Choline induced cardiac dysfunction by inhibiting the production of endogenous hydrogen sulfide in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

To investigate the exact effects of dietary choline on hypertensive heart disease (HHD) and explore the potential mechanisms, male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were randomly divided into five groups as follows: WKY group, WKY + Choline group, SHR group, SHR + Choline group, and SHR + Choline + NaHS group. In choline treatment groups, rats were fed with 1.3% (w/v) choline in the drinking water for 3 months. The rats in the SHR + Choline + NaHS group were intraperitoneally injected with NaHS (100 micromol/kg/day, a hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donor) for 3 months. After 3 months, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and fractional shortening (LVFS), the indicators of cardiac function measured by echocardiography, were increased significantly in SHR as compared to WKY, although there was no significant difference in collagen volumes and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio between the two groups, indicating the early stage of cardiac hypertrophy. There was a significant decrease in LVEF and LVFS and an increase in collagen volumes and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in SHR fed with choline, meanwhile, plasma H2S levels were significantly decreased significantly in SHR fed with choline accompanying by the decrease of cystathionine-gamma-lyase (CSE) activity. Three months of NaHS significantly increased plasma H2S levels, ameliorated cardiac dysfunction and inhibited cardiac fibrosis and apoptosis in SHR fed with choline. In conclusion, choline aggravated cardiac dysfunction in HHD through inhibiting the production of endogenous H2S, which was reversed by supplementation of exogenous H2S donor.

[Mechanism of Ziyin recipe for treatment of ovulatory infertility: a network pharmacology-based study and clinical observations].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanisms of Ziyin recipe for treatment of ovulatory infertility based on network pharmacology analysis and evaluate the clinical efficacy of this recipe. OBJECTIVE: TCMSP, PubChem, Genecards, String, Swiss Target Prediction, and Uniprot databases were searched to identify all the action targets of Ziyin recipe and ovulatory infertility to construct the PPI network. Gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed and the "TCM-active ingredient-target-pathway" network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.6.0. We also designed a controlled clinical trial to verify the clinical effectiveness of Ziyin recipe. The patients were randomized into 2 groups to receive treatment with Western medicine including CC and HMG (control group) and additional treatment with Ziyin recipe, and the dosage of GN, follicular development days, E2 level of a single dominant follicle on trigger day, ovulation rate, the rate of LUFS, and clinical pregnancy rate were compared between the two groups. OBJECTIVE: We identified 22 active ingredients and 354 targets of action in Ziyin recipe, 791 targets of ovulatory infertility, and 96 common targets of action shared by Ziyin recipe and ovulatory infertility. According to Degree, the key targets included SRC, MAPK1, HSP90aa1, MAPK3, PTPN11, ESR1, Akt1, EGFR, NR3C1 and KNG1. Enrichment analysis of GO biological process showed that Ziyin recipe mainly focused on steroid hormonemediated signaling pathway, oxidation, reduction, and apoptosis. The most significantly enriched signaling pathways included PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, RAP1 signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, estrogen signaling pathway, ovarian steroid production, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. The results of the clinical trial showed that Ziyin recipe significantly reduced the dose of GN, accelerated follicle development, increased E2 level of single dominant follicle on the trigger day, and increased the cycle ovulation rate and pregnancy rate. OBJECTIVE: The therapeutic effects of Ziyin recipe are probably mediated through different pathways to promote follicle development, thus improving ovulation rate and clinical pregnancy rate of infertile patients with ovulatory disorders.

