factors for ST were also studied. White blood cell (WBC), platelet (PLT), c-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels were significantly higher in the ST group than those in the non-ST group (p less than 0.05). Mg and P levels were significantly lower in the ST group than those in the non-ST group (p less than 0.05). There was no obvious difference in Ca level between the ST group and the non-ST group (p=0.762). A significantly negative association between P and PCT was noted (r=-0.236, p=0.035). The results indicated that Mg/P disorder may be associated with the susceptibility to suppuration in children with tonsillitis, inflammatory indexes may reflect this risk.

Movement disorders possibly induced by traditional chinese herbs.

The authors describe the neurological presentation and CT/MRI findings in 4 patients exposed to overdoses of decoctions of two different Chinese herbs. Case 1, a 15-year-old boy, ingested herba serissae along with the safe-dosage Salvia miltiorrhiza for treating a left renal stone. Sophora subprostrata root (SSR) was primarily used for treating three other diseases: viral B hepatitis in case 2, a 9-year-old boy; infection of the throat and a low fever in case 3, a 11-year-old girl, and a minor facial infection in case 4, a 12-year-old boy. All patients showed complex neurological manifestations primarily including convulsions, mental changes and dystonia syndromes. Their CT and/or MRI revealed abnormal density lesions in the striatum and globus pallidus bilaterally. They excluded the possibility of Wilson's disease in each of the 4 patients and suggested that overdosage of SSR and herba serissae could cause intoxications of the central nervous system, particularly damage to the basal ganglia. Chemically, coumarin (case 1) and matrine and oxymatrine (cases 2-4) in the two medicinal herbs are suggested to be possibly responsible for the morbidity.

[Study of the antiosteoporosis effects of bushenqianggu capsule].

OBJECTIVE: To study the antiosteoporosis effects of Bushenqianggu capsule. METHOD: Observing the pharmacological effects of Bushenqianggu capsule with blank and positive control, and then analyzing the data with biological statistics. RESULT: The testis and uterus weight index of "the kidney assessed" model mice, weight of thighbone and blood concentration of Ca2+ increased significantly. Meanwhile, the thighbone mass density of castrated rats was improved and the incidence of the thighbone fracture in the osteoporosis model rats induced by retinoic acid was reduced. Besides, it had analgesia and anti-inflammatory effects. CONCLUSION: Bushenqianggu capsule has a good effect on osteoporosis, which provides evidence for clinical use.

Neutral and basic taxoid contents in the needles of Taxus species.

The concentrations of paclitaxel, 10-deacetylbaccatin III (10-DAB III), basic taxoids (= "total alkaloids", TA), taxine B and isotaxine B (= "taxines B", TBS) in the dried needles of 127 trees belonging to 30 Taxus cultivars and species were determined by HPLC. Neutral and basic taxoid contents varied in individual trees within species as well as among varieties and species. The objective of this large analysis was to select the highest-yielding trees for each metabolite.

Experimental study of antidiarrheal activity of Salicairine.

Experimental antidiarrheal activity of a traditionally used medication, Salicairine, was demonstrated in comparison to loperamide by significant inhibition of castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice (increases in hard faeces/total faeces ratio of 38 and 54 and 5 and 54% with respect to controls, at 0.5 and 1 mL/kg and 1 and 2 mg/kg, respectively) and bisacodyl-induced increase in large intestine transit in rats (125 and 280 and 210% with respect to controls, at 0.4 and 2 mL/kg Salicairine and 5 mg/kg loperamide, respectively). Salicairine was able to reduce contractions of isolated rat duodenum induced by barium chloride and acetylcholine, although not completely (that is about 60%) as seen with loperamide. Also, it did not change normal gastrointestinal transit in mice at doses of 0.5 to 1 mL/kg, conversely to loperamide which had a significant effect (decrease of 50%) at 2 mg/kg. Finally, Salicairine at 0.01 mL/mL, like loperamide at 0.2 mg/mL, significantly increased net fluid absorption in rat colon, either in basal conditions (30 and 64% respectively) or after a prostaglandin E1-induced increase in net fluid secretion (41 and 35%, respectively). The antidiarrheal activity of Salicairine is possibly related, at least in part, to an increase in colon net fluid absorption or a decrease in net fluid secretion.

[Determination of the contents of bufadienolide and borneol in liushen pills].

The contents of bufadienolide and borneol in 01 and 02 Liushen Pills were determined by second-derivative spectrophotometry and gas chromatography respectively. The average recover of bufadienolide by SDS was 100.12% (n = 6, RSD = 1.44%) and of borneol by GC 97.68% (n = 4, RSD = 1.32%).

[Therapeutic effects and mechanisms of tetramethylpyrazine on lung injury in acute haemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis in rats].

To evaluate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), a Chinese herbal medicine, on the lung injury in bile-induced acute haemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis (AHNP) in the SD rats, the rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operative, untreated and TMP treated. AHNP model were induced by ligation with 5% taurocholate. The changes of lung index, serum lipid peroxide (LPO), TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, and lung pathology at light and electron microscope were all investigated at 1, 6, 12 hours after induction of AHNP model. Survival rate of AHNP in rats were recorded also. Results of the study showed that in untreated group, the time-related progressive pancreatic haemorrhage and necrosis, accompanied by pancreatitis-associated lung injury, such as pronounced pulmonary congestion, alveolar and interstitial edema, polymorphonuclear granulocytes infiltration, transparent membrane formation, the density of layer body in type II endothelial cells decreasing, with some vacuole formation, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum swollen, basal membrane of endothelial cells rupture were observed. The level of LPO elevated at 1 hour after induction of AHNP and peaked at 12 hours. TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was increased. Using TMP treatment, survival rate increased, and lung at light and electron microscope were much improved and lung index, value of LPO, TXB2 decreased significantly, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha increased slightly, the ratio of TXB2/6-keto-PGF1 alpha was stabilized. It was suggested that TMP has definite therapeutic effects on AHNP-related lung injury in rats, and exerted by scavenging oxygen free radical, inhibiting synthesis of TXA2, augmenting production of PGI2 and maintaining balance between TXA2 and PGI2.

[Application of beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex in liushen pills].

01 Liushen Pills (prepared by beta-CD inclusion complex) and 02 Liushen Pills (prepared according to the normal way) were compared by quality inspection, stability test, pharmacological experiments of irritative effects and dissolution test. The results indicated that 01 Liushen Pills were superior to 02 Liushen Pills.