The ethanol extract of the dried root bark of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. afforded one new triterpene: 24, 29-dinor-D:A-friedoolean-4-en-2 beta, 6 alpha, 22 beta-trihydroxy-3, 21-dione, 6 alpha-hydroxy triptocalline 1; one new diterpenoid: 11, 16-dihydroxy-14-methoxy-18 (4-->3) abeo-abieta-3, 8, 11, 13-tetraene-18-oic acid, 16-hydroxy triptobenzene H 2; and one new diterpenoid alkaloid, triptotin J 3. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic studies.

Abietanes↗

PubMed2001

[Effects of high temperature and cigarette smoke on the development of nervous system in early rat embryos].

In order to explore the effect of high temperature or cigarette smoke and their combined effect on the development of nervous system in early rat embryos, pregnant rats at the 8-11th day of gestation were exposed to high temperature and water soluble substances of cigarette smoke. All indexed of embryonic nervous system development were determined with experimental treat logical methods. The results showed that following the increase of temperature or cigarette smoke exposure all indexes correlated with embryonic nervous system development and morphological differentiation were changed, with an apparent dose-effect relationship (P < 0.01). The changes were related to specific phase of embryonic development. The results showed also that the nervous system development and morphological differentiation induced by both high temperature and cigarette smoke were higher than that by any single factor.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

[The method of instantaneous pulse detection based on hybrid wavelet transform].

In this paper, we discuss the relation between matched filter and wavelet transform(WT), and point out that wavelet transform is just the matched filter with changeable detection template. According to this idea, the method of signal detection based on hybrid wavelet transform (HWT) is proposed. HWT in this paper means that in WT decomposition and reconstruction, we use two different mother wavelets. One is used as a changeable template for the pulses detection and the other is used for the characteristic enhancement of detected pulse. This method has been applied to the interference pulse detection in EEG signal. The experiment result shows that HWT has the good property for instantaneous signal detection.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2001

[Effect of occlusal interference on fluctuation of body's gravity center].

OBJECTIVE: To study if the occlusal interference affects the fluctuation of body's gravity center. METHODS: An artificial occlusal interference was separately applied on 14 volunteers (7 males and 7 females, mean age 23.2 years). Fluctuations of body's gravity center were measured before wearing the occlusal interference appliance, at 30 minutes and 24 hours after wearing the appliance. RESULTS: The length and area of fluctuation of body's gravity center with the interference appliance were greater than that without it. The length of fluctuation of gravity center was 40.22 cm, 41.66 cm and 43.21 cm in eye-opening conditions and 56.96 cm2, 61.93 cm2, 66.9 cm2 in eye-closing condition. The area of fluctuation of gravity center was 3.3 cm2, 3.43 cm2, 3.61 cm2 in eye-opening condition and 4.63 cm2, 5.00 cm2, 6.47 cm2 in eye-closing condition. The female volunteers showed more changes than the male ones. CONCLUSION: Occlusal interference does affect the fluctuation of body's gravity center.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Outcome prediction in severe traumatic brain injury with transcranial Doppler ultrasonography.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography in evaluating the outcome of severe traumatic brain injury and to correlate the TCD values with intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) monitoring. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted to evaluate the contribution of TCD ultrasonography to neurological outcome in a series of 96 severe traumatic brain injury patients. The quantitative variables of TCD ultrasonography included the mean blood flow velocity of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and pulsatility index within the first 24 hours of admission. The ICP and CPP values were a lso recorded. Outcome in 6 months postinjury was evaluated using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS 4-5 was considered as "good" and GOS 1-3 as "poor"). RESULTS: The mean blood flow velocity of the MCA was larger than 40 cm/s in 30 (51%) patients with good outcome whereas it was less than 40 cm/s in 27 (73%) patients with poor outcome (P<0.025). The mean PI in cases of good outcome (34 patients, 57%) was lower than 1.5 whereas in poor outcome (30 patients, 83%) was higher than 1.5 (P<0.001). The correlations of ICP and CPP to pulsatility index were statistically significant (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: TCD ultrasonography is valid in predicting the patient's outcome of 6 months and correlates significantly with ICP and CPP values when it is performed in the first 24 hours of severe traumatic brain injury.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

[An experimental study on the effects of early postburn nutrition on calcitonin gene--related peptide].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the resuscitation effects of different nutritional routes during early postburn stage on intestinal tract, and the relationship between calcitonin gene -- related peptide (CGRP) and resuscitation of intestinal tract. METHODS: Sixty Wistar rats inflicted by 30% TBSA III degree flame burn were randomly divided into burn with enteral feeding group (EF, 30 rats) and burn with early parenteral nutrition group (EPN group, 30 rats). Six normal rats without burn injury served as control group (C). The changes in general condition, intestinal mucosal blood flow, plasma concentration of CGRP immunologic competence substance and intestinal CGRP positive staining substance in the rats were observed at 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 postburn hours (PBHs). RESULTS: The rat intestinal mucosal blood flow decreased postburn, especially in EPN group (P < 0.05). The postburn plasma CGRP increased and the plasma CGRP level in EF group was obviously lower than that in EPN group at 72 PBH (P < 0.01). The CGRP positive staining cells of intestinal tract decreased markedly postburn (P < 0.05) in both burn groups, and those in EPN were significantly lower abundant than those in EF group at 24 and 48 PBHs (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the decrease in intestinal mucosal blood flow was positively related to the decrease in intestinal intramuscular nerve plexus CGRP (r = 0.72, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Enteral nutrition exerted better effects on early postburn intestinal resuscitation than parenteral nutrition. The decrease in intestinal blood supply might be mainly due to the excessive increase in plasma CGRP immune active substance and the decrease of postburn intestinal tract CGRP immunologic competence substance. Early enteral feeding might play resuscitative role by modulating CGRP.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

