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Different levels (0, 90, 180, and 270 g per tree) of compound fertilizer containing 15% N, 15% P2O5, and 15% K2O were applied to young Eucalyptus grandis to study the diurnal variations of its leaf stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), net photo-synthesis rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), water use efficiency (WUE), and vapor pressure deficit on leaf surface (Vpdl) as well as the variation of leaf chlorophyll content, aimed to approach the relationships of E. grandis photosynthesis with fertilization and environmental factors. In all treatments, the diurnal variation of Pn presented a single-peak curve, with the peak at 14:00 and not showing midday depression. The Gs, Tr, and Vpdl showed the similar trend with Pn, while the Ci had a minimum value at 14:00. The WUE demonstrated a double-peak curve, with the first and second peak occurred at 10:00 and 14:00, respectively. Comparing with the control, the mean values of Gs, Pn, Tr, WUE, and chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll contents under fertilization increased by 4.6% - 15.9%, 7.8% - 21.8%, 4.8% - 11.6%, 3.2% - 8.8%, 15.5% - 62.0%, 14.5% - 44.5% and 15.3% - 57.1%, respectively, and the increment increased with fertilization level. By contrast, the mean values of Ci and Vpdl decreased by 14.5% - 44.5% and 15.3% -57.1%, respectively, and the decrement increased with fertilization level. The Gs, Pn, and Tr were significantly correlated with air temperature, relative humidity (RH), and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), and also, the Gs was significantly correlated with Pn and Tr. It was suggested that fertilization could promote E. grandis growth and enhance its WUE and biological carbon sequestration, and air temperature, RH, PAR, and Gs were the main factors causing the diurnal variations of photosynthesis and transpiration of E. grandis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

0-20 cm soil samples were collected from an 18-year wheat-maize rotation field on the North China Plain to study the effects of long-term fertilization on the contents and storages of soil particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate organic nitrogen (PON), incorporated organic carbon (IOC), and incorporated organic nitrogen (ION). The long-term fertilization experiment was designed to include 7 treatments, i.e., chemical NPK (NPK), organic manure (OM), 1/2 organic manure plus 1/2 chemical NPK (1/2OMN), chemical NP (NP), chemical PK (PK), chemical NK (NK), and control (CK). After 18 years experiment, all the fertilization treatments showed higher contents of soil POC, PON, IOC and ION, higher proportions of soil POC to soil total organic carbon (TOC) and of soil PON to soil total nitrogen (TON), and higher C/N ratio of soil particulate organic matter. The storages of soil POC and PON under fertilization treatments were increased by 11.7%-196.8% and 13.0%-152.2%, respectively, compared with the control. The contribution of soil POC to the increased storage of soil TOC ranged from 31.5% to 67.3%, and that of soil PON to the increased storage of soil TON ranged from 14.3% to 100.0%. The storages of soil IOC and ION under fertilization treatments increased by 2.0%-75.0% and 0.0%-69.8%, respectively, compared with the control. Among the fertilization treatments, treatment OM had the highest storages of soil POC, PON, IOC and ION, followed by treatment 1/2OMN, and the treatments of applying chemical fertilizers alone. Balanced application of chemical fertilizers (treatment NPK) showed higher storages of soil POC, PON, IOC and ION than imbalanced application (treatments NP, PK, and NK). It was suggested that applying organic manure or its combination with chemical NPK and the balanced application of chemical NPK could be the keys for the increase of soil POC, PON, IOC and ION contents and storages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study designed and prepared near-infrared responsive sinomenine hydrochloride(SIN) reservoir microneedles and evaluated the feasibility of this type of microneedles in increasing the drug loading and transdermal absorption by characterizing their mechanical properties and in vitro release characteristics.SIN was selected as the model drug, and methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) poly(caprolactone)(mPEG-PCL) copolymers and indocyanine green(ICG) were employed as amphiphilic block copolymers and light inductor to prepare near-infrared responsive nanoparticles.Based on the preparation principle of bubble microneedles, near-infrared responsive SIN reservoir microneedles were designed and prepared.The features of the near-infrared responsive SIN reservoir microneedles were characterized by measuring the morphology, length, mechanical properties, and skin penetration of microneedles.Meanwhile, the drug release performance of reservoir microneedles was evaluated by in vitro release assay.The results showed that the prepared SIN microneedles were conical, with an exposed tip height of about 650 μm.Each needle could load about 0.5 mg of drugs per square centi-meter, and this type of microneedle showed good mechanical properties and performance in skin penetration.The results of the in vitro release assay showed that the 24 h cumulative release per unit area and release rate of the microneedle were 825.61 μg·cm~(-2) and 74.3%, respectively, which indicated that its release kinetics was in line with the first-order kinetic model.This study preliminarily proved that the reservoir microneedle could effectively increase the drug loading with good mechanical properties and release perfor-mance.

