The Amomum tsao-ko Essential Oils Inhibited Inflammation and Apoptosis through p38/JNK MAPK Signaling Pathway and Alleviated Gentamicin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury

The clinical application of gentamicin may lead to acute kidney injury (AKI), and the nephrotoxicity of gentamicin is related to the pathological mechanism of several oxidative and inflammatory cytokines. Plant-derived essential oils have good anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to clarify the protective effect of Amomum tsao-ko essential oils (AOs) on gentamicin-induced AKI in rats and its possible mechanism. The rat AKI model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of gentamicin. After 14 days of oral AO treatment, the renal function and pathological changes of the kidney tissues were evaluated, and the level of kidney tissue oxidative stress was detected. The content of inflammatory cytokines was measured by ELISA. The expression of ERK1/2, JNK1/2, p38, NF-κB, caspase-3, and Bax/Bcl-2 proteins were estimated by Western blot analysis. The results showed that taking AO reduced the contents of serum urea and creatinine in AKI rats and improve the pathological changes and oxidative stress of the kidney tissue in rats. At the same time, AO reduced inflammation and apoptosis during AKI by regulating the MAPK pathway. The data show that AO has a protective effect on the kidneys and may be a potential drug for treating kidney injury.     

A study of primary nucleation of calcium oxalate monohydrate: I‐Effect of supersaturation

There are various organic and inorganic constituents in kidney stones. Among them, calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) is the primary inorganic constituent of kidney stones. However, the mechanisms of formation of kidney stones are not well understood. In this regard, a basic study is carried out for better understanding of nucleation, crystal growth and/or aggregation of formed COM crystals. The primary nucleation of calcium oxalate monohydrate is studied at the laboratory scale using turbidity measurements. Calcium chloride and potassium oxalate solutions are mixed and then added to a Turbidimeter tube for continuous recording of turbidity. Induction time (time to induce formation of detectable crystals) is estimated from time‐turbidity graphs. The effect of some urinary species, such as oxalate and calcium, on nucleation and crystallization characteristics of COM is determined by particle size distribution analysis, measuring weight of crystals and calculation of relative supersaturation. The classical nucleation theory is applied at high supersaturation ratios (SR) ranging from 1.6 to 2.2. The results indicate that nucleation rate increases with increasing supersaturation ratio from 0.81 × 10²⁸ nuclei/cm³.sec at 1.6 SR, to 18.02 × 10²⁸ nuclei/cm³.sec at 2.2 SR. On the other hand, free energy change and radius of critical nucleus are decreased as supersaturation ratio is increased. The nucleation rates are higher than those reported in literature. Such discrepancy is discussed on the bases of differences in experimental techniques. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Production and extraction of astaxanthin from Phaffia rhodozyma and its biological effect on alcohol-induced renal hypoxia in Carassius auratus

The effect of astaxanthin (3,3′-dihydroxy-s-carotene-4,4′-dione) on alcohol-induced morphological changes in Carassius auratus, as an experimental model, was determined. The yeast Phaffia rhodozyma was used as a source of astaxanthin. The animals were divided into three groups for 30 days: one group was treated with ethanol at a dose of 1.5% mixed in water, the second one with EtOH 1.5% and food enriched with astaxanthin from P. rhodozyma, and the third was a control group. After a sufficient experimental period, the samples were processed using light microscopy and evaluated by histomorphological and histochemical staining, and the data were supported by immunohistochemical analysis, using a wide range of antibodies, such as calbindin, vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin. The results show that the alcoholic damage in the kidney led to hypoxia. In contrast, the group fed with astaxanthin from P. rhodozyma showed a normal morphological picture, with better glomeruli organisation and the presence of the area of filtration. Furthermore, the immunohistochemistry has confirmed these results.     

补肾调肝法治疗对精液异常患者精液微量元素改变的观察

研究了２６例精液异常患者使用补肾调肝法治疗后其精液锌、铜、铅等元素的改变。２６例患者在治疗后精液质量有明显改善,其中精液中锌含量与治疗前相比有明显提高,治疗前后分别为（２．０６＋１．０９）ｍｍｏｌ．Ｌ和（２．４８±１．０５）ｍｍｏｌ·Ｌ（Ｐ＜０.０１）,差异具有显著性意义。精液中的铜含量也有所提高。铅含量比治疗前减少,但并不具显著性。     

Premium rates based on genetic studies: How reliable are they?

