锂盐的作用机制及临床应用研究进展

锂是人体内的一种微量元素且以化合物的形式广泛存在于自然界。作为一种古老的治疗精神疾病方面的药物,锂盐被用来治疗双相情感障碍已超过60年,而现在锂盐在临床上表现出来的新应用已经越来越引起医学界的广泛重视。现代研究表明,锂盐是一种强大的糖原合成酶激酶-3(GSK-3β)抑制剂,锂盐除对脑细胞过度活动起抑制作用外,还具有营养神经和保护神经、抗炎、抗氧化、抗癌、免疫调节以及对甲状腺功能亢进的治疗作用。锂盐化学结构相对简单,而且目前人们对锂盐的使用经验及对锂离子的血药浓度监测手段已日趋成熟,所以锂盐具有相当好的临床应用前景,未来更进一步加大对锂盐的临床应用及作用机制的研究力度。现就锂盐新发现的作用机制及临床应用作一综述。     

辽宁省菜田生态系统组分优势值与系统优势度分析

辽宁省菜田生态系统组分优势值与系统优势度分析周宝利，葛晓光李宁义（沈阳农业大学园艺系，１１０１６１）（沈阳市城建中专，１１００１３）ＡｎａｌｙｓｉｓｏｎＳｕｐｅｒｉｏｒｉｔｙＶａｌｕｅａｎｄＤｏｍｉｎａｎｃｅＤｅｇｒｅｅｏｆＶａｒｉｏｕｓＣｏｍｐｏｎ...     

Improved design of peptides exhibiting angiogenic activities for clinical applications

Vascularization is one of the key steps for engraftment in regenerative medicine. Previously one of the authors had discovered peptides exhibiting significant angiogenic activities designated AGP and elucidated the active core. For neovascularization basic fibroblast growth factor is used although permeation can be envisaged. The original AGPs did not suffer from this although their half-life times are short because of decomposition by endogenous enzymes. Several new AGP-libraries have been constructed and their enzymatic resistance has been investigated by the use of human umbilical vein endothelial cells to find candidates for clinical applications.     

Quantitative and qualitative assessment on the suitability of seed oil from water plant (Trichilia emetica) for soap making

Despite widespread and its local available as a naturalized hedge and shade plant, the potential of Trichilia emetica was not utilized in soap making by the majority of local community in various parts of Dodoma, Tanzania. This study aimed to assess the quantity (yields) and quality (Acid Values (AVs), %Free Fatty Acids (%FFAs) and Saponification Values (SVs) of seed oil from water plant (T. emetica), suitable for soap making application. Solvent extraction method was used during oil extraction, where by 50gm of preheated and powdered seed materials were immersed in 250 ml of n-hexane in 1:5 (w/v) to dissolve the oil contained in the seed cake. The oil was collected by vaporizing solvent out through Rotary evaporation at 60 °C. Also standard titration methods were used to obtain SVs, AVs and %FFAs of the extracted oil. Results showed that T. emetica seeds contained higher quantity of oil (48.4%−50.2%) than many reported commercial plant seed oils. Also, the study found higher AV (7.4 mgKOH/g−7.8 mgKOH/g), %FFA (3.7% to 3.9%) and SVs (189.5 mgKOH/g − 191.4 mgKOH/g) than the maximum acceptable limits of 0.50 mg KOH/g, 0.020% and 175 mgKOH/g − 187 mgKOH/g prescribed by ASTM standards (2002). The obtained results showed that, T. emetica seeds yielded high oil quantity with low qualities due to higher levels of acidity. But high SVs guarantees the possibility of using T. emetica seed oil in soap making. However, the oil requires purification in order to bring levels of acidity to acceptable standards and guarantee its normal use in soap making.     

Honey: Single food stuff comprises many drugs

Honey is a natural food item produced by honey bees. Ancient civilizations considered honey as a God gifted prestigious product. Therefore, a huge literature is available regarding honey importance in almost all religions. Physically, honey is a viscous and jelly material having no specific color. Chemically, honey is a complex blend of many organic and inorganic compounds such as sugars, proteins, organic acids, pigments, minerals, and many other elements. Honey use as a therapeutic agent is as old as human civilization itself. Prior to the appearance of present day drugs, honey was conventionally used for treating many diseases. At this instant, the modern research has proven the medicinal importance of honey. It has broad spectrum anti-biotic, anti-viral and anti-fungal activities. Honey prevents and kills microbes through different mechanism such as elevated pH and enzyme activities. Till now, no synthetic compound that works as anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal drugs has been reported in honey yet it works against bacteria, viruses and fungi while no anti-protozoal activity has been reported. Potent anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous activities of honey have been reported. Honey is not only significant as anti-inflammatory drug that relieve inflammation but also protect liver by degenerative effects of synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs. This article reviews physico-chemical properties, traditional use of honey as medicine and mechanism of action of honey in the light of modern scientific medicinal knowledge.     