Acute Cellular Rejection and Infection Rates in Alemtuzumab vs Traditional Induction Therapy Agents for Lung and Heart Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Heart and lung transplantation is a high-risk procedure requiring intensive immunosuppressive therapy for preventing organ rejection. Alemtuzumab, a CD52-specific monoclonal antibody, is increasingly used for induction therapy compared with conventional agents. However, there has been no systematic review comparing its efficacy with traditional therapeutic drugs. METHODS: PubMed and EMBASE were searched to October 1, 2017, for articles on alemtuzumab in cardiothoracic transplant surgery. Of the 433 studies retrieved, 8 were included in the final meta-analysis. RESULTS: In lung transplantation, alemtuzumab use was associated with lower odds of acute cellular rejection compared with antithymocyte globulin (odds ratio [OR], 0.21; 95% CI, 0.11-0.40; P < .001), lower acute rejection rates (OR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.03-0.55; P < .01), and infection rates (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.35-1.36; P = .33) when compared with basiliximab. Multivariate meta-regression analysis found that mean age, male sex, single lung transplant, double lung transplant, cytomegalovirus or Epstein-Barr virus status, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and mean ischemic time did not significantly influence acute rejection outcomes. For heart transplantation, alemtuzumab use was associated with lower acute rejection rates when compared with tacrolimus (OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.30-0.66; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Alemtuzumab use was associated with lower rejection rates when compared with conventional induction therapy agents (antithymocyte globulin, basiliximab, and tacrolimus) in heart and lung transplantation. However, this was based on observational studies. Randomized controlled trials are needed to verify its clinical use.

[Association between maternal tea consumption in pregnancy and birth outcomes].

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between maternal tea consumption and birth outcomes. Methods: From January 2005 to December 2010, pregnant women were recruited from Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Hospital. The basic information and the situation of tea consumption during pregnancy were investigated using questionnaire and the birth outcomes of newborns were followed up. Finally, 500 pairs of mothers and infants with complete and standard-compliant data were included in the analysis. The differences of birth outcomes between the tea consumption group and the non tea consumption group were compared and the associations between tea consumption and birth outcomes were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: Mother's tea consumption rate was 32.8% (164 cases) during pregnancy. The rate of low birth weight in the tea consumption group was (5.5%, 9 cases) and higher than that in the non-tea consumption group (2.1%, 7 cases) (P=0.042). There was no significant difference in the rate of premature birth, small for gestational age, fetal distress, and macrosomia between the two groups After the adjustment of maternal age, education level, family income, weight gain during pregnancy, pre-pregnancy BMI, parity, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, neonatal gender and gestational age, compared with non-tea consumption group, there was a positive effect on low birth weight, OR(95%CI) was 4.76 (1.06-21.48). The OR (95%CI) value of the low birth weight risk of the tea group was 5.30 (1.04-26.92) compared with the non-tea consumption group after the adjustment of additional factors such as passive smoking, coffee consumption, folic acid supplement, mineral supplement, carbonated beverage consumption. Simultaneously, compared with non-tea consumption group, there was no statistically significant association between tea consumption during pregnancy and premature birth, small for gestational age, fetal distress and macrosomia (P>0.05). Conclusion: Tea consumption during pregnancy was a risk factor for low birth weight in offspring.

[Efficacy of Weitan Waifu patch on the postsurgical gastroparesis syndrome of gastrointestinal cancer: a multi-center trial].

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of the Weitan Waifu patch on the postsurgical gastroparesis syndrome (PGS) of gastrointestinal cancer. Methods: The multi-center, double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted with superiority design. Patients with PGS of gastrointestinal cancer diagnosed in 4 AAA hospitals and the abdominal symptom manifested as cold syndrome by Chinese local syndrome differentiation were recruited. These patients were randomly divided into two groups according to 1∶1 proportion. Placebo or Weitan Waifu patch was applied in control group or intervention group, respectively, based on the basic treatments, including nutrition support, gastrointestinal decompression, promoting gastric dynamics medicine.Two acupuncture points (Zhongwan and Shenque) were stuck with placebo in control group or patch in treatment group. The intervention course was 14 days or reached the effective standard. Results: From July 15, 2013 to Jun 3, 2015, 128 participants were recruited and 120 eligible cases were included in the full analysis set (FAS), and 60 cases in each group. 88 cases were included in the per-protocol set (PPS), including 45 cases in the treatment group and 43 cases in the control group. In the FAS, the clinical effective rate in the treatment group was 68.3%, significantly superior than 41.7% of the control group (P=0.003). The medium time of effective therapy in the treatment group was 8 days, significantly shorter than 10 days in the control group (P=0.017). In the FAS, 3 adverse events occurred in the treatment group, including mild to moderate decrustation, pruritus and nausea. The incidence rate of adverse events was 5.0% (3/60) and these symptoms were spontaneously remitted after drug withdrawal. No severe adverse events were observed in the control group. There was no significant difference between these two groups (P=0.244). Conclusion: Weitan Waifu patch is a safely and effectively therapeutic method for patients with PGS (cold syndrome) of gastroenterological cancer. Trial registration: International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number Register, ISRCTN18291857.