Underwriting the risk of rare disorders in long-term insurance often relies on rates of onset estimated from quite small epidemiological studies. These estimates can have considerable sampling uncertainty and any function based upon them, such as a premium rate, is also an estimate subject to uncertainty. This is particularly relevant in the case of genetic disorders, because the acceptable use of genetic information may depend on establishing its reliability as a measure of risk. The sampling distribution of a premium rate is hard to estimate without access to the original data, which is rarely possible. From two studies of adult polycystic kidney disease (APKD) we obtain, not the original data, but the cases and exposures used for Kaplan-Meier estimates of the survival probability. We use three resampling methods with these data, namely: (a) the standard bootstrap; (b) the weird bootstrap; and (c) simulation of censored random lifetimes. Rates of onset were obtained from each simulated sample using kernel-smoothed Nelson-Aalen estimates, hence critical illness insurance premium rates for a mutation carrier or a member of an affected family. From 10,000 such samples we estimate the sampling distributions of the premium rates, finding considerable uncertainty. Very careful consideration should be given before using small-sample epidemiological data to deal with insurance problems.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of dimethadione and trimethadione in human serum on octadecyl treated microporous glass columns

Summary The liquid chromatographic determination of trimethadione (TMO) and its methabolite, dimethadione (DMO) were studied by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on octadecyl-modified microporous glasses, prepared with toluene solution containing octadecyl-dimethylchlorosilane, using two types of microporous glass with various mean pore diameters and/or specific surface areas. Using acetonitrile-water mixtures as eluents, TMO and DMO in human serum were separated on the glasses studied, but with different degrees of resolution. In this present study, we report the development of a rapid and selective HPLC method for the simultaneous analysis of TMO and DMO in human serum.     

Simulation on topography of superfinished roller surfaces

As a final process in roller bearing manufacturing, Through Centerless Superfinishing is of great importance to the performance of bearings. Applied loads, rotational speeds, reciprocating frequencies and amplitude of superfinishing stones are crucial parameters, which mainly influence the surface topography, and are difficult to be adjusted to achieve optimal superfinishing effect, so product quality is unstable in practice. A superfinishing model is firstly established, which includes cutting and motion models. And then a simulation method is presented to form the topography on the condition of various combinations of the above three parameters, the effect of every parameter on the topography being clarified. This work provides a useful means to select reasonable combination of superfinishing parameters for roller bearing buildings.     

不孕症的中药治疗与微量元素

重点讨论了不孕症的发病机制，用中医中药辨证组方治疗的优势和现代微量元素研究的关系。     

不同草酸/钙摩尔比条件下草酸钙晶体的生长及对HK-2细胞的毒性

研究了不同草酸/钙(Ox/Ca)摩尔比对Ca Ox晶体在损伤前后的人肾近曲小管上皮细胞(HK-2)表面的生长差异及形成的晶体对细胞的毒性差异.实验结果表明,Ca Ox过饱和溶液对正常细胞和损伤细胞均会产生进一步的损伤,导致细胞活力、溶酶体的完整性和线粒体膜电位降低,而细胞内活性氧(ROS)、细胞骨架的紊乱程度、磷酯酰丝氨酸(PS)外翻比例和骨桥蛋白(OPN)表达量均增加;且随着过饱和溶液中Ox/Ca摩尔比的增加而损伤加重.正常细胞主要诱导二水草酸钙(COD)晶体形成,且COD的含量与Ox/Ca摩尔比成正相关.损伤细胞表面主要生成一水草酸钙(COM),且晶体的数量和聚集程度与Ox/Ca摩尔比成正相关.相比于正常细胞,损伤细胞诱导的晶体棱角更加尖锐,其对细胞的损伤大于棱角圆钝的晶体.实验结果还表明,降低Ca Ox的过饱和度、减小Ox/Ca摩尔比和修复受损伤的肾上皮细胞均有利于抑制Ca Ox结石形成.     

中毒样品中灭鼠药的分析鉴定与人工炭肾治疗效果浅评

1991年7月某单位发生集体食物中毒,78人发病。当时迫切需要鉴定出毒物,以便对这起中毒病人进行抢救治疗。本文建立了未见文献报道的血样,炭肾中痕量“四二四”的分离提取方法和GC-MS分析鉴定方法,在中毒样品中鉴定出剧毒灭鼠药“四二四”。根据治疗用的人工炭肾及治疗后病人血样的鉴定结果,对用人工炭肾透析治疗“四二四”中毒的疗效进行了评价。