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The structures of 1,5-dihydroxy-3,8-epoxyvalechlorine (1a) and volvaltrate B (6a), two new chlorinated iridoids isolated from Valeriana jatamansi and V. officinalis, respectively, were originally assigned on the basis of spectroscopic methods. Reinvestigation using X-ray analysis and chemical transformation revealed that the original assignment of H-7 in 1a and OH-8 in 6a should be inverted and that the structures should be revised to 1 and 6, respectively. Correspondingly, the structure of valeriotetrate C (7a) should be revised to 7. Volvaltrate B (6) showed cytotoxic activity against the lung adenocarcinoma (A549), metastatic prostate cancer (PC-3M), colon cancer (HCT-8), and hepatoma (Bel7402) cell lines, with IC50 values of 8.5, 2.0, 3.2, and 6.1 μM, respectively.

Objective: To investigate the distribution and the antibiotic susceptibility of pathogenic bacteria in children from Guiyang with lower respiratory infection (LRI)., Methods: The nasopharyngeal aspirate samples were obtained from 893 hospitalized children with LRI between August 2006 and June 2008. An antibiotic susceptibility test was performed using the VITEK system and the Kirby-Bauer diffuse method after bacteria were identified., Results: Five hundred and forty-three patients (60.8%) were bacteria-positive. A total of 598 strains (30 kinds of bacteria) were obtained from the sputum samples. Of them, 533 strains (89.1%) were gram-negative and 57 were gram-positive (9.8%). Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Kleb-siella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) were common in gram-negative strains. They were susceptive to piperacillin/tazobactam, amikacin, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin, especially to imipenem. Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) and Stapthylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were common in gram-positive strains. S. pneumoniae was susceptive to penicillin and cefazolin sodium, but S. aureus was resistant. Both were high susceptive to vancomycin, and resistant to roxithromycin., Conclusions: Gram-negative bacteria are the main pathogens in children from Guiyang with LRI, and E. coli and K. pneumoniae are common. The antibiotic susceptibility of pathogenic bacteria varies with different strains of bacteria. A reasonable selection of antibiotics should be based on the antibiotic susceptibility test.

Two new and three previously known CIS-clerodane diterpenoids were isolated from the wild liverwort Gottschelia schizopleura (Jungermanniales, Jungermanniaceae). Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, especially 1D and 2D NMR data. The cytotoxic activities of compounds 1- 5 were evaluated against liver hepatoblastoma (HEP-G2), lung carcinoma (A549), breast ductal carcinoma (MDA-MB-435), and colon adenocarcinoma (LOVO) cell lines. Compound 1 showed moderate inhibition against MDA-MB-435 and LOVO cells., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart. New York.)

Objective: To construct chimerical DNA vaccine plasmid of human papillomavirus type 11 (HPV11) L1-E7, and to evaluate its immunogenicity., Methods: Molecular cloning techniques were used to construct recombinant plasmid pcDNA3 L1-E7 as a DNA vaccine. BALB/c mice were vaccinated with DNA recombinants through muscle injection.IL-2 and gamma-INF secreted by immunized spleens lymphocyte and HPV 11 L1 or E7 specific antibodies were assayed by ELISA method. Spleens lymphocyte proliferation was measured by MTT assay., Results: The chimerical DNA plasmid of pcDNA3 L1-E7 was constructed correctly. Specific anti-HPV11 E7 and L1 antibodies, specific lymphocyte proliferation and secretions of IL-2 and gamma-INF were detected in vaccinated mice., Conclusion: Specific immune response, including cellular immunity and humoral immunity, could been detected in mice vaccinated with chimerical DNA vaccine of pcDNA3 L1-E7.