This study aimed to investigate the enhancing effect of muscone on the transdermal penetration of traditional Chinese medicine ingredients and explore its possible mechanism of action. The Franz diffusion cells were employed to investigate the effect of muscone on the transdermal permeation of a series of model drugs with a wide range of log P values. The solubilities at saturation and the stratum corneum(SC)/vehicle partition coefficients of model drugs were measured to evaluate the effect of muscone on drug thermodynamic activities and partition of drugs into SC. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(ATR-FTIR) was employed to explore the effect of muscone on the molecular structure of SC. The results showed that muscone significantly promoted the transdermal penetration of hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, and the enhancement ratio(ER) increased with the decrease in the log P. Muscone could interact with the SC lipids to increase the disorder and fluidity of lipid bilayer packing, which improved skin permeability and promoted transdermal absorption of drugs. This study provides a scientific basis for the application of muscone in traditional Chinese medicine topical preparations.

Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

The aim of this paper was to investigate and compare the penetration-enhancing characteristics of menthol and essential oil from Mentha haplocalyx(M.haplocalyx oil) on the transdermal absorption of the complex traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) components. A series of TCM components were selected as model drugs based on their lipophilicity (logP value), namely osthole(OT, logP=3.85), tetramethylpyrazine(TMP, logP=2.34), ferulic acid(FA, logP=1.26), puerarin(PR, logP=-0.35) and geniposide(GP, logP=-1.01), in order to simply and characterize the TCM complex components system. Transdermal experiment in vitro was employed to investigate and compare the penetration-enhancing characteristics of menthol and M.haplocalyx oil on the transdermal absorption of these model drugs. Meanwhile, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR) was used to further compare the effect of menthol and M. haplocalyx oil on the molecular structure of stratum corneum(SC). The results showed that both of menthol and M.haplocalyx oil at proper concentration could promote the transdermal absorption of the selected model drugs. After application of menthol, the drug logP values gradually tended to have negative linear relationship with the logarithm of penetration enhancement ratio(ER); while after application of M.haplocalyx oil, the logP values tended to have parabolic relationship with the logarithm of ER. However, both menthol and M.haplocalyx oil exhibited higher efficiency for the drugs with relative low lgP value(ie hydrophilic drugs), with similar penetration-enhancing characteristics between these two. Infrared spectroscopy results showed that menthol and M.haplocalyx oil could affect the skin barrier functions mainly via stratum corneum lipids, with similar effect intensity, and this was consistent with the results of transdermal experiment in vitro. Thus, Menthol had similar penetration-enhancing characteristics with M.haplocalyx oil, and had same effect on the SC molecular structure. Therefore, as transdermal penetration enhancer, the menthol with single composition could be considered to replace M.haplocalyx oil with complex compositions., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)

