A mixture of daidzein and Chinese herbs increases egg production and eggshell strength as well as blood plasma Ca, P, antioxidative enzymes, and luteinizing hormone levels in post-peak, brown laying hens.

Dietary supplementation with the isoflavone, daidzein, has been shown to improve egg production in poultry. Additionally, providing Chinese herbs (CH) in the broiler diet has led to increased antioxidative enzyme activity. However, the combined effect of these dietary supplements on hen performance has not been examined. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if dietary supplementation with a mixture of daidzein and CH would alter laying performance, egg quality, and blood plasma constituents of post-peak laying hens. At 59 wk of age, Hyline brown hens (240) were randomly allocated to 2 dietary groups and fed for 16 wk. The control group received the basal diet, and a treatment group was fed the basal diet that contained 0.02% of a mixture of daidzein and CH. Egg production and weight were recorded daily and egg quality data were collected at 75 wk of age. Blood plasma antioxidant activity, hormone levels, mineral (Ca and P) content, and osteocalcin content were determined at the end of the study. The results showed that laying rate, egg mass, and shell strength were greater in the daidzein-CH mixture group than the controls (P < 0.05). The plasma glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and luteinizing hormone levels were also greater in the daidzein-CH mixture group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The results of this study reveal that supplementing diets with a daidzein-CH mixture can improve laying performance perhaps by increasing plasma antioxidant activity, luteinizing hormone levels, and mineral content.

[Cognitive level of first aid knowledge regarding small area burn among 2 723 child caregivers in Shanghai: a cross-sectional survey and analysis].

Objective: To assess the cognitive level of first aid knowledge regarding the small area burn among the child caregivers in Shanghai and improve the level of first aid for small area burn in children. Methods: From November 2017 to March 2018, 7 municipal districts in Shanghai were selected according to the random number table, from which 2 750 students of 4 nurseries, 5 kindergartens, 6 primary schools, and 2 junior middle schools were selected by adopting the convenience sampling method. Each student was limited to one caregiver as the research object. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on the cognitive level of first aid knowledge regarding small area burn among the caregivers with self-designed questionnaire through WeChat and Tencent QQ. The age, burn experience, and scarring after burns in children, the prevalence rate of burn in children of different age groups, the educational background of caregivers and their social relationship with their children, and the measures taken by caregivers firstly after small area burn occurred among their children were recorded. The choices of applying the folk prescription drugs to the wounds of their children made by caregivers and those with different educational backgrounds were recorded. The choices of applying daily necessities to the wound of their children made by caregivers were recorded. The caregivers' knowledge of standard first aid measures for small area burn, and the knowledge of caregivers with different educational backgrounds of all standard first aid measures for small area burn were recorded. The caregivers' choices of hospitals for treatment the first time, and the choices of going to the Grade Ⅲ Level A hospital with burn specialty for treatment made by caregivers with different knowledge levels about first aid measures for small area burn and those by caregivers whose children did or didn't have burn experience were recorded. The caregivers' choices of different types of medical institutions with burn specialty or specialized in burn treatment, and choices of going to burn department of comprehensive Grade Ⅲ Level A hospital for treatment made by caregivers with different knowledge levels about first aid measures for small area burn were recorded. Data were processed with Pearson chi-square test and partitions of chi-square test. Results: The effective recovery rate of questionnaire was 99.0% (2 723/2 750). The ages of children were mainly 6-11 years [64.7% (1 762/2 723)]The prevalence of burn in children was 19.4% (527/2 723). There was no statistically significant difference in the overall comparison of burn prevalence of children among the age groups (χ(2)=1.424, P>0.05). The percentage of scar formation after burn in children was 27.3% (144/527). The education backgrounds of caregivers were mainly undergraduate [40.2% (1 094/2 723)], and their social relationships with children were mainly children's mothers [74.6% (2 030/2 723)]. Assuming that their children suffered from minor burns, the measures firstly taken by 74.0% (2 016/2 723) of the caregivers was to immediately access cool running water and remove clothing on the wound of children. Totally 19.2% (523/2 723) of the caregivers chose to apply folk prescription drugs for their burn children by themselves, and the percentage of caregivers with education background of junior middle school choosing to apply folk prescription drugs for their burn children by themselves was significantly higher than that of caregivers with education background of junior college, undergraduate, or graduate (χ(2)=18.502, 20.642, 13.319, P<0.05). Totally 49.2% (1 340/2 723) of caregivers chose to daub many kinds of daily necessities for their burn children by themselves. Totally 39.2% (1 068/2 723) of caregivers knew all standard first aid measures for small area burn, the percentage of caregivers with education background of undergraduate knowing all standard first aid measures for small area burn was significantly higher than that of caregivers with education background of senior high school and secondary specialized school (χ(2)=11.234, P<0.05). Assuming that their children suffered from minor burns, 39.0% (1 063/2 723) of the caregivers chose to go to the nearest hospital for treatment the first time, the percentage of caregivers who knew all standard first aid measures for small area burn choosing to go to Grade Ⅲ Level A hospital with burn specialty for treatment the first time was similar with that of caregivers who did not know/did not fully know (χ(2)=3.528, P>0.05), and the percentage of caregivers whose children had burn experience choosing to go to Grade Ⅲ Level A hospital with burn specialty for treatment in the first time was similar with that of caregivers whose children didn't have burn experience (χ(2)=3.521, P>0.05). Among all medical institutions with burn specialty or specialized in burn treatment, 28.0% (762/2 723) of the caregivers chose to go to comprehensive Grade Ⅲ Level A hospital for treatment, and the percentage of caregivers who knew all standard first aid measures for small area burn choosing to go to comprehensive Grade Ⅲ Level A hospital for treatment was significantly higher than that of caregivers who did not know/did not fully know (χ(2)=4.890, P<0.05). Conclusions: The caregivers of children are mainly children's mothers with education background of undergraduate in Shanghai, and caregivers' cognitive levels of first aid knowledge regarding the small area burn are low. Only a few caregivers know all standard first aid measures for small area burn, and there are still some caregivers who have the wrong idea of applying folk prescription drugs or daily necessities for children by themselves. The publicity and education of basic first aid knowledge of burn should be strengthened through various channels such as burn simulation exercise and network, and caregivers should be guided to take their children to hospitals with burn specialty for treatment after occurrence of burn in children, so as to obtain more professional medical treatment.