[Clinical characteristics and outcome comparison between atrial fibrillation patients underwent catheter ablation under general aesthesia or local anesthesia and sedation].

Objective: To compare the outcome of radiofrequency catheter ablation under local anesthesia/sedation (S) or general anesthesia(GA) in atrial fibrillation patients. Methods: Data of 498 patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation in our departmentfrom January 2014 to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Two hundred and twenty patients assigned to the GA group, the other 278 patients to the S group. Patients were followed clinically every 3 months within one year after procedure. Immediate electrocardiogram was performed in patients with palpitation or choking sensation in chest. The end point of the study was recurrence of any atrial tachyarrhythmia lasting >30 seconds in device interrogation, 24-hour Holter monitoring or 12-lead electrocardiogram after a single procedure. After the ablation procedure, a blanking period of 3 months was allowed according to the guidelines. Procedure time, radiofrequency time, fluoroscopy time, the detection of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, the success rate and the complications were compared between the two groups. Results: There was no difference in the baseline characteristics between the two groups, such as age, gender, BMI, complications, LVEF, LAD (all P>0.05). The duration of procedure ((117.8±51.7)minutes vs.(115.4±36.9)minutes, P=0.79), duration of fluoroscopy((12.5±11.2)minutes vs. (10.4±10.2)minutes, P=0.35), duration of radiofrequency((40.1±12.9)minutes vs. (48.6±44.3)minutes, P=0.48) were similar between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with S group, discovery of the frequency of atrioventricular node reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) was significantly lower in GA group (0 vs. 3.6%(10/278), P<0.01), but the difference disappeared with repeat electrophysiological examination when patients become conscious from GA(3.2%(7/220) vs. 3.6%(10/278), P=0.311). The difference of atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) was similar between the two groups(0.9%(2/220) vs. 0.7%(2/278), P=0.841). Compared with S group, reflection of vagus nerve was less in GA group (1.4%(3/220) vs. 8.6%(24/278), P=0.026). After following up of (356±92) days, freedom from atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter/atrial tachyarrhythmia was similar between the two groups(77.9%(162/208) vs. 79.9%(215/269), P=0.818). Conclusion: General anesthesia is a promising method to atrial fibrillation ablation, in view of stable patient status and safety for the procedure. There is no difference in complications, recurrence of arrhythmia between the two groups, but detection rate of AVNRT is lower in GA group.

[Preliminary discussion of the we media used in the teaching of the history of medicine].

With the increase of new Internet platform, student access to knowledge is more and more diversified, ensuing in the challenge to the traditional classroom model. In order to be able to better attract the attention of students, and to guide the students' interest in learning, the author reform in the history of medicine electives, we push the micro letter public articles into the traditional classroom teaching. In order to enable students to actively participate in public reading and writing, a series of measures is adopted with better effect, full mobilization of the enthusiasm and interest of students, training of the abilities of the students, popularization and promotion of history of medical knowledge and mutual promotion of both teaching and learning.

Norisoboldine attenuates inflammatory pain via the adenosine A1 receptor.