To optimize the matrix formulation of Chaizhi cataplasma (CC) and investigate its release and transdermal absorption properties in vitro. The optimized matrix formulation of cataplasma containing liquid herbal extract is determined by using D-optimal mixture design, with initial bonding strength, endurance bonding strength and gel strength as the evaluating indicators. Modified Franz diffusion cells were used to study the in vitro release and transdermal absorption of geniposide in CC. The optimized matrix formulation of CC contained NP700, aluminum glycinate, tartaric acid, glycerin, PVPK90 and water (9∶0.7∶0.8∶30∶5∶30.5). Cumulative release rate of geniposide in CC was (77.02±3.73)% in 24 h. The percutaneous penetration rate of geniposide was 7.25 μg•cm⁻²•h⁻¹ and the 24 h permeated amount was (156.22±4.90) μg•cm⁻². The optimized CC prepared by the D-optimal mixture design showed a good adhesion and formability. The in vitro release of the geniposide in CC was in accordance with the first order equation, while its in vitro transdermal absorption was close to the zero order equation., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)

The aim of this paper was to investigate the effect of terpene penetration enhancers on membrane fluidity and membrane potential using HaCaT keratinocytes, and study the potential mechanisms of these terpene compounds using as natural transdermal penetration enhancer. Six terpene compounds, namely menthol, limonene, 1,8-cineole, menthone, terpinen-4-ol and pulegone, were chosen in this study on account of their good penetration-enhancement activities. The cytotoxicity of these terpene compounds was measured using an MTT assay. The fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) technique was employed to measure the change of membrane fluidity of HaCaT cells. The flow cytometer was used to study the alteration of membrane fluidity of HaCaT cells, and investigate the effect of terpene compounds on intracellular Ca2+. It was found that 6 terpene compounds possessed low cytotoxicity in comparison to the well-established and standard penetration enhancer azone. Those terpene compounds could significantly enhance HaCaT cells membrane fluidity and decrease HaCaT cells membrane potentials. Meanwhile, after treated with various terpene compounds, the Ca2(+)-ATPase activity and intracellular Ca2+ of HaCaT cells was decreased significantly. Terpene penetration enhancers perhaps changed the membrane fluidity and potentials of HaCaT cells by altering the Ca2+ balance of the cell inside and outside, resulting in the low skin permeability to increase the drug transdermal absorption.

Different levels (0, 90, 180, and 270 g per tree) of compound fertilizer containing 15% N, 15% P2O5, and 15% K2O were applied to young Eucalyptus grandis to study the diurnal variations of its leaf stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), net photosynthesis rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), water use efficiency (WUE), and vapor pressure deficit on leaf surface (Vpdl) as well as the variation of leaf chlorophyll content, aimed to approach the relationships of E. grandis photosynthesis with fertilization and environmental factors. In all treatments, the diurnal variation of Pn presented a single-peak curve, with the peak at 14:00 and not showing midday depression. The Gs, Tr, and Vpdl showed the similar trend with Pn, while the Ci had a minimum value at 14:00. The WUE demonstrated a double-peak curve, with the first and second peak occurred at 10:00 and 14:00, respectively. Comparing with the control, the mean values of Gs, Pn, Tr, WUE, and chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll contents under fertilization increased by 4.6%-15.9%, 7.8%-21.8%, 4.8%-11.6%, 3.2%-8.8%, 15.5%-62.0%, 14.5%-44.5% and 15.3%-57.1%, respectively, and the increment increased with fertilization level. By contrast, the mean values of Ci and VPdl decreased by 14.5%-44.5% and 15.3%-57.1%, respectively, and the decrement increased with fertilization level. The Gs, Pn, and Tr were significantly correlated with air temperature, relative humidity (RH), and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), and also, the Gs was significantly correlated with Pn and Tr. It was suggested that fertilization could promote E. grandis growth and enhance its WUE and biological carbon sequestration, and air temperature, RH, PAR, and Gs were the main factors causing the diurnal variations of photosynthesis and transpiration of E. grandis.

By using fractal model, this paper studied the fractal dimension of soil aggregate structure (D) in the slope farmland (CK), its 5-year de-farmed Neosinocalamus affinis plantation (NAP), Bambusa pervariabilis x Dendrocalamopsis oldhami plantation (BDP), Alnus crenastogyne + Neosinocalamus affinis plantation (ANP), and abandoned farmland (AFL) in south Sichuan Province of China, and analyzed the relationships between the D and soil physical and chemical properties. In the de-farmed plantations and abandoned farmland, the contents of > 0.25 mm soil aggregates and water-stable aggregates were increased significantly, compared with those in the slope farmland. The D was 1.377-2.826, being in the order of NAP < BDP < ANP < AFL < CK, and decreased with the increasing contents of > 0.25 mm soil aggregates and water-stable aggregates. Comparing with CK, de-farming increased the soil natural water content, capillary porosity, and contents of soil organic matter, total N, alkali-hydrolysable N, total P, and total K, and decreased soil bulk density, non-capillary porosity, and aeration porosity. There were close relationships between the fractal dimension of soil aggregate structure and the soil physical and chemical properties. All the results suggested that the de-farming of slope farmland was beneficial to the increase of the contents of > 0.25 mm soil aggregates and water-stable aggregates, and the enhancement of soil structure stability. The D could be used as an ideal index to evaluate soil fertility, and planting Neosinocalamus affinis on the de-farming slope farmland was a good measure for the improvement of soil fertility in the research area.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) gene Exon 8 14 bp deletion polymorphism and the pathogenesis of severe pre-eclampsia., Methods: Forty-two pregnant women with severe pre-eclampsia, who admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from October 2008 to February 2009, and their newborns were chosen as the severe pre-eclampsia group. Another 45 healthy gravidas at the third trimester and their newborns were chosen as the control. All gravidas in both groups were Han Nationality. HLA-G Exon 8 genotyping was detected by PCR in both groups and the allele frequencies and genotype frequencies were compared between the two groups. The genotype frequencies of maternal-neonatal pairs were also analyzed., Results: (1) In the severe pre-eclampsia group, 14% of the maternal-neonatal pairs were homozygote of 14 bp deletion, and significantly higher frequency 33% (15/45) was found in the control group (P=0.038). (2) No significant difference was found in the allele frequencies and genotype frequencies of HLA-G 14 bp deletion polymorphism among all the mothers between the two groups (P>0.05). (3) The +14 bp and -14 bp allele frequencies of HLA-G 14 bp deletion polymorphism in newborns in the severe pre-eclampsia group were 44% (37/84) and 56% (47/84), respectively, and 30% (27/90) and 70% (63/90) in the control group. Although there was no significant difference between the two groups, but differences in trends was identified (chi2=3.678 P=0.055); The genotype (-14 bp/-14 bp) frequency of neonates in the severe pre-eclampsia group showed no difference compared with that in the control group [29% (12/42) vs 49% (22/45)], but differences in trends was also found (P=0.052)., Conclusions: HLA-G 14 bp deletion polymorphism is associated with the susceptibility of severe pre-eclampsia in Chinese Han nationality. Maternal-fetal genotype pairs of -14 bp/-14 bp may have reduced risk of severe pre-eclampsia.

Radix Isatidis (Banlangen in Chinese) is a traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) herb, and is frequently used for treating influenza. However, the current quality control method for Radix Isatidis should be developed since it has little correlation to the pharmacodynamic action. In this paper, the in vitro inhibitory action of Radix Isatidis on neuraminidase (NA) was investigated by fluorometric assay with 4-methylumbelliferyl-D-N-acetylneuraminate (FL-MU-NANA) method. Based on the method, the experimental condition was optimized and a bioassay statistic method was established according to the reaction type and the regularity of "parallel lines of qualitative effect". Then the bioassay method of Radix Isatidis was established. This study indicated that Radix Isatidis had obvious in vitro inhibitory activity on NA with IC50 = (0.90 +/- 0.20) mg x mL(-1) (herb). The correlation between logarithmic dose and reaction rate showed an "S" shape--is quite similar to Tamiflu's reaction curve, which hinted that Radix Isatidis had the same inhibitory function on NA as Tamiflu. The established bioassay method of "parallel lines of qualitative effect" had a good reproducibility (RSD = 5.78%). The results of potency determination of Radix Isatidis were reliable (reliability test: deviation from straight line P > 0.05, deviation from parallel line P > 0.05) and well regular. As a conclusion, this bioassay method is suitable to control and evaluate the quality of Radix Isatidis.

Objective: To study the antimalarial activity of naphthoquine phosphate combined with artemisinine against Plasmodium knowlesi in rhesus monkey., Methods: Monkeys were randomly divided into 9 groups (3/group). The monkeys in groups A and B were treated i.g. once daily for 3 days with 6 or 10 mg/kg of naphthoquine phosphate respectively. Those in groups C and D were treated i.g. twice for the 1st day and once for the 2nd and 3rd day with 31.6 or 100 mg/kg of artemisinine respectively. In groups E, F and G, they were treated i.g. only once with the combination of naphthoquine phosphate 10 mg/kg and artemisinine 10, 20 or 25 mg/kg respectively. Groups H and I served as controls which were treated i.g. only once with 10 mg/kg of naphthoquine phosphate and 30 mg/kg of artemisinine respectively. Parasitemia was examined beginning 24 h after drug administration. The observation lasted 105 days when no more parasite was found., Results: At 24 h after drug administration, the parasite reduction rate in all groups was higher than 90%. The parasite clearance time for groups E, F and G was (56.0 +/- 16.0), (53.3 +/- 4.6), and (56.0 +/- 8.0) h respectively, more rapid than that of Group H [(69.3 +/- 4.6) h]. There were 1, 3, 3, 2, 2, and 3 monkeys in groups A, B, D, E, F, and G respectively which were cured. No monkeys were cured in groups C, H and I., Conclusion: The combination of naphthoquine phosphate and artemisinine is superior to the single component and the optimum proportion in the combination is 1 : 2.5 in treating P. knowlesi infection in monkeys.

0-20 cm soil samples were collected from an 18-year wheat-maize rotation field on the North China Plain to study the effects of long-term fertilization on the contents and storages of soil particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate organic nitrogen (PON), incorporated organic carbon (IOC), and incorporated organic nitrogen (ION). The long-term fertilization experiment was designed to include 7 treatments, i.e., chemical NPK (NPK), organic manure (OM), 1/2 organic manure plus 1/2 chemical NPK (1/20 MN), chemical NP (NP), chemical PK (PK), chemical NK (NK), and control (CK). After 18 years experiment, all the fertilization treatments showed higher contents of soil POC, PON, IOC and ION, higher proportions of soil POC to soil total organic carbon (TOC) and of soil PON to soil total nitrogen (TON), and higher C/N ratio of soil particulate organic matter. The storages of soil POC and PON under fertilization treatments were increased by 11.7%-196.8% and 13.0%-152.2%, respectively, compared with the control. The contribution of soil POC to the increased storage of soil TOC ranged from 31.5% to 67.3%, and that of soil PON to the increased storage of soil TON ranged from 14.3% to 100.0%. The storages of soil IOC and ION under fertilization treatments increased by 2.0%-75.0% and 0.0%-69.8%, respectively, compared with the control. Among the fertilization treatments, treatment OM had the highest storages of soil POC, PON, IOC and ION, followed by treatment 1/20 MN, and the treatments of applying chemical fertilizers alone. Balanced application of chemical fertilizers (treatment NPK) showed higher storages of soil POC, PON, IOC and ION than imbalanced application (treatments NP, PK, and NK). It was suggested that applying organic manure or its combination with chemical NPK and the balanced application of chemical NPK could be the keys for the increase of soil POC, PON, IOC and ION contents and storages.

Catharanthus roseus seedlings were grown in 1/2 Hoagland solution containing 0-250 mmol x L(-1) of NaCl, and their fresh and dry mass, malondialdehyde (MDA) and chlorophyll contents, tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC) and peroxidase (POD) activities, and vindoline, catharanthine, vincristine and vinblastine contents were measured after 7 days. The results showed that NaCl markedly decreased the fresh and dry mass but increased the MDA content. The chlorophyll content had no difference with the control when the concentration of NaCl was 50 mmol x L(-1), but decreased with increasing NaCl concentration when the NaCl concentration was above 50 mmol x L(-1). There was a significant enhancement of POD activity under NaCl stress. The TDC activity was the highest when the concentration of NaCl was 50 mmol x L(-1), but decreased with increasing NaCl concentration. The vindoline, catharanthine, vincristine, and vinblastine contents were the highest under 50 mmol x L(-1) NaCl stress, with the values being 4.61, 3.56, 1.19, and 2.95 mg x g(-1), respectively, and significant higher than the control and other treatments. Salt stress could restrain the growth of C. roseus seedlings, but promote the metabolism of alkaloid and increase the alkaloid content. 50 mmol x L(-1) of NaCl had the greatest promotion effect on the alkaloid content of C. roseus seedlings.

Objective: To observe the effects of self-made spinal expander in treatment of compression fracture of osteoporotic vertebral body., Methods: Ninty-six patients were randomly divided into two groups, treatment group included 42 cases with 56 centrums, 14 males and 28 females, aged from 50 to 69 years, and control group included 54 cases with 68 centrums, 19 males and 35 females, aged from 51 to 75 years. All cases were examined by X-ray and CT. MRI was taken in 27 patients to make sure the diagnosis which was compression fracture of vertebral body due to osteoporosis. The degree of osteoporosis was judged by X-ray of L3 bone trabecula. Fifty-six centrums in treatment group were treated with self-made spinal expander and bone cement. Sixty-eight centrums in control group were treated with PVP. Compression rate and recovery rate of vertebral height, and leakage rate of bone cement were measured according to the Lee standard., Results: (1) VAS between treatment group and control group had significant statistically difference (P<0.05). (2) In treatment group, compression rate of anterior and middle vertebal height were statistical difference before and after operation (P<0.05). In control group, the compression rate of pre-and post-operative vertebal height had no significant difference (P>0.05). (3) The recovery rate of kyphosis between treatment group (71.8%) and control group (37.8%) was significant statistically difference (P<0.05). (4) There was no cement leakage in the treatment group, however the leakage rate in control group was 47%. (5) The curative effect was assessed based on the standard of WHO. In treatment group, 36 cases was completely relieved, 4 cases was partially relieved and the relief rate was 95.24%. In control group, 43 cases was completely relieved, 3 cases was partially relieved and the relief rate was 84.19%. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups (P<0.05)., Conclusion: The self-made spinal expander is a minimal invasive technique, which can substitute the imported balloon. This technique can alleviate pain rapidly and recover the height of vertebral body.

Objective: To study the expression of type I inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor in rat glomerular and afferent arterioles in a model of liver cirrhosis and study the role of cross-membrane message transduction in the pathogenesis of hepatorenal syndrome., Methods: In a rat model of carbontetrachloride liver cirrhosis, the expression of type I inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R) on glomerular and afferent arterioles was measured by immunohistochemical method., Results: In the experimental group, 30 rats were used to make a model of liver cirrhosis. 11 rats survived during the experiment. The expression of type I IP3R on glomerular and afferent arterioles was 4.97+/-1.34 and 4.09+/-1.14 in the liver cirrhosis group, and it was 2.43+/-1.67 and 1.83+/-1.32 in the normal control rats. The differences between these two groups are statistically significant (t = 2.28, P = 0.0458)., Conclusion: Expression of type I IP3 receptor on rat glomerular and afferent arterioles in a model of liver cirrhosis indicated that the mechanism of cross-membrane message transduction plays a very important role in the pathogenesis of hepatorenal syndrome.