Economic values and dominant providers of key ecosystem services of wetlands in Beijing,China

This study estimates the economic values of and the dominant contributors to five key ecosystem services of wetlands in Beijing, by using the wetland inventory data in 2014 and economic valuation methods. Results indicate that the 51,434 ha of wetlands in Beijing annually provide 2.07 billion m³ of flood regulation, 944.01 million m³ of water provision, 42,154 tons of chemical oxygen demand (COD) purification, 3.03 PJ of heat absorption, and 9587 ha of habitat. Their economic values are estimated to be 15.89 billion RMB, 1.19 billion RMB, 169 million RMB, 421 million RMB, and 1.08 billion RMB in 2014 (RMB: Chinese currency, US$1 = RMB 6.14), respectively. The total values of five key wetland ecosystem services reach 18.76 billion RMB. In addition, the reservoir and river wetlands in Miyun, Yanqing, Fangshan, Huairou, and Mentougou Districts contribute 78% of key ecosystem services, whereas the urban wetlands in Xicheng, Dongcheng, Haidian, Chaoyang, and Tongzhou Districts more conveniently serve densely local people, hence they should be given particular attentions. In this paper, we develop the valuation methods of wetland ecosystem services, and recommend diversified strategies, regulations, and programs to protect the remaining wetlands in Beijing. This work can also provide a reference for the valuating of wetland ecosystem services for other urban-rural areas.     

阴道镜直视宫颈多点活检与传统宫颈活检在宫颈疾病诊断中的应用价值比较

目的:探讨阴道镜直视宫颈多点活检与传统宫颈活检对宫颈疾病诊断的临床应用及影响因素研究。方法:选择2015年5月至2016年3月我院妇科收治的宫颈疾病患者86例,按照随机数表法,将患者分为对照组和研究组,每组43例。对照组患者进行常规的宫颈活检,研究组患者采用阴道镜直视宫颈多点活检。对比两种检查方法与病理检查结果的检出率,并比较两种检查方法的漏诊率,另外考察影响阴道镜直视宫颈多点活检漏诊率的相关因素。结果:与病理检查结果相比,除宫颈炎和宫颈癌外,研究组对其他类型宫颈疾病的检出率及总检出率明显高于对照组(P0.05);除宫颈癌外,研究组对各种宫颈疾病的漏诊率与对照组相比明显下降(P0.05);年龄超过50岁,高级别的CIN类型、标本个数的减少及宫颈微小病变都可能升高阴道镜直视宫颈多点活检漏诊率。结论:与传统宫颈活检相比,阴道镜直视宫颈多点活检对宫颈疾病的诊断具有较高的诊断率,并且漏诊率较低,可以适当增加活检的样本个数来降低漏诊率,从而尽早发现并进行有效治疗,值得在临床上推广应用。     

Regression Models for Clinical Trials with Correlated Categorical Responses

Regression models for correlated categorical data are presented in which the covariance is a function of measured effects. The regression and covariance parameters are estimated by extended least square methods. A numerical example of a clinical trial comparing two antiemetic treatment regimes for patients receiving chemotherapy is given to illustrate the approach.     

The use of ecological integrity indicators within the natural capital index framework: The ecological and economic value of the remnant natural capital of México

In this paper, the ecological integrity hierarchy framework (EIHF) and the natural capital index framework (NCI) are integrated as decision-making tools for evaluating the natural capital of Mexico. Two hierarchy-levels of ecological integrity indicators are used to estimate the quality and quantity of the natural capital, the amount of ecological degradation and ecological sustainability. After human transformation, the extent still considered as “natural” in the country is ∼67%; while the amount of human transformed areas is ∼33%, which gives a total estimate of NCI = 0.334; i.e., only ∼33.4% of the national capital remains available, while ∼33% is ecologically degraded. Furthermore, the critical natural capital; i.e., the legacy for future generations that remains in the country is only ∼12%. The total estimated value of the current natural capital in Mexico is ∼$457.1 billion/yr, which is ∼435 times greater than the national GDP ($1.051 billion in 2010). The cost of maintaining the degradation of the natural capital is ∼$144.6 billion/yr (∼138 times greater than national GDP in 2010). The potential value of the natural capital after restoration would be ∼$602 billion/yr. Valuing the natural capital can be helpful for strategic environmental evaluations and useful for spatial decision support systems that evaluate natural capital as a decision-making tool.     

Bio-functionalized gold nanoparticles: Benign effect in Sprague-Dawley rats by intravenous administration

Gold nanoparticles offer a great promise in clinical research. Despite various applications of the metal nanoparticles it is challenging to implement in vivo in clinical applications. This aspect is deprived of understanding the biological mechanisms that occurs in the cells. In this report we have evaluated application of AuNP on the safety profile at different doses (100, 200, and 500 μg/kg Bwt/day) on intravenous administration in rats regularly for 28 days. The study was performed based on the OECD test guideline 407. No clinical signs and mortalities were observed in any groups of rat treated with AuNP. No evidence of toxicity was observed in any of the diverse studies performed which is noteworthy. The study includes survival, behavior, animal weight, organ morphology, blood biochemistry and tissue histology. The results indicate that tissue accumulation pattern of gold nanoparticles depends on the surface, size and doses of the nanoparticle. The accumulation of the particles does not produce subacute physiological damage.