BACKGROUND: Norisoboldine (NOR) is a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Radix Linderae, a traditional Chinese medicine. Our previous studies have demonstrated that it produces anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatoid arthritis effects. METHODS: The present study was undertaken to explore the analgesic effects of NOR and its potential mechanism in the formalin test and the acetic acid writhing test. RESULTS: Oral administration of NOR dose dependently attenuated the formalin-induced pain responses in the second phase, and reduced formalin-induced paw oedema. It also diminished acetic acid-induced writhing responses but had no effect on acute thermal pain in the hotplate test. The mechanistic studies suggested that the adenosine system, but not the opioid receptor system, is involved in NOR-induced antinociception. Naloxone, a non-selective opioid receptor antagonist, had no effect on NOR-induced analgesic action. However, caffeine (a non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist) completely reversed the analgesic effect of NOR in formalin-induced nociceptive responses in the second phase, and 8-cyclopentyl-1, 3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX, a selective adenosine A1 receptor antagonist) completely inhibited NOR-induced analgesia in both formalin-induced nociceptive responses and acetic acid-induced writhing responses. In addition, NOR reduced formalin-induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in the spinal cord, which is also blocked by DPCPX. Furthermore, NOR decreased forskolin-evoked cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels in mouse spinal cord neuronal cultures through the adenosine A1 receptor. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that NOR produces the analgesic effect in inflammatory pain by a mechanism related to the adenosine system.

Molecular cloning of type I collagen cDNA and nutritional regulation of type I collagen mRNA expression in grass carp.

Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) are important Chinese freshwater fish, and in China, the faba bean has been used as the sole food source for grass carp to transform them into crisp grass carp. Because of this, crisp grass carp has become an economically important fish because of its increased muscle hardness. To study the nutritional regulation of type I collagen in faba bean-fed grass carp, we isolated type I collagen alpha 2 (COL1A2) on the basis of our isolation of COL1A1. The COL1A2 cDNA was found to be 4899 bp in length and included a 4059-bp coding sequence (CDS) and encoded a polypeptide of 1352 AA. The protein peptide molecular weight was 127.39 kD, and the theoretical isoelectric point was 9.37. The COL1A2 protein possessed five α-helixes, eight ß-sheets, 16 regions of triple helical repeats, 21 low-complexity regions, 10 function domains and two zinc-binding sites; however, no calcium-binding sites were observed. The mRNA expression of COL1A1 and COL1A2 was assessed in eight tissues (muscle, hepatopancreas, intestine, gills, skin, fin, kidney and spleen) from grass carp and crisp grass carp by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Expression of COL1A1 in the muscle, intestines and skin of crisp grass carp was higher than that in grass carp, and expression of COL1A2 in the muscle, gills, fin and skin of crisp grass carp was higher than that in grass carp. In the muscle of crisp grass carp, expression of COL1A1 and COL1A2 was higher than that in grass carp, which was further confirmed by real-time PCR, and collagen content also was enhanced. These results demonstrated that type I collagen was closely related to the increased muscle hardness of faba bean-fed grass carp.

Therapeutic effect of norisoboldine, an alkaloid isolated from Radix Linderae, on collagen-induced arthritis in mice.

The alkaloid fraction of Radix Linderae, the main active component of this herb drug, has been proven to exhibit anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antimicrobial activities. The present study was undertaken to investigate the therapeutic potential of norisoboldine, the major isoquinoline alkaloid present in Radix Linderae, in collagen II -induced arthritis (CIA) of mice as well as the possible mechanisms. CIA was induced in mice by immunization with chicken type II collagen (II). After boosted on day 21, mice were treated with norisoboldine (10, 20, 40 mg/kg) for twenty consecutive days. The clinical scores, body weight changes and joint histopathology were evaluated. Norisoboldine treatment significantly alleviated the severity of the disease, based on the reduced clinical scores and elevated the lowered body weights of model mice. Meanwhile, this alkaloid dose-dependently reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells, synovial hyperplasia and protected joint from destruction. Additionally, the serum level of anti-CII IgG and the CII-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation were remarkably decreased in the groups administered with norisoboldine. An assessment of Th1 function using the delayed-type hypersensitivity model confirmed that norisoboldine also significantly suppressed the enhanced T cell responses in vivo. These findings suggest that norisoboldine might be a potential therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis, and it functions through protecting joint destruction as well as regulating the abnormal immune responses.