[Studies on quality specification standards for Saposhnicovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk].

OBJECTIVE: To work out a qualitative-quantitative standard for Saposhnikovia divaricata. METHOD: TLC and HPLC were adopted. RESULT: Four chromone compounds were identified by TLC, and the contents of two chromone compounds were determined by HPLC. CONCLUSION: Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin, 4'-O-beta-D-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol, sec-O-glucosylhamaudol and cimifugin should be present simultaneously in S. divaricata. The contents of prim-O-glucosylcimifugin and 4'-O-beta-D-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol in S. divaricata should not be lower than 0.12% respectively.

[Studies on chemical constituents from root of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents in the root of Saposhnikovia divaricata. METHOD: The compounds were isolated and identified by column chromatography and 1H, 13C NMR data. RESULT: Twenty-four compounds were isolated and identified. CONCLUSION: Seven compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.

[Glucosides from Pleurospermum rivulorum].

AIM: To study the chemical constituents of Pleurospermum rivulorum. METHODS: To separate the constituents of P. rivulorum by using various kinds of chromatography and identify their structures on the basis of spectral analysis. RESULTS: Four glucosides were isolated from P. rivulorum. Their structures were established as marmesinin (I), tert-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-heraclenol (II), 1'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (2R, 3S)-3-hydroxynodakenetin (III) and 8-hydroxy-5-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-psoralen (IV) based on the analysis of spectral data of IR, UV, MS, 1D and 2D-NMR. CONCLUSION: Compounds III and IV are new compounds. All of the four compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Inhibitory effect of natural furanocoumarins on human microsomal cytochrome P450 3A activity.

To investigate the possible drug interaction with herbal medicine, furanocoumarin derivatives isolated from several Umbelliferous crude drugs were examined for their inhibitory effects on a typical human drug metabolizing enzyme, cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A). Most furanocoumarins tested at 0.1 mM reduced microsomal testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation as an index of CYP3A activity to less than 50% of the control. In particular, the dimer and trimer derivatives of furanocoumarins showed striking inhibition, whose potencies were similar to that of a typical CYP3A inhibitor, ketoconazole. Preincubation of dimer types of furanocoumarins increased suppression but not most of the monomer derivatives, suggesting that the inhibition on CYP3A activity was caused by at least plural mechanisms. These results raised the possibility that the furanocoumarin containing herbal medicines may alter pharmacokinetics of co-ingested drugs similar to the case with grapefruit juice.

[A pharmacodynamic research on chromone glucosides of fangfeng].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pharmacological activity of prim-O-glucosylcimifugin and 4'-O-beta-D-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol con tained in Fangfeng. METHODS: Analgesic, antipyretic and antiinflammatory effects were assessed using the models of yeast-induced rat fever, acetic acidinduced peritoneal pain thermalpain, and dimethylbenzol-induced mouse ear edema. RESULTS: Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin and 4'-O-beta-D-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol could reduce the body temperature of rats in a model of yeast-induced fever. Both components could decrease the spasm action induced by peritoneal injection of acetic acid, increase the pain-threshold in a thermal-pain model, relieve the mouse ear edema caused by dimethybenzol and significantly inhibit ADP-induced platelet aggregation. CONCLUSION: Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin and 4'-O-beta-D-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol have significant analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet aggregation actions.

Inhibition of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase activity in rabbit gastric antral mucosa by panaxynol isolated from oriental medicines.

Panaxynol is a polyacetylene compound with anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet-aggregatory effects isolated from commonly used oriental medicines. The effects of panaxynol on the activity of prostaglandin-synthesizing and catabolizing enzymes in the rabbit gastric antral mucosa have been examined. At concentrations ranging from 25 to 200 microM panaxynol had no effect on the synthesis of prostaglandins E2, F2alpha and D2 from exogenous arachidonic acid in the microsomal fraction of the gastric mucosa whereas at 25-200 microM it dose-dependently inhibited the activity of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (PGDH), which catalyses the initial step of prostaglandin catabolism, in the cytosolic fraction. The concentration required for 50% inhibition (IC50) was approximately 25 microM. Inhibition of PGDH by panaxynol was non-competitive with regard to NAD+ and prostaglandin E2. These results suggest that panaxynol has the potential to inhibit PGDH activity in gastric mucosa, possibly as a result of pharmacological activity.

[Chemical constituents of Notopterygium incisium Ting. III: Chemical constituents isolated and identified from petroleum ether extracts of N. incisium Ting].

Six chemical compounds were isolated from the roots and rhizoma of Notopterygium incisium by column chromatography and preparative thin-layer chromatography, and identified by chemical and spectroscopic analysis as beta-sitosterol, oleic acid, linoleic acid, columbianetin, pregnenolone and ferulic acid. The presence of pregnenolone in the genus Notopterygium has not been reported.