[Studies on chemical constitutents from Penthorum chinense Pursh].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Penthorum chinense. METHOD: Silica gel and macroporous resin were used as adsorbent for isolation and purification. The chemical structures were elucidated by spectral analysis and chemical methods. RESULT: Three compounds were isolated from the water-extract of P. chinense. The structures were identified as 5-hydroxy-flavanone-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (I), 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoic acid (II) and quercetin(III), respectively. CONCLUSION: Compounds I and II were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Flavanones↗

PubMed2000

Fourier-transform Raman and infrared spectroscopic analysis of novel biliverdin compounds.

The vibrational spectroscopy of novel biliverdin compounds were studied by Fourier-transform Raman (FT-Raman) and infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The effects of type, length and position of substituents at C(8) and C(12) or C(1) and C(19) of tetrapyrroles on FT-Raman and FT-IR spectra of these compounds, are discussed. The marker bands are developed in order to distinguish between etiobiliverdin and mesobiliverdin.

Biliverdine↗

PubMed2000

IL-1 beta attenuates IFN-alpha beta-induced antiviral activity and STAT1 activation in the liver: involvement of proteasome-dependent pathway.

IFN-alphabeta is the only established treatment for viral hepatitis; however, more than 60% of patients are poorly responsive. Because viral hepatitis is associated with inflammation, we hypothesized that inflammation may attenuate the efficacy of IFN therapy. To test this hypothesis, the effect of IL-1beta, one of the major proinflammatory cytokines, on IFN signaling pathway in the liver was examined. Administration of IL-1beta in vivo attenuated IFN-alphabeta-induced STAT1 tyrosine phosphorylation in the liver but not in the spleen. The inhibitory action of IL-1beta in vivo was not affected by depleting hepatic Kupffer cells, suggesting that IL-1beta may directly target IFN-alphabeta signaling in hepatocytes. Indeed, pretreatment of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells with IL-1beta suppressed IFN-alphabeta-induced antiviral activity and antiviral protein MxA mRNA expression. Furthermore, IL-1beta attenuated IFN-alphabeta-induced STAT1 binding and tyrosine phosphorylation without affecting the level of STAT1 protein. This inhibitory effect can be reversed by pretreatment with either proteasome inhibitors or transfection of dominant negative NF-kappaB inducing kinase mutants. Taken together, these findings suggest that IL-1beta attenuates IFN-alphabeta-induced STAT1 activation by a proteasome-dependent mechanism. In view of high levels of IL-1beta in the serum or within the liver of patients with chronic liver diseases, attenuation of IFN-alphabeta signaling in the liver by IL-1beta could be one of the mechanisms underlying the resistance to IFN therapy in chronic hepatitis C, and IL-1beta could be a potential therapeutic target for improving the efficacy of IFN therapy.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed2000

Molecular cloning and expression of a phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase homolog in Oryza sativa.

A cDNA encoding putative phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPX) was isolated from rice using rapid amplification of cDNA ends. This cDNA, designated ricPHGPX, includes an open reading frame encoding a protein of 169 amino acids which shares about 60% and 50% amino acid sequence identity with plant and mammalian PHGPXs, respectively. The gene is expressed at a relative high level in flag leaves and the expression can be markedly induced by oxidative stress, suggesting that the product of the gene plays a key role in defense against oxidative damage in rice.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2000

Potential Energy Curves of Some Electronic Excited States of Metal Diatomic Molecules Using the Energy Consistent Method.

An analytical five-term expansion potential is suggested to improve the recently proposed energy consistent method (ECM) potential based on a three-term expansion [Weiguo Sun, Mol. Phys. 92, 105 (1997) and Weiguo Sun and Hao Feng, J. Phys. B: At., Mol. Opt. Phys. 32, 5109 (1999)]. Applications of the new ECM to the electronic excited state 3(1)Pi of NaK, the excited state 2(3)Sigma(+)(g) of Na(2), and the excited states 3(1)Sigma(+)(u) and 3(1)Pi(u) of K(2) molecules show that the new ECM potential not only agrees excellently with the known Rydberg-Klein-Rees (RKR) data or accurate configuration interaction (CI) studies but also gives the potential data at the molecular asymptote and the dissociation region where experimental and quantum mechanical studies may have difficulties. The new ECM can correct the artifact which appeared in the three-term expansion potentials of both the previous ECM and the Huxley-Murrell-Sorbie (HMS) potential and can describe some states to which both the previous ECM and the HMS fail. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