Neuroprotective effects of R,R-tetrahydrochrysene against glutamate-induced cell death through anti-excitotoxic and antioxidant actions involving estrogen receptor-dependent and -independent pathways.

Glutamate-induced neural cell death is mediated by excitotoxicity and oxidative stress. Treatment of glutamate toxicity with estrogen and its related compounds for neuroprotection remains controversial. In this study, we examined the effects of selective estrogen receptor (ER) ligands on glutamate toxicity and found that R,R-tetrahydrochrysene (R,R-THC), an antagonist of ERbeta and agonist of ERalpha, has neuroprotective effects against glutamate-induced death in primary rat cortical cells and mouse N29/4 hypothalamic cells. The protective effect of R,R-THC was dose-dependent and was maintained even when added several hours after the initial glutamate exposure. R,R-THC blocked glutamate-induced depletion of intracellular glutathione, increased superoxide dismutase activity, and protected cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced death. R,R-THC also prevented glutamate-induced nuclear translocation of apoptotic inducing factor and release of mitochondrial cytochrome c. The protective effect of R,R-THC was blocked by methyl-piperidino-pyrazole (MPP; an ERalpha antagonist) in glutamate-treated cortical cells, and pretreatment with MK-801 (an NMDA receptor antagonist) but not CNQX (an AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist) increased cell survival. On the other hand, MPP did not block the protective effect of R,R-THC in glutamate-treated N29/4 cells, and neither MK-801 nor CNQX conferred protection. Activation of ERalpha and/or ERbeta with 17beta-estradiol (E2), propyl-pyrazole-triol or diarylpropionitrile did not provide effective neuroprotection, and pretreatment with ICI 182,780 did not inhibit the protective effect of R,R-THC in either type of cell. These results suggest that the use of ER agonists (including E2) has limited beneficial effects when both excitotoxicity and oxidative stress occur. In contrast to agonists of ERs, R,R-THC, which possesses anti-excitotoxic and antioxidant actions via ER-dependent and -independent pathways, provides significant neuroprotection.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloid clivorine-induced oxidative stress injury in human normal liver L-02 cells.

Clivorine is an otonecine-type pyrrolizidine alkaloid isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Ligularia hodgsonii Hook. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are well-known hepatotoxins widely distributed around the world. The present study sought to evaluate clivorineinduced oxidative injury in human normal liver L-02 cells. After cells were treated with various concentrations of clivorine for 48 h, cellular total antioxidant capacity, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) were determined to evaluate oxidative injury. Results showed that cellular total antioxidant capacity and GST activity both increased in clivorine-treated L-02 cells, while clivorine decreased GR activity in cells. Further, the protective effects of some antioxidants such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C, Vc), Trolox, dithiothreitol (DTT) and mannitol against clivorine-induced cytotoxicity were observed. Results showed that Trolox, which is an analogue of tocopherol (vitamin E, Ve), prevented clivorine-induced cytotoxicity in L-02 cells. Taken together, these results revealed clivorineinduced oxidative injury in human liver L-02 cells. These results also indicated the possible use of Trolox in the reduction of clivorine-induced hepatotoxicity.

Hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning protects against traumatic brain injury at high altitude.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that preconditioning with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) can reduce ischemic and hemorrhagic brain injury. We investigated effects of HBO preconditioning on traumatic brain injury (TBI) at high altitude and examined the role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in such protection. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: HBO preconditioning group (HBOP; n = 13), high-altitude group (HA; n = 13), and high-altitude sham operation group (HASO; n = 13). All groups were subjected to head trauma by weight-drop device, except for HASO group. HBOP rats received 5 sessions of HBO preconditioning (2.5 ATA, 100% oxygen, 1 h daily) and then were kept in hypobaric chamber at 0.6 ATA (to simulate pressure at 4000m altitude) for 3 days before operation. HA rats received control pretreatment (1 ATA, room air, 1 h daily), then followed the same procedures as HBOP group. HASO rats were subjected to skull opening only without brain injury. Twenty-four hours after TBI, 7 rats from each group were examined for neurological function and brain water content; 6 rats from each group were killed for analysis by H&E staining and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Neurological outcome in HBOP group (0.71 +/- 0.49) was better than HA group (1.57 +/- 0.53; p < 0.05). Preconditioning with HBO significantly reduced percentage of brain water content (86.24 +/- 0.52 vs. 84.60 +/- 0.37; p < 0.01). Brain morphology and structure seen by light microscopy was diminished in HA group, while fewer pathological injuries occurred in HBOP group. Compared to HA group, pretreatment with HBO significantly reduced the number of MMP-9-positive cells (92.25 +/- 8.85 vs. 74.42 +/- 6.27; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: HBO preconditioning attenuates TBI in rats at high altitude. Decline in MMP-9 expression may contribute to HBO preconditioning-induced protection of brain tissue against TBI.

The effects of 41 degrees C hyperthermia on the DNA repair protein, MRE11, correlate with radiosensitization in four human tumor cell lines.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to determine if reduced availability of the DNA repair protein, MRE11, for the repair of damaged DNA is a basis for thermal radiosensitization induced by moderate hyperthermia. To test this hypothesis, we measured the total amount of MRE11 DNA repair protein and its heat-induced alterations in four human tumor cell lines requiring different heating times at 41 degrees C to induce measurable radiosensitization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines (NSY42129, HT29 and HCT15) and HeLa cells were used as the test system. Cells were irradiated immediately after completion of hyperthermia. MRE11 levels in whole cell extract, nuclear extract and cytoplasmic extracts were measured by Western blotting. The nuclear and cytoplasmic extracts were separated by TX100 solubility. The subcellular localization of MRE11 was determined by immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: The results show that for the human tumor cell lines studied, the larger the endogenous amount of MRE11 protein per cell, the longer the heating time at 41 degrees C required for inducing measurable radiosensitization in that cell line. Further, the residual nuclear MRE11 protein level, measured in the nuclear extract and in the cytoplasmic extract as a function of heating time, both correlated with the thermal enhancement ratio (TER). CONCLUSIONS: These observations are consistent with the possibility that delocalization of MRE11 from the nucleus is a critical step in the radiosensitization by moderate hyperthermia.

Solubility of phosphorus and heavy metals in potting media amended with yard waste-biosolids compost.

The potential risk of surface and ground water contamination by phosphorus (P) and heavy metals leached from compost-based containerized media has become an environmental concern. Solubility and fractionation of P and heavy metals were evaluated in media containing 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100% compost derived from biosolids and yard trimmings for potential impacts on the environment. As compost proportion in peat-based media increased from 0 to 100%, concentrations of total P, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Mn in the media increased whereas concentrations of total Co and Cr decreased. Except for Cu, all heavy metals in the water-soluble fraction decreased with increasing compost proportion in the media, because of higher Fe, Al, and Ca concentrations and pH values of the composts than the peat. When the media pH is controlled and maintained at normal range of plant growth (5.5-6.5), leaching of the heavy metals is minimal. Incorporation of compost to the peat-based media also decreased the proportion of total P that was water-soluble. However, concentrations of bioavailable inorganic phosphorus (NaHCO3-IP), readily mineralizable organic phosphorus (NaHCO3-OP), potentially bioavailable inorganic phosphorus (NaOH-IP), and potentially bioavailable organic phosphorus (NaOH-OP) were still higher in the media amended with compost because of higher total P concentration in the compost. Further study is needed to verify if less or no topdressing of chemical P fertilizer should be applied to the compost-amended media to minimize P effect on the environment when compost-amended potting media are used for nursery or greenhouse crop production systems.