Objective: Completion pneumonectomy (CP) is widely known to be associated with a high morbidity and mortality. However, in certain instances, CP offers the only chance for a cure. Now to explore the indications, prevention and management of complications as well as late outcomes of CP., Methods: During a period of 21 years from January 1985 to August 2006, 24 patients received CP, representing 2.3% of 1026 patients who had undergone pneumonectomy in the same period. There were 17 right and 7 left CPs done in 20 male and 4 female patients with an average age of 58 years (range from 42 to 67 years). Lung malignancy accounted for 22 of these cases in which the indication included local recurrence in 18, second primary tumors in 2 and primary malignancies that developed after right upper lobectomies for pulmonary tuberculoma and pulmonary cyst respectively in 2 cases. Benign disease was progression or recurrence of bronchiectasis in 2 cases. Before CP, 17 patients had had a lobectomy, 5 a bilobectomy, 1 sleeve lobectomy and 1 wedge resection. There were 16 of 20 lung cancer patients receiving postoperative chemotherapy and 3 with positive residues having radiotherapy. The mean interval between the two procedures was 65 months for the whole group (5.5-360) and 32 months for lung cancer patients (5.5-120). They all underwent CP, included sleeve CP in 1 patient., Results: For all patients, the previous thoracotomy incision was reopened and maneuvers such as rib resection, intrapericardial blood vessel ligation, division of the bronchus first, local application of glues and hemostatic agents, and bronchial reinforcement were routinely used. Intrapericardial route was used in 10 patients (41.7%). Two patients had right pulmonary artery injured. The operation lasted 4-7 hours, with blood loss of 300 to 3000 ml. Overall respectability, morbidity and hospital mortality were 95.8%, 29.2% and 4.2%. No intraoperative deaths occurred. There was 1 early postoperative death after 40 days from adult respiratory distress syndrome. There was no occurrence of bronchopleural fistula, and the 25% associated morbidity rate was a result of bleeding necessitating reexploration in 1 case, chronic empyema in 1 case, arrhythmia in 1 case, anemia in 1 case and fever of unknown reason in 2 cases. Actuarial 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates from the time of completion pneumonectomy for patients with lung cancer were 77.3%, 50.0% and 29.4%. And 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates for patients with recurrent lung cancer were 72.2%, 47.1% and 29.4%., Conclusions: CP can be performed with an acceptable operative mortality and morbidity rate in selected patients. For patients with local recurrence, first and second primary bronchogenic carcinoma as well as benign pulmonary disease, treatment should be surgical when a less invasive procedure is not available and the patients are in good health. In addition, patients undergoing CP have a reasonable prospect for long-term survival.

"Baishouwu" is an appellative name of dried root tubers from three Asclepiadaceae plants: Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight, Cynanchum bungei Decne and Cynoctonum wilfordii Maxim. In order to establish the pharmacological basis for the ethnomedicinal use of Baishouwu in gastric disorders, this study examined the effects of ethanol extracts and fractions from root tubers of Cynanchum auriculatum, Cynanchum bungei and Cynoctonum wilfordii on ethanol-, indomethacin-induced gastric lesions and histamine-induced gastric acid secretion in rats. Plant materials were collected from various areas of China. Oral administration of ethanol extract and chloroform fraction of Cynoctonum wilfordii collected from Changbai Cordillera at doses of 150 and 68 mg/kg, respectively, significantly inhibited the development of ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric lesions and also caused significant decrease of gastric acid secretion after histamine-induced gastric lesion. Oral administrations of ethanol extract and chloroform fraction of Cynanchum auriculatum collected from Binhai at the doses of 300 and 69 mg/kg, respectively, significantly inhibited ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric lesions. This study demonstrates the gastroprotective property of Baishouwu for the first time.

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of Zanthoxylum nitidum., Method: Column chromatography on Silica gel and Sephadex LH - 20, and recrystallization were applied for the isolation and purification of the constituents. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis, chemical evidences and by comparison with the data reported in literature., Result: From the CHCl3 fraction and n-butanol fraction of the EtOH extract of the roots of Z. nitidum, 10 compounds were isolated and identified as 2, 4-dihydroxypyrimidine (1), syringic acid (2) , 2, 6-dimethoxy-1, 4-benzoquinone (3) , 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4), ethylparaben (5), (Z)-3-(2, 3, 4-trimethoxyphenyl) acrylic acid (6), 5, 6, 7-trimethoxycoumarin (7), stigmast-9 (11) -en-3-ol (8), daucosterol (9), beta-sitosterol (10)., Conclusion: Compounds 1-9 were isolated and identified from the roots of Z. nitidum for the first time. Furthermore, we note here the first isolation of compound 6 as a natural product.