Objective: To construct the subtracted cDNA libraries related to artemisinin-resistance of Plasmodium berghei using suppression subtractive hybridization PCR (SSH PCR)., Methods: Total RNA was extracted from the artemisinin-sensitive (NS) and artemisinin-resistant (AR) strains of Plasmodium berghei K173. The cDNA synthesis followed the protocol of super SMART cDNA synthesis kit. Taking the NS as driver, AR as tester and reverse, two subtractions were performed by SSH PCR. Enriched different expressed cDNA was cloned into pMD18-T vector to construct subtractive libraries., Results: The subtracted cDNA libraries of NS-AR and AR-NS contained 395 and 506 positive clones respectively. The PCR results of 108 clones picked randomly from each library showed 100 and 104 positive inserts contained in the plasmids respectively, and distributing in 250-2000 bp., Conclusion: The successful construction of the subtracted cDNA libraries related to artemisinin-resistance of P. berghei enable us to identify the different expressed genes involved in the resistance mechanism.

Objective: To explore the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the pathogenesis of hepatorenal syndrome., Methods: By isolated perfused kidney technique, rat kidneys were perfused at a constant flow. Changes in perfusion pressure (mmHg) were consecutively measured with multi-functional physiology recorder. After TNF-alpha or heparin treated 90 minutes, the perfusion pressure stimulated by endothelin-1 (ET-1) was detected., Results: TNF-alpha and heparin didn't modify the baseline perfusion pressure. When ET-1 was added at 2 nmol/L, the perfusion pressures increased to (47+/-9) mmHg, (97+/-36) mm Hg and (11+/-6) mm Hg in control, TNF-alpha and heparin (10mg/L) treated group, respectively, which were different among the three groups (t>or=3.811, P<0.01). No pathological damages were found in kidney tissues from all the groups after being stained with hematoxylin/eosin., Conclusion: TNF-alpha plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hepatorenal syndrome by promoting renal vasoconstriction.

Objective: To study the effect of mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular membrane permeability in the neurotoxicity of artemether., Methods: Mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular membrane permeability in pheochromocytoma cell and primary cultured rat neuronal cell were measured by flow cytometry, using rhodamine 123(Rh123) and PI as fluorescent dye, respectively. Mitochondrial swelling was measured by spectrometer., Results: Artemether could decrease the mitochondrial membrane potential and increase the cellular membrane permeability in both cell types in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, artemether led to mitochondrial swelling with dose-effect and time-effect relationships., Conclusion: The decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential plays an important role in the neurotoxicity of artemether. The drug can change the mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial swelling by affecting the permeability transition pore complex located in the mitochondrial membrane, increasing cellular membrane permeability, causing an obstruction and finally leading to neurotoxicity.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of naphthoquine, artemisinine and a combination of the two drugs in the treatment of faciparum malaria., Methods: Of 230 patients, 100 patients were treated with combined regime (Co-NQ), 100 patients were treated with naphthoquine (NQ) and 30 patients were treated with artemisinine (QHS). All patients were hospitalized for 7 days and followed up for 28 days., Results: The mean fever clearance time for Co-NQ, NQ, and QHS was (17.5 +/- 12.3)h, (32.7 +/- 17.7)h and (18.1 +/- 9.7)h respectively; the mean parasite clearance time was (30.0 +/- 8.8)h, (45.5 +/- 10.0)h and (29.1 +/- 6.0)h respectively; and the 28 days cure rate was 97.0%, 100.0% and 66.7% respectively., Conclusion: The Co-NQ possesses benefits of both naphthoquine and artemisinine, acting rapidly, with a short course of only one dose and a high cure rate. The regime is well tolerated by patients.