[Studies on enzymatic glycerolysis of palm oil by lowering temperature proceedingly in solid state].

Enzymatic glycerolysis of palm oil was studied in solid state with a lipase from Pseudomonus fluorescens as catalyst. The influences of molar ratio of glycerol to oil, reaction temperatures and temperature control on the accumulation of monoglyceriods in reaction mixtures were investigated. The suitable initial reaction temperature should be the minimum co-melting point of reactants. The monoglycerides contents in equilibrium state were approximately 30% at 48 degrees C or higher. An increment of 13% of monoglycerides content was obtained under the optimum temperature programming comparing with the normal equilibrium state.

Selenium supplementation of Chinese women with habitually low selenium intake increases plasma selenium, plasma glutathione peroxidase activity, and milk selenium, but not milk glutathione peroxidase activity.

Twenty-one pregnant women living in Xichang County, China, a selenium-deficient area, were divided into two groups and given either a placebo (n = 10) as yeast or selenium-enriched yeast tablets (n = 11) to provide 100 microg selenium per day. This supplementation was begun the last trimester of pregnancy and continued for 3 months after parturition. Plasma selenium levels and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity steadily declined in supplemented women, but a curvilinear response occurred in milk selenium and GPX activity in both supplemented and deficient women and in plasma selenium and GPX activity in deficient women. The milk selenium levels were higher in supplemented women but there were no differences in the milk GPX activity between the two groups of women. The plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations declined after parturition in both groups but no differences were found between the two groups of women. Plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances declined in supplemented women but showed a curvilinear response in unsupplemented women, suggesting peroxidative stress in these women. GPX, selenium, and peroxidative responses in plasma and milk following parturition is advocated as a new method to assess selenium status of lactating women.

Effect of respiratory muscle training on GLUT-4 in the sheep diaphragm.

PURPOSE: Endurance exercise training is associated with enhanced glucose uptake and hence improvement in carbohydrate metabolism. Glucose transport (GLUT) membrane proteins are regulated by a variety of physiological stimuli, including exercise. In limb muscle, both acute exercise and endurance training enhance the expression of the skeletal muscle transporter, GLUT-4. The purpose of this study is to determine whether chronic loading enhances GLUT-4 expression in the diaphragm. METHODS: The effect of chronic inspiratory flow resistive (IFR) loading on diaphragm GLUT-4 was studied in a model of respiratory muscle endurance training in sheep. IFR loads (resistance 50-100 cm H2O x L(-1) x s(-1)) were maintained for 3 h x d(-1), 5-6 d x wk(-1) for 3 wk. Loading was adjusted so that PaO2 was >60 Torr and PaCO2 <45 Torr in room air. Six untrained sheep were used as controls. GLUT-4 protein and mRNA were analyzed by Western and Northern analysis respectively. RESULTS: GLUT-4 protein levels were two-fold greater in trained animals when compared with controls (P < 0.01). GLUT-4 mRNA levels in the trained muscles was not significantly different from controls. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that in the sheep diaphragm, chronic IFR loading increases GLUT-4 protein levels. This increase may be one of the mechanisms contributing to the improved respiratory muscle endurance previously demonstrated in this animal model of respiratory muscle training.

Anti-AIDS agents part 41: synthesis and anti-HIV activity of 3',4'-di-o-(-)-camphanoyl-(+)-cis-khellactone (DCK) lactam analogues.

DCK lactam analogues were synthesized and evaluated for anti-HIV activity against HIV-1 replication in H9 lymphocyte cells. 4-Methyl-DCK lactam (11a) exhibited potent anti-HIV activity with EC50 and therapeutic index values of 0.00024 microM and 119,333, respectively.