Thermodynamic parameters of complexation of naphto-15-crown-5 with four alkaline earth ions in aqueous media was determined using titration microcalorimetry at 298.15 K. The stability of the complexes, thermal effect and entropy effect of the complexation is discussed on the basis of the guest ions structure and the solvent effect. The stability constants tendency to vary with ion radius was interpreted. Complex of naphtha-15-crown-5 with calcium ion is very stable due to the synergism of static electric interaction and size selectivity between the host and the guest.

Objective: To explore the feasibility of multi-dimensional and comprehensive evaluation on the quality of life among rural elderly population in Anhui province., Methods: 5652 rural elderly people aged above 65 in Anhui province were selected by cluster sampling method and were studied by cross-sectional study through a questionnaire on health information. The quality of life was evaluated by comprehensive evaluation method., Results: The total score of satisfactory quality of life in the studied rural elderly people was 0.1432 +/- 0.5170, while not satisfied was -0.2521 +/- 0.6081, with significant difference between the two groups (F = 666.221, P < 0.0001). There was positive correlation between subjective satisfaction and total score of quality of life, with r(s) = 0.345 (P < 0.0001). The results of logistic regression analysis between comprehensive index of quality of life and subjective satisfaction indicated that filial piety, income, sleeping condition, chronic disease, nutrition status, economic dominance in the family, amusement activities etc. were important factors influencing the quality of life., Conclusion: It was feasible to evaluation on the quality of life by comprehensive evaluation method.

Objective: To evaluate the prospective validity and predictive value of cerebral palsy during infancy, using 'Infant Motor Malfunction Profile'., Methods: Items of motor milestone in the profile was used as the first step to screen cerebral palsy on 8137 infants who were screened at 3, 6, 9, 12 months of age. The positive cases who had one of 7 developmental abnormal motor milestone items were examined using the items of primitive reflexes or postural reaction as the secondary step of cerebral palsy screening. The cases who had at least one abnormal item of primitive reflex or postural reaction received neurological examination by doctors to diagnose cerebral palsy., Results: According to our data, sensitivity, specificity, positive prospective value, positive and negative likelihood ratio of the profile in screening cerebral during infancy were 94.1%, 99.8%, 48.5%, 449.6 and 0.06, respectively., Conclusion: The profile seemed to be an acceptable instrument for early identification of cerebral palsy.

Objective: To study the annual incidence of injuries and the relationship between behavior problems and injuries among school-age children., Methods: A prospective cohort study on injuries for 1-year follow-up period was conducted among 2 005 school-age children selected by cluster sampling from three primary schools in Maanshan city. They subjects were divided into two groups with or without exposure according to behavior problems rated by the Rutter Child Behavior Questionnaire at the beginning of the study. Nonparametric test was performed to analyze the differences in injuries between the two groups of children, and the influential factors for injuries were analyzed with multi-classification ordinal response variable logistic regression model., Results: The overall incidence rate for injuries in school-age children was 42.51%, while among children with and without behavior problems were 64.87% and 38.85%, respectively. There were significant differences between the two groups (u = -6.054, P = 0.000). However, the incidence rates of injuries in school-age children with antisocial (A) behavior, neurotic (N) behavior and mixed (M) behavior were 66.99%, 67.41% and 61.40%, respectively. No significant differences were found among them (u(A,N) = -0.052, P = 0.958; u(A,M) = -0.400, P = 0.689; u(N,M) = -0.364, P = 0.716). Multivariate analysis indicated that injuries in school-age children were associated with children behavior problems, maternal age at childbirth, bad conditions during mother pregnancy, education background of mother, prevention measures for safety at home and the child accompanied to travel between school and home by adults. Behavior problems of children seemed to be the major risk factors for injuries., Conclusion: Children with behavior problems represented a significant risk group for injuries among school-age children. When planning intervention strategies on injuries, behavior problems should be emphasized to ensure optimal effectiveness of